Tate Modern

Tate Modern is a titan of the global art world. Housed in the monumental former Bankside Power Station on the south bank of the Thames, it is one of the largest and most visited museums of modern and contemporary art on the planet. Its transformation from an industrial behemoth into a cathedral of creativity is one of London's greatest architectural success stories.

From Power Station to Art Gallery

The Bankside Power Station was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the same architect responsible for the iconic red telephone box and Liverpool Cathedral. Built in two stages between 1947 and 1963, its brick-clad structure and 99-meter chimney became a landmark of industrial London.

After the station closed in 1981, it lay derelict for over a decade. In 1994, the Tate Trustees announced they would transform the building into a new gallery for international modern and contemporary art. The Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron won the competition for the renovation, choosing to preserve much of the building's industrial character while creating vast, light-filled spaces for art. Tate Modern opened to the public in May 2000, and its success was immediate and overwhelming.

The Turbine Hall: Art on a Grand Scale

The heart of Tate Modern is the Turbine Hall—a space so vast it could comfortably house a five-story building. Once home to the enormous electricity generators that powered the city, it now serves as a dramatic entrance and a venue for the "Unilever Series" (and later the "Hyundai Commission").

These commissions allow artists to create site-specific works that respond to the scale and history of the space. Memorable installations have included Olafur Eliasson's "The Weather Project," which featured a giant shimmering sun, and Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds," consisting of 100 million hand-sculpted and painted porcelain pebbles. The Turbine Hall is a place where art becomes an immersive, physical experience.

Exploring the Galleries

The museum's permanent collection is organized into several wings, spread across the original Natalie Bell Building and the newer Blavatnik Building (opened in 2016).

Tate Modern does not display its collection chronologically. Instead, it uses themed groupings to create dialogues between different eras, styles, and cultures. You might find a masterpiece by Picasso hanging next to a contemporary installation from Japan, or a surrealist sculpture by Dalí alongside a minimal work from the 1960s.

The Permanent Collection Highlights

• The Rothko Room: A sombre, powerful space dedicated to the Seagram Murals by Mark Rothko. These dark, meditative paintings were originally commissioned for a restaurant but were given to the Tate after the artist decided the setting was inappropriate for his work.
• Surrealism: Discover iconic works by Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Max Ernst. The collection explores the subversive and dreamlike nature of this movement.
• Pop Art: See the bold, colorful works of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Richard Hamilton. These rooms examine the intersection of art, consumerism, and celebrity culture.
• Modernism: Key works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Piet Mondrian showcase the revolutionary shifts in artistic expression during the early 20th century.

The Blavatnik Building and The Tanks

The Blavatnik Building is a 10-story addition that increased the gallery's space by 60%. Its striking, twisted pyramid shape is clad in a brick lattice that mirrors the original power station. On the 10th floor, there is a Viewing Level that offers spectacular 360-degree views of the London skyline, including a unique perspective of St. Paul's Cathedral across the river.

At the base of the Blavatnik Building lie The Tanks—massive, underground concrete containers that once held the power station's oil. They are now the world's first museum spaces dedicated permanently to performance art, film, and installation. These raw, atmospheric spaces are perfect for experimental and time-based art.

Planning Your Visit

Booking: Admission to the main collection is free, but you must book a timed entry slot online in advance. This ensures a comfortable experience for all visitors. Special, large-scale exhibitions usually require a paid ticket.

Opening Times: The gallery is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It is closed on December 24-26.

Dining: There are several cafes and restaurants. The Level 9 Restaurant in the Blavatnik Building offers fine dining with panoramic views, while the Tate Modern Cafe on the ground floor is great for a more casual bite.

Getting There: The easiest way to reach Tate Modern is via the Millennium Bridge from St. Paul's Cathedral. The nearest tube stations are Southwark (Jubilee Line), Blackfriars (District and Circle lines), and London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines).

Frequently Asked Questions