Tate Britain

Facts and information

Address:: Tate Britain, Millbank, Westminster,
London SW1P 4RG
England
Website:: www.tate.org.uk
Opening times:: Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (daily), and 10 AM to 10 PM (last Friday of the month); Last admission 45 minutes before closing time; Tours: 11 AM, noon, 2 PM, 3 PM (Mon–Fri) and noon, 3 PM (Sat, Sun); Note: Opening times are subject to change, and may not apply on public holidays. Always reconfirm with the venue before making plans.
Cost:: Free
Telephone:: Work +44 (0) 207 887 8888
Buses:: 2 3 36 77 87 88 187 344 360 436 510 C10
Trains:: Pimlico VIC, Vauxhall VIC Note: The nearest train station to Tate Britain is Pimlico. We can help you find the best route from any other train station:
Train journey to Tate Britain

Entrance to the Tate Britain art gallery

^{Tate Britain gallery, London}

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The Tate started life in 1897, when Sir Henry Tate gifted his entire collection of sixty-five paintings to the nation.

Extensions were added at regular intervals throughout the century, but by the year 2000 the Tate’s art collection had grown so large that the vast majority of it was never on show to the public. The decision was then taken to divide the collection up, and the gallery was renamed Tate Britain – focusing solely on British art from the 16th-century onwards.

Most of the remaining paintings were transferred to the Tate Modern, an old converted power station on the Thames. There is a third branch of the Tate in Liverpool’s Albert Docks.

Paintings at the Tate

Some of the famous artists on display at the Tate include David Hockney, Francis Bacon, William Blake, William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable and, of course, the great J W Turner, who has his own devoted wing – the Clore Gallery.

Painting of Ophelia, at the Tate Britain art gallery

^{John Millais’ Ophelia} The Lady of Shalott, at the Tate Gallery in London

^{Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott}

Some of the famous paintings include the haunting Ophelia by John Millais, and John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott. You can also see some sculptures by Henry Moore.

Contemporary artists from modern times include the wild-child Tracey Emin, and sculptor Antony Gormley (responsible for the famous Angel of the North).

The Turner Prize exhibition

From early October to December every year, Tate Britain houses the Turner Prize exhibition. Most of the winners are either shockingly bad, or stunningly good – depending on your point of view.

>> Write a review of Tate Britain Read all reviews

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DaveG – “Its got all the famous british painters here... Turner, Constable, Gainsborough. I saw a lot of Henry Moore as well, and I dont normally do sculptures but I thought these were very good. I dont like the building much though, its a bit too far out of the w… read the full review”
AliBell – “Its not the first gallery i would recommend (the National is much better), but if you've done the others then you shouldnt definitely try and visit this one. Dont be put off by its somewhat out of the way location. There are some grat paintings in here by… read the full review”