Tate Modern FAQ

Yes. Entry to Tate Modern's permanent collection is free for everyone, and no booking is needed to walk in. The gallery holds thousands of modern and contemporary works across several floors at Bankside in London. Some special exhibitions are ticketed separately and charge an admission fee. Current details are listed on tate.org.uk.

For the free collection you do not need to book — simply turn up during opening hours and walk in. Booking ahead is recommended for ticketed special exhibitions, which can sell out at busy times such as weekends and school holidays. Exhibition tickets are sold on the official Tate website, tate.org.uk.

The permanent collection at Tate Modern is free. Ticketed special exhibitions are priced per show, typically starting from around £5 for concessions and rising for headline exhibitions, and Tate members usually go free. Because prices change with each exhibition, check tate.org.uk/whats-on for the current price before you travel.

Tate Modern is open daily. Monday to Thursday and Sunday it opens 10:00–18:00, and on Friday and Saturday it stays open later, 10:00–21:00. The gallery is closed 24–26 December. Last entry to ticketed exhibitions is usually shortly before closing, so please confirm times on tate.org.uk before setting off.

Most visitors spend between two and three hours at Tate Modern. An hour is enough for the Turbine Hall and one or two collection displays, while half a day suits anyone adding a ticketed exhibition, the viewing level and a stop in a cafe. The gallery is free, so short repeat visits work well too.

Yes. Tate Modern offers step-free access to all public floors, with lifts between levels and accessible toilets throughout. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge, subject to availability, and Changing Places facilities are provided. Assistance dogs are welcome. For the latest access information and to reserve equipment, see the access pages on tate.org.uk.

Southwark on the Jubilee line is the closest station, roughly an eight minute walk. Blackfriars, on the District and Circle lines, is a similar distance across the river. St Paul's on the Central line is about ten minutes away on foot via the Millennium Bridge, which leads straight to the gallery entrance.

Photography for personal use is generally allowed in the free collection displays, without flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Some loaned works and ticketed exhibitions restrict photography for copyright reasons, and these areas are signed. Gallery staff can confirm what is permitted on the day, and the rules are summarised on tate.org.uk.

Yes. Tate Modern has several places to eat and drink, including cafes for coffee, snacks and light lunches, and a restaurant with river views on an upper level. There are also bars for evening visits on later opening nights. Opening times and menus vary, so check tate.org.uk before planning a meal.

Tate sometimes runs free talks and tours led by gallery staff or volunteers; check tate.org.uk for the current programme. Paid guided and skip-the-line tours are also bookable through independent providers such as Viator, and this site shows a tours widget for those. Those tours are run by third-party operators, not by Tate.

Group visits and private tours are possible. Tate handles official group bookings and learning visits through its website, and larger groups are usually asked to book ahead even for the free collection. Independent tour operators, including those listed through the tours widget on this site, also offer private guided visits at their own prices.

Yes, it is a popular family day out. Entry is free, the vast Turbine Hall gives children space to look and move, and free family trails and activities often run at weekends and in school holidays. Baby-changing rooms and buggy parking are available. Current family activities are listed on tate.org.uk.