Tate Modern: What to See at London's Best Free Art Gallery
Tate Modern is one of the most visited art galleries in the world, and it earns that status. The building — a decommissioned power station transformed by Herzog & de Meuron — is extraordinary. The permanent collection is genuinely surprising in its depth and range. And the Turbine Hall installations have, year after year, produced some of the most memorable art experiences in London. Free, and worth every visit.
Highlights
- Explore the vast Turbine Hall, home to a rotating large-scale art commission
- See works by Picasso, Rothko, Warhol and Louise Bourgeois in the permanent collection
- Take the free lift to Level 10 for one of London's best river views
- Housed inside a decommissioned Bankside power station, itself worth the visit
The Turbine Hall
Enter from the Bankside entrance and descend the long ramp into the Turbine Hall — 35 metres high, 155 metres long, and the single most dramatic indoor space in London. Tate commissions an annual installation here; past works have included Olafur Eliasson's artificial sun (2003), Louise Bourgeois's giant spider (2000), and Ai Weiwei's sunflower seeds (2010). The current commission is listed on Tate's website.
The permanent collection
The permanent collection is displayed across Levels 2, 3, and 4 of the original Boiler House. Works are arranged thematically rather than chronologically — a curatorial decision that rewards wandering. Picasso, Giacometti, Rothko, Hockney, Beuys, Bourgeois, Kiefer, and extensive holdings of Arte Povera, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalism. The Rothko Room on Level 3 — a dedicated gallery for the Seagram Murals — is the most-visited room.
The Blavatnik Building (Switch House), the newer extension that opened in 2016, adds five more floors of gallery space focused on international contemporary art. The works here tend to be less familiar than the Boiler House collection — more recent acquisitions, more underrepresented artists. Take the lift to the top floor and work down.
The rooftop view
Take the lift to Level 10 of the Blavatnik Building. The viewing level is free, and the view — straight across the Thames to St Paul's, the City, and Canary Wharf — is one of the best in London and almost entirely overlooked by visitors who come for the art. There's a café on the same level.
Getting there
By tube: Blackfriars (District and Circle lines) or Southwark (Jubilee line), both 10-minute walks. The Millennium Bridge footbridge from St Paul's is the most scenic approach — 5 minutes on foot from the City.
By riverbus: Bankside Pier is directly outside the Tate Modern entrance. Thames Clipper services run from Waterloo, Westminster, and Embankment.
Combine with: Shakespeare's Globe is next door (walk through the riverside path). Borough Market is 10 minutes' walk east. The South Bank walk runs in both directions from here.
Visiting the South Bank? Add Shakespeare's Globe
Shakespeare's Globe is literally next door to the Tate Modern. The guided tour of the reconstructed Globe Theatre takes about 75 minutes and includes the exhibition. A natural pairing on any South Bank day — book the tour or a performance directly with the Globe.
Tate Modern: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — the permanent collection (Tate Modern's own holdings, displayed across Levels 2, 3, and 4) is entirely free. Temporary exhibitions in the Turbine Hall and on other floors are also free. Ticketed special exhibitions run periodically and typically cost £20–28 per adult.
No booking is required for free entry to the permanent collection. Special ticketed exhibitions require booking in advance. You can book a free entry slot in advance on the Tate website to guarantee entry during busy periods, but it's not mandatory.
The permanent collection takes 2–3 hours to see properly. The Turbine Hall alone — one of the largest indoor art spaces in the world — requires at least 20 minutes. If there's a major temporary exhibition, add another hour.
The Turbine Hall is the massive central space of the original Bankside Power Station — 35 metres high and 155 metres long. Tate Modern commissions a different installation for the space every year. Past works have included Olafur Eliasson's artificial sun, Carsten Höller's slides, and Doris Salcedo's crack in the floor. The current installation is always listed on Tate's website.
Yes — the viewing level at the top of the Blavatnik Building (the newer Switch House extension) offers a panoramic view across the Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and the City skyline. It's free to access and consistently one of the best views in London. There's a café on the same level.