Tate Britain
London · United Kingdom · Founded 1897
Quick answer
Tate Britain in London, United Kingdom — founded by sugar magnate Henry Tate in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art, the building was rechristened Tate Britain in 2000 when the modern collection moved across the river. Open daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Admission: free standard admission. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Tate Britain at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free standard admission |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings at 10 AM opening — the Clore Gallery Turner rooms are peaceful before school groups arrive. |
| Getting there | Metro: Victoria Line to Pimlico — 8-minute walk along John Islip Street |
| Address | Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, United Kingdom |
| Official website | tate.org.uk |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Tate Britain known for?
Tate Britain on Millbank is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. Founded in 1897 by the sugar magnate Henry Tate, it was originally the National Gallery of British Art before being rechristened Tate Britain in 2000 when the modern international collection moved to Tate Modern across the Thames.
The Clore Gallery — designed by James Stirling and opened in 1987 — houses the Turner Bequest: over 300 paintings and 30,000 watercolours by J.M.W. Turner, the most extensive collection of any single artist in any British museum. Turner's luminous seascapes and atmospheric landscapes fill dedicated rooms.
The permanent collection is entirely free and includes masterpieces from every era of British art: Hogarth's satirical narratives, Constable's Suffolk landscapes, the Pre-Raphaelites (Millais's Ophelia, Waterhouse's Lady of Shalott), Francis Bacon's screaming popes, and contemporary works by Hockney, Emin, and Ofili.
Tate Britain hosts the Turner Prize — the most prestigious (and controversial) award in British contemporary art — in alternate years. The Duveen Galleries commission large-scale installations in the building's neoclassical sculpture halls.
Best for: Art Lovers · First-timers · History Enthusiasts
How long do you need at Tate Britain?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 5 must-see highlights at Tate Britain without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Ophelia
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1840
Millais painted the drowning Ophelia in meticulous detail — the flowers floating on the water are botanically accurate.
- 2
The Lady of Shalott
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1890
Waterhouse's depiction of Tennyson's cursed weaver drifting toward Camelot — one of the most popular paintings in any British museum, combining Pre-Raphaelite narrative with Aesthetic Movement beauty.
- 3
Norham Castle, Sunrise
📍 Clore Gallery, Turner Bequest
One of Turner's late 'unfinished' paintings — a luminous vision of a Northumberland castle dissolving in golden light.
- 4
Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1940
Bacon's screaming biomorphic figures — painted during the war and exhibited in 1945, shocking the British art world and establishing Bacon as the dominant British painter of the post-war era.
- 5
The Cholmondeley Ladies
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1600
Twin sisters in identical dresses holding their babies — a mysterious double portrait whose inscription records they were born on the same day, married on the same day, and gave birth on the same day.
What are the must-see works at Tate Britain?
5 highlights that define the collection: Ophelia, The Lady of Shalott, Norham Castle, Sunrise and more.
Ophelia
Sir John Everett Millais · 1851–1852
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1840
Millais painted the drowning Ophelia in meticulous detail — the flowers floating on the water are botanically accurate. Elizabeth Siddal posed in a bath for hours, catching cold. A defining Pre-Raphaelite image.
The Lady of Shalott
John William Waterhouse · 1888
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1890
Waterhouse's depiction of Tennyson's cursed weaver drifting toward Camelot — one of the most popular paintings in any British museum, combining Pre-Raphaelite narrative with Aesthetic Movement beauty.
Norham Castle, Sunrise
J.M.W. Turner · c. 1845
📍 Clore Gallery, Turner Bequest
One of Turner's late 'unfinished' paintings — a luminous vision of a Northumberland castle dissolving in golden light. The Clore Gallery holds the world's greatest Turner collection.
Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion
Francis Bacon · 1944
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1940
Bacon's screaming biomorphic figures — painted during the war and exhibited in 1945, shocking the British art world and establishing Bacon as the dominant British painter of the post-war era.
The Cholmondeley Ladies
Unknown English artist · c. 1600–1610
📍 Walk Through British Art, Room 1600
Twin sisters in identical dresses holding their babies — a mysterious double portrait whose inscription records they were born on the same day, married on the same day, and gave birth on the same day.
Collections and highlights
- • Turner Bequest — 300 paintings in the Clore Gallery
- • Pre-Raphaelites — Millais, Rossetti, Waterhouse
- • Hogarth and eighteenth-century satirical art
- • Constable and English landscape tradition
- • Francis Bacon and post-war British painting
- • Contemporary British art — Hockney, Emin, Ofili
- • Walk Through British Art — chronological hang
- • Duveen Galleries commissions
Tips for visiting Tate Britain
- 1.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings at 10 AM opening — the Clore Gallery Turner rooms are peaceful before school groups arrive. First Friday of the month for late opening.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Moderate — far less crowded than Tate Modern or the National Gallery. The Clore Gallery can be busy on rainy weekends.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Free permanent collection — no booking required. Special exhibitions ticketed (~£20). Tate Members skip exhibition queues.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Tate Britain Café and Restaurant; Millbank area has limited dining — Victoria and Westminster are 10 minutes away.
- 5.
Accessibility
Fully accessible with step-free Millbank entrance. Lifts to all galleries including the Clore Gallery.
How do you get to Tate Britain?
- metro Victoria Line to Pimlico — 8-minute walk along John Islip Street
- bus Routes 87, 88, C10, 36 — stop at Tate Britain on Millbank
- boat Thames Clipper river bus to Millbank Pier — directly outside the museum
Address: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, United Kingdom
Tate Britain: frequently asked questions
Is there a boat between Tate Britain and Tate Modern?
Yes, the Tate-to-Tate boat shuttles regularly along the Thames.
Where are the Turners shown?
The Clore Gallery, designed by James Stirling, holds the Turner Bequest.
How long should I spend at Tate Britain?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Tate Britain. Our 5-stop route — Ophelia, The Lady of Shalott, Norham Castle, Sunrise and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Tate Britain best known for?
Founded by sugar magnate Henry Tate in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art, the building was rechristened Tate Britain in 2000 when the modern collection moved across the river. Key highlights include Turner Bequest — 300 paintings in the Clore Gallery, Pre-Raphaelites — Millais, Rossetti, Waterhouse, Hogarth and eighteenth-century satirical art.
How do I get tickets for Tate Britain?
Free standard admission. You can walk in without a ticket; paid exhibitions are booked separately. Official site: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
How does Tate Britain differ from Tate Modern?
Tate Britain holds British art from 1500 to today — Turner, Constable, the Pre-Raphaelites, Bacon, Hockney. Tate Modern, across the river, holds international modern and contemporary art from 1900 onwards — Picasso, Warhol, Bourgeois. Both are free. The Tate-to-Tate boat connects them.
Where are the Turners?
The Clore Gallery on the lower level houses the Turner Bequest — over 300 paintings and thousands of watercolours. Stirling's postmodern architecture creates intimate rooms for Turner's luminous late works. It is the highlight of any Tate Britain visit.
Is the Turner Prize always at Tate Britain?
The Turner Prize alternates between Tate Britain and other UK venues. When at Tate Britain, shortlisted works are displayed in autumn (October–January). Check tate.org.uk for the current venue and dates.
Is Tate Britain open on Mondays?
Yes — Tate Britain is open every day of the week, including Mondays and Sundays: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Check the official website for holiday hours.
What are Tate Britain's opening hours?
Tate Britain is open daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Tate Britain free to visit?
Yes — free standard admission.
