Independent visitor guide
Five hundred years of British art, and the main galleries are free
Tate Britain sits quietly on the Thames at Millbank, a short walk from Pimlico. It holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to today — including the world's greatest group of Turners. Here's how to make the most of a visit.
- Entry
- Free to the main collection
- Open
- Daily 10:00–18:00
- Nearest tube
- Pimlico, about 8 minutes' walk
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours for most visitors
What Tate Britain actually is
It is the original Tate, opened in 1897, and the home of British art rather than modern art from around the world — that's Tate Modern, further along the river. The collection runs chronologically, so you can walk from Tudor portraits through Constable and Turner to Hockney and the Turner Prize in one loop.
Entry to the collection displays is free. You only pay for major temporary exhibitions and some tours or experiences.
Correct as of August 2026 — check tate.org.uk before you travel.
Start here
Visiting info
Opening times, bag rules, cloakroom, food and photography.
Getting here
Tube, bus, the Tate Boat and where to arrive on foot.
Tickets and tours
What's free, what costs money, and which tours are worth it.
Collection highlights
The works most people come for, and where to find them.
Best time to visit
Quiet hours, busy days and how to dodge the crowds.
Tate Britain vs Tate Modern
Two very different galleries. Which one suits your day?
What visitors say
“Calm, uncrowded and completely free. We spent two hours with the Turners and barely saw another soul before lunch.”
“Eight minutes from Pimlico station and step-free through the Manton entrance. Easy with a buggy.”
“We took the Tate Boat over to Tate Modern afterwards — a lovely way to see both in one day.”
Comments are paraphrased from common visitor feedback and are not official Tate reviews.