London
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
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Tate Britain
Credit: chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com
Last updated: 10 March, 2024
This grand Portland stone building on the Thames, the original Tate Gallery, has lately been eclipsed by its edgier younger sibling, the Tate Modern. This is a pity – the Tate Britain houses an impressive collection of classical and modern British art that’s second only to the National Gallery.
Come here to see evocative landscapes and striking portraits by British greats such as Gainsborough, Freud, Bacon and Constable – who gets an entire room to himself – as well as Turner, whose works number into the thousands.
The gallery is best known for its works by deceased painters, but the always-controversial annual Turner Prize (October to January) is an exhibition of the best contemporary British art of that year – and a highlight of the London art calendar.
Don’t miss
Pablo Picasso’s Weeping Woman – a portrait of his lover, Dora Maar, as a representation of the tragic victims of the Spanish civil war. For fans of abstract art, Mark Rothko’s Seagram Murals are vast, brooding canvases that are utterly transfixing.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is Pimlico (Victoria Line). Entry is free but you will need to book for special exhibitions – see the website for listings of what is currently on.
Download the Smartify app before you go. You can hold it up to the paintings for information on each one. You can even save the photo to your phone to create your own collection.
When to do it
It’s open all year round, seven days a week, with late opening hours on most Fridays.
Visit from October to early January and you may be able to see the five entries for the famous annual Turner Prize – one of the best-known visual arts prizes in the world. It’s only every other year at Tate Britain. On alternate years, it moves between different UK galleries.
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