I could really enjoy contemporary art, I mean - I paint for leisure myself sometimes, but some of the stuff they got going there is really, really not my cup of tea. The gallery itself is very airy and spacious and pleasure to roam around, so I guess if modern art suits your taste - you're in heaven. It is also super friendly for kids - they got an area to play and easy access for buggies everywhere. The upstairs member lounge is great - healthy salads, wonderful views over the river and St Pauls, but even though it is 'member only' access - it's always a bit too crowded. read more

Always packed full of inconsiderate people. Always way too cold for comfort. Always displaying art that some would say I'm just too much of a plebeian to appreciate (if this is the case, then I embrace my boorishness). The only thing really worth seeing in my opinion is Monet's Water Lilies. I would make a special visit to sit in front of it for hours at a time, if someone could guarantee that five billion visitors wouldn't stand right in front of me. Otherwise, I'll pass on the Tate Modern. I just don't find a black square painted on a white canvas particularly provocative. And while there may be some truly great stuff in there, it's served up with a healthy portion of oblivious wanderers en masse. And any resident of a tourist Mecca certainly can appreciate my desire to stay away from oblivious wanderers en masse. read more

Best thing about Tate Modern is that it's open late on Friday and Saturday nights! That means that after you've been out on a lovely date around the area, you can take a nice leisurely stroll to the Tate Modern and play guessing games to what the title of the pieces are / what they are about (I actually got the "testing paint drips" painting right!). There are plenty of pieces there to keep your mind and your date engaged. Another thing I noticed here that I have rarely seen elsewhere is that the hall monitors actually smile at you when you make eye contact. I thought it was a very nice gesture that doesn't go unnoticed. read more

I am a big fan of this building and love the scale of installations that artists are challenged to create or can show in the Turbine Hall. If you like architecture, modern or contemporary art it's a must visit gallery. If you want to include a gallery visit but don't typically visit contemporary art shows then would perhaps recommend a visit to Tate Britain instead if you are only visiting one. Looking at the permanent collections is free. Temporary exhibitions are great quality and often focus on lesser known artists alongside better known names. They are pricey at around £16 each but there are some concessions. Giving 4 stars as think temporary exhibition books should include an affordable option as well as a £30 catalogue. read more

See all

As Tate Members, we were privileged to go to the preview of The Switch House and what a wonderful addition to Tate! It helps that the architects, Herzog and de Meuron, also did the original Tate Modern so there are some really neat details that are aligned in both spaces. As it was so busy we decided to work from the top down by taking the stairs...note to self, get the lift next time. On level 10 there is a viewing area which has 360 degrees of the city which are wonderful unless you are an owner of the flats opposite. Yes you can see right into those flats and gain interior design inspiration! The Switch House is quirky, its shapes are more interesting and the increase in square footage means there is so much to see but then I think that's part of the point. Tate have built an addition that means you couldn't possibly see everything in one day...that's a clever retention strategy! On level 4 there is a bridge between The Switch House and The Boiler House although himself noted the bridge had some movement to it! However, my favourite bit was The Tanks. It's the bit under The Switch House and has some really interesting shapes. It allows you to glimpse back at the history of the building as a power station but also see it used as an interactive and creative space. The addition of the Switch House must make Tate Modern one of the most interesting and largest modern and contemporary art gallery in the world. read more

Everything you've heard and more. Monumental architecture and a nuanced modern collection. I don't know what's more powerful: the interplay between the details of the former power station and the modern art museum or the connection between Anish Kapoor's 'Ishi's Light' sculpture and Francis Bacon's 'Seated Figure' in the introductory Material Gestures wing. Both pieces had a psychological impact on me. The Surrealist works are clearly the highlight of the galleries, but I also enjoyed the Russian propaganda posters room and the Ed Ruscha room. The Bacon-Picasso room is a tad bit disappointing given the prowess of these two artists. That said, the paintings are by Bacon and Picasso, two legends. Do yourself a favor and devote an afternoon to this artistic haven. read more

Tate Modern is simply the BEST museum I have step foot in. I visited London in the Winter of 2007. It's easy to get to by the London Underground, there's different stops that can lead you here, I took the scenic route and exited the underground on the other side of the River Thames so I can stroll pass St. Paul's Cathedral and walk across the Millennium Bridge. The museum is nicely organized and it's easy to walk around. So many great exhibits, art pieces, and media presentations. The cafe is great and overall it's a great place to go to expand your horizons and experience great modern art. It's also a great place to relax, people watch, take a breather or warm up from the cold weather outside. The gift shop is amazing. I bought a journal planner and I used it for the entire year. There's so much to see that I came back twice! I also returned during the evening for a film they showed in their theatre. Good thing it's free! Brilliant. read more

I only made it as far as the second floor. The free admission got me a selection of Dali, Picasso, Matisse, and other masters, as well as a fascinating room full of John Heartfield's photomontage. It was fantastic; there was too much to look at; I ran out of time. read more

Tate Modern - Modern art? - Art Museums Near Me - London, XGL

See all

I'm a big enough fan of the Tate Modern to have become a member this past year. While the modern art gallery is free for its permanent exhibits, I wanted the freedom to check out their special exhibitions without the crowds and having to purchase time-stamped tickets. Members also get to use the members lounge up on the 5th floor which is a lot less crowded than the regular cafe. The Tate Modern is one of my favourite art galleries in the world (right up there with NYC's MoMa and Guggenheim). Free entry means you can wonder in one section for a bit and then leave without feeling like you wasted any money. Friday and Saturday's are also late nights, open 'til 10pm, and the gallery is a lot quieter between 8-10PM (you don't have to fight it out with the tourists!) Great place to feel inspired, grab a coffee, and just hang out. read more

Tate is an interesting place with a vast structure. Not everyone will be impressed by the exhibits but even if you don't like them you will have a good laugh by their weirdness. The only thing for sure is that you are going to be talking about them for days. Even if you are not an art fan you can always just go for the bar/restaurant on the 6th floor and admire the amazing view of London's skyline which effectively is a cheap alternative to London's eye view. Unfortunately it is widely known among tourists and consequently it is always packed. As a result the best time to visit would be early on a weekday. Now regarding the parts were most people get confused. Level 0 (Main entrance) usually serves as a meeting point but there is a small free collection at the far end of the building. Level 1 (River entrance) doesn't have any exhibits apart from an auditorium which screen some movies & the main Cafe. Level 2 is usually separated into two halves a free collection display & a paid exhibition. Level 3 is made of 2 paid exhibitions & an espresso bar. Level 4 is completely free and has the most interesting pieces in the museum. Level 5 is the members lounge/cafe which you can only access if you are member (£60 per year & you get unlimited access to all the paid exhibitions.Lastly, level 6 has the restaurant/bar. Each paid exhibit is around £15 & last admissions to the building are 45 minutes before the close time. To make things more confusing the Cafe, Espresso Bar, Restaurant & main Exhibition all close at different times. Restaurant: Sunday-Thursday: 10.00-15.30, Friday & Saturday: 10.00-21.30 Espresso Bar: Sunday-Thursday 10.00-17.30, Friday & Saturday 10.00-21.30 Cafe: Sunday 9.00-17.30, Monday-Thursday 10.00-17.30, Friday 10.00-20.30, Saturday 9.00-18.30 Exhibition: Sunday-Thursday: 10.00-18.00, Friday & Saturday: 10.00-22.00 The best thing about this place is its location as it can seamlessly lead to a long walk to South bank, or a visit to Borough market(Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and St Paul's is just across the river. read more

Free admission, incredibly great building, art at its best! We need places like this in good old germany! Gerhard Richter.... WOW read more

Big fan of Tate Modern. I find it almost therapeutic. It's always quite busy but never feels too crowded. There's a lot of stuff to interact with, so I suppose kids would like it too, although not all video installations are suitable for children. Either way, it's worth a visit - the permanent exhibition is free, there's great views of London from the top floors and the art ranges from ridiculous to stunning. read more

Nice place to go for contemporary art. Suitable for all ages. Free entry but exhibitions members only. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Tate Modern - Art Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Switch house...New extension of Tate is amazing...I like the interior architecturea inside...untreated concrete surface...no paint and no wall paper...it is all raw! Completely honest to the expose concrete material. The tank on the ground floor have a lot interactive images and videos. It is huge space to present the modern art. Top floor (10th) is for the viewing platform..it is such a good ideas to enjoy the magnificent london views. It is all free! 6th floor bridging the old building and new extension. Yes, the building was designed by my favourite architect Daniel libeskind. Very impressed with the rows of stacking bricks. But the contemporary art is a bit of disappointed, it is a bit blank and not much interesting. I hope they could put a show like frieze art fair stuffs to attack more crowd. read more

I first visited the Tate Modern in 2002 during the time when Anish Kapoor's installation "Marsyas" was featured in the enormous turbine hall. I spent most of the day wandering the galleries there and was absolutely blown away by the collection. This time ... not so much. The first disappointment came when we found the turbine hall empty. They've had so many wonderful installations over the years that it was a huge let-down to see it like this. I was told that they were between sponsors and presently working out a deal with a certain car manufacturer. Oh well. The second disappointment came when we found out the two galleries on the third floor were special exhibits you had to pay to enter, and that they were featuring work by two artists I have no interest in ... Sonia Delaunay (shrug) and Marlene Dumas (yawn). So, we essentially had the just the two galleries on the second floor and the two galleries on the fourth floor to experience. The gallery featuring work by the surrealists was definitely worth seeing. Dali, Tanguy, Magritte, Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst, and Man Ray were all represented and I was happy to see the real thing instead of seeing it in a book ... but the gallery obviously needs a fresh coat of paint. I also thought the lighting could have been better. The gallery had an overall dingy atmosphere. There were a few nice pieces here and there in the other galleries. We saw some very nice work by Francis Bacon, Richard Serra, Donald Judd, Gerhard Richter, and George Condo, as well as a few other lesser known artists. There was also quite a bit of Dreck on display. It was very disappointing to see that they actually wasted an entire room on Cy Twombly. So, I guess the highs and the lows all balance out to about three stars. Perhaps they'll have a better selection on view when the gorgeous new wing opens later next year. BTW - We finished the galleries early enough to beat the lunch crowd and grab a bite at the restaurant on the top floor. That's in a separate review. read more

I love museums. The Tate Modern does what it was set to do quite well. But no matter what or how it is explained to me I will never understand how a huge room with three tree stumps and nothing more in it is art. But as I said this is what the Tate Modern is all about and it hits the mark. read more

The Tate Modern was one of my favorite museums in London. The space itself is incredible. We went to see The Radical Eye: Modernist photography from Sir Elton John's collection exhibit. WOW!! It was a truly spectacular exhibit with some amazing photographs. Sir easton John has amassed an incredible collection of photography that includes portraits of artists, writers and musicians experimental photography, documentary photographs and some truly incredible photographs of objects such as a magnolia blossom. Included is an audio guide and short film where you can hear Sir elton John describe what inspires him and see how the photographs are displayed in his home. An exhibit not to be missed. Plus, the gift shop is fabulous and has lots of books, gifts, calendars, etc. read more

What a wonderful modern art museum!!! I adore the fact that the Tate Modern has later hours than some of the other museums we've visited. We were on a night stroll by the Thames when we took the chance to go into the Tate Modern an hour before they closed. Of course, with only an hour, we didn't see everything in the museum but I do love some of the artwork and the interactive displays on each floor. I especially love the fact that you can send a free video email to anyone. We took one to send to my parents and one of us all goofing off to each other. I can't wait to come back and see what gigantic installation will be happening on the bottom floor. It was in between artwork exhibits when I visited but friends have told me of past exhibits and it makes me wish I could see them. read more

Review specifically for the new Switch House extension. In Summary: Great building, shame about the contents inside. The Tate is an iconic and hugely successful modern Art Gallery. I am a fan of contemporary art and enjoy visiting galleries, big and small and seek out art museums when visiting other cities around the world. The new ten storey switch house opened just a few weeks ago so we were keen to to take a look. The building itself is magnificent and is worth visiting just to see. It complements the original 1930s Power Station well and has the same sparse and grand scale. The original oil tanks on the ground floor that were opened previously make for a great space and you can still smell the oil. The galleries occupy the first 4 levels with a restaurant and then a viewing gallery on the 10th floor. Most people seemed to be queuing for the lift for the 10th floor. We came for the art. What was on display was pretty disappointing. Huge gallery spaces but mostly filled with video screens that didn't hold my attention. 'Interactive' seemed to be the theme. One huge room consisted of lighting that cast your shadow onto the huge wall opposite so when people walked past you could see their shadow. Not impressed. Other uninteresting objects on tables and various performance art videos with the items from the videos framed on the wall. There were many installations and 3D works. Again, most of it uninspiring. I feel this kind of material has been done so many times and is tired. Just not stimulating or interesting with one or two exceptions. I know a lot of the work on show is conceptual. Problem is the concepts are just not that interesting nor is the end result. I can walk down the street and see more visual / audio / sensory stimulation than most of the galleries here. They also need to sort out the air conditioning inside. It's always airless and stuffy. The new building suffers from the same issue. You feel like your breathing the stale air of hundreds of other people which you probably are. The bookshop is great. There is so much great new art around I find it hard to believe this is the best they could find and in such an iconic and great space. Just underwhelmed. Five stars for the building. One star for the 'new' art inside. read more

I love this Museum. I'm not a huge art freak, but I do enjoy modern art, I may not understand it, but I know I'll at least find it interesting and sometimes quirky. I truly love that London has made so many museums free to visit, I mean you can just waltz in through the front door and find yourself looking at a Picasso - how cool is that? Also I like museums in small doses at a single time, because I tend to get overwhelmed, so I love that I can just pop in and visit for a short while and not worry that I've wasted money. When I first visited in 2008, there was an exhibit in the Turbine room, which was a giant crack in the floor. On my next visit in October of 2012, the Turbine room had another exhibit, this time it's performance art, and when I was watching that consisted of people sitting on the floor chanting "electricity." Also, even if you're not an art fan, this place is great for it's free and clean bathrooms, which can be a challenge to find in London. I highly encourage you to pop in and take a peak around, what have you got to lose? read more

I almost always visit the Tate Modern when I visit London. I love the big vast space, exhibitions and the fact it's free! My latest visit (last weekend) was a bit different, I went with my sister, nephew and niece. Knowing they wouldn't enjoy or have the attention span for viewing the exhibition, we sought other entertainment for the two toddlers (3 and 6 years olds). Thankfully there was an interactive cassette tape recorder installation which kept them amused for a while. A 'build your own den' area in the main hall, which kept them engaged for ages - playing with other kids too. The staff around this temporary kids area were really helpful and always on hand. There is also a kids floor upstairs on the 4th level, with slide and interactive learning. I think they would have been happy to have spent all afternoon there! Sadly I didn't get to see much of the gallery spaces this time, but at least they have thought of ways to entertain the little ones too. read more

This museum requires a re-visit because the main turbine hall was closed for refurb when I went which is why it's lost a few stars All of the other rooms that were open and I visited had an eclectic mix of modern art. Everything was laid out in an easily accessible way and I never felt like it was too crowded. The museum is really big and has all types of modern art. I'm not a particular fan of modern art and thought that some of it looked like a 2 year old's scribbles... but hey, to each their own. At least there is a place to exhibit all the variety of modern art. read more

The Tate Modern is an exceptional contemporary art museum located just south of the river by the infamous Millennium Bridge. The exterior of the building is not misleading in any way of the art displayed - modern. The interior is very spacious and the layout is organized and well-documented around the building. The art is funky and cool and there are numerous of interesting exhibitions that do cost money like any other museum in London. However, as a new member of the museum, I do recommend looking into membership, as the perks are quite good. You can go to unlimited exhibitions free of charge and bring a guest, be able to fast-track the queues, have access to private events and the members room overlooking the one and only St Paul's, etc. It's a great place to spend some time, especially if you are Bankside. I highly recommend it! read more

Tate Modern - View from the Tate - Art Museums Near Me - London, XGL

What a great museum to wander around in and see all the various artwork. Dali, Picasso, Monet and the list goes on and on... so Lovely! Did I mention that it is free? We were so used to having to pay for museums while in Paris that visiting Tate Modern was a breath of fresh air. Most of the museums in London are free which make them even that more enjoyable to visit. You can come and explore for a few hours at a time and really take in the artwork without being rushed and if you don't finish that day, well just come on in another time for free and wander away. We loved Tate Modern! read more

Excellent museum. The Tate Modern may be the worlds most important museum for contemporary art history. It is housed inside an old electric generation station that remains the same outside but has been gutted and completely changed inside. Most art museums focus on their ever changing shows, and then display their permanent collections haphazardly or, or they put the impressionists together, etc. But what I like most, as someone who knows a lot about art, is how the collection is curated into themes, such as modern interpretations of the human form. This lets the viewer see how a variety of artists tackled similar ideas and subjects. The Tate's permanent collection is outstanding. It has several important Picasso paintings, as well as important works by Miro and Kandinsky. I really wanted to see the Mark Rothko "murals" that were supposed to be installed at a restaurant in NYC--he famously withdrew them and gave them to his favorite museum, the Tate. You can't understand Rothko in a book or any other way: You have to see his work in person. And this collection of paintings, displayed in one dark room, as he envisioned, brings you as close as you can getting his work. Standing there, you have an experience that is not duplicated anywhere else in the world. The one complaint I have is that a few things in this wonderfully free museum are ticket only, and it's an expensive ticket. I would have liked to see these things but the 17£ price for a ticket, or a membership at 62£ was not gonna happen. read more

The best part about the Tate is that you don't even really need to understand or appreciate the art to enjoy walking through the building. Obviously that helps a lot but it makes the Tate very utilitarian. As utilitarian as a modern art museum can be, anyways. It's situated on the lively and engaging south bank of the Thames. If you walk in one direction you'll hit the London Eye and the parliament building and if you walk the other way you'll come across the Millennium bridge and Tower Bridge. It is a must for any visit to London. read more

Can't go wrong with a FREE museum! Loved the Andy Warhol room...very cool. Also really liked that they had interactive stations...we didn't partake, but I liked the concept. There were definitely some cool and thought-provoking pieces, but, as with any modern art museum, there were definitely those pretentious pieces that you begin to question as art. Recommend; the Tate is a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

Tate Muse is a must, the gift shop alone is worth the trip, as well as a beautiful cappuccino. There are free galleries and special event galleries that you pay for. The free areas are amazing. Lots of people are breezing by quickly but what is highly moving is if you hangout and stare at a painting until some response arises inside of you. It doesn't matter what it is but in that moment the art work lived and something became awake. Pure fun. read more

I don't love modern art but I do love this museum. The space alone is enought to explore, plus there are enough exhibitionst that you will find something that will grab your interest. This was the first place I saw Dali, and ever since then I was hooked on all things Dali. Also, the gift shop is great, I think I would stop by there just to shop. The admission is free for permanent exhibits, but there are usually extra fees for temporary exhibits, some of which are well worth it. The location of this place on the river at the end of the Millenial Bridge is great. You could spend the afternoon here, and end up with lunch on the bench overlooking the river. read more

I went there to see some art and then wanted to work on the Trip Report I was expected to produce and while sitting downstairs, I over-heard a curator interviewing a potential new hiree. They were talking about the curatorial theory for the museum which was pretty incredible because they said that the average attendee wasn't likely to catch the concept behind the choices they made, and that was by design. Looking through the galleries, I'd say that the concept worked. It wasn't the best Modern Art Museum I've ever been to (and hanging out at the MoMa over the years, I doubt I'll ever find a better) but it's also not the worst. One thing that got me was how high the light levels were. I'd have expected it to be very dim, but they were higher than those that we see in US museums of the type. They aren't particularly innovative in their presentation style, which made me happy as if I see another museum that is recreating art presentations of the past or trying some fool new presentation method. All in all, I like the place, though I wasn't overly pleased. I guess I was most bothered by the lack of Hockney on display. That'll ruin a visit to most museums for me. read more

What a collection of wonderful art! I felt that it was a good first stop for our European Adventure...ah... I especially enjoyed reflecting in the Birch Forest outside after we were illuminated by the artwork inside. Five thumbs up! read more

I think there are enough reviews online already on the art itself for people to acquire an idea of what it is like and about. What i particularly liked was the size of the rooms. They are massive, being so large, you could fit my house and next doors in comfortably with room to spare. If nothing else go to experience that. read more

Impressive building with a decent collection. Art is obviously subjective, and I'm no fan of modern art, but I did enjoy the Dali pieces. I would say that the MoMA has a more impressive collection, but the Tate has a better building. read more

One of the best museums one can go to for inspiration! Great view of the millennium bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral.

This is one of the top contemporary and modern museums in the world, and rivals MoMA in New York. It might lack a bit in the collection department, but its such a welcoming and friendly place--the "guards" are artists that actually know something about the art as opposed to unionized long time surly guards in most New York museums. It might seem small but it helps the viewing experience. The hallway is amazing and has daring rotating exhibitions and the place is huge, as it should be. Great curated shows too. I MUST for London visitors. And its free! read more

Tate Modern has an impressive collection of art. Every room was filled with masters old and new! It was wonderful to see so many families walking through the galleries, and of course free admission makes it relatively accessible. The only thing they could improve upon is creating an exhibition or two with fewer works per square foot. Sometimes it is good to reduce the amount of work in a particular exhibition in order for each work to gain more attention and room for contemplation. The turbine hall is amazing!!!! read more

World famous, and for good reason. This is a brilliant museum with delightful challenges (the Turbine Hall) and excellent curation - taking on issues (surveillance, for instance). The main collection is amazing as well. It's on the stretch on the south bank of the Thames, easy to get to, lovely to wander around, and free. However, I think the best membership I've ever gotten is to this. About £60/year gets you in to loads of sneak previews, sold out exhibitions, and the member's bar upstairs-- gazing across the river and working on a misty winter's day is one of life's great pleasures-- and takes the sting out of proposal writing. Which I should be doing now. read more

Advertised as a free museum yet a good bit of exhibits required a membership to enter. Top floor skyline viewing area is pleasant for a 360 view. read more

Tate Modern - Above the elevators on the top floor - Art Museums Near Me - London, XGL

Excellent setting for the modern art collection housed at the Tate Modern Museum. Funky and stark concrete building provides a backdrop for a tremendous collection of modern art exhibits. A definite, must see on your London museum tours. Plan to spend a while as the hall has several floors and long hallway exhibits. Nice collection! read more

ooooh! modern art! an amazing sight on top of the harry potter bridge. at first glance i thought it was some kind of factory. inside wise. you're not allowed to take pictures. i did anyways.... with my iphone! woooohooo! warhol! //The history of modern art started with Impressionism. It all began in Paris as a reaction to a very formal and rigid style of painting - done inside studios and set by traditional institutions like the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris// when people first saw picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" people's reaction was "what the hell is that? that's not art." maybe....one could argue that modern art is a reaction to a a system that establish specific order and rules. so i took pictures with my iphone. wooot! read more

Tate Modern - Art Museums Near Me - London, XGL

See all