Tate Modern
Tate Modern
5 minutes read•Published on 05-10-2024
Tate Modern is a famous art museum in London, England that showcases modern art. It's interesting to know that it's not in a traditional building, but in an old power station known as Bankside Power Station. This was changed into a museum by a pair of architects named Herzog & de Meuron. The museum has a large variety of modern and contemporary art from all over the world, making it one of the biggest of its kind. Every year, Tate Modern sees a great number of visitors, from art lovers to tourists.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Tate Modern with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
Tate Modern is a well-known art gallery in London, England. The gallery was opened in 2000, in a building that used to be a power station. It was closed as a power station in 1981. Then, architects Herzog & de Meuron turned it into a public museum for art. Giles Gilbert Scott was the person who designed the original building.
Tate Modern is part of the bigger Tate group. This group also has Tate Britain in London, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall. When Tate Modern was created, it was a big step for the Tate group. They wanted to show more people modern and contemporary art. You can find the museum in the old Bankside Power Station, close to the Millennium Bridge. This bridge links the museum to the north of the River Thames.
Most of the art at Tate Modern is from Britain, but they also have pieces from around the world. All the art in the museum is from the year 1900 till now. Tate Modern has become more and more popular since it was opened. They have shown art from famous artists like Damien Hirst, Frida Kahlo, and Ai Weiwei.
In 2016, Tate Modern grew bigger because they opened a new part called the 'Switch House'. This part is linked to the main museum and it made Tate Modern 60 percent bigger. The same architects who turned the power station into a museum designed it. It's used to show part of the modern and performance art collection. With this new part, Tate Modern became even more of a top museum for global art.
One reason to visit
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.
A visit to Tate Modern will let you see The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. This art piece was made by British artist, Damien Hirst, in 1991. It has a tiger shark preserved in a substance called formaldehyde, all enclosed in a clear display case. The work of art explores the idea of death, a common theme in Hirsts art. If you see this artwork in person, you might feel more because you can see the sharks actual size and details, unlike in photos or videos. This piece of art is special because it uses a real shark, making it a good reason for a visit.
Getting there
Start off at the St Paul's Cathedral, and head south on Peter's Hill. Continue onto Millennium Bridge, cross the Thames River. Keep going straight. Turn right into Holland Street, then left into Cousin Lane. Walk straight until Cannon Street and turn right. Lastly, head left on Queen Street and keep going until you finally reach the alternate signaling, where you can cross over to Bankside. Walking up Park Street, you will see the Tate Modern ahead. Remember this requires a walking time of approximately 20 minutes. Please note it is always recommended to use navigation tools or ask local people when you are not sure about the directions.
To reach the Tate Modern in London by bike, start at the Hyde Park Corner and cycle towards Green Park. Proceed east along Constitution Hill until you reach the Buckingham Palace. Continue onto Birdcage Walk, cycling east until you intersect with Lambeth Bridge. Cross the Thames via the Lambeth Bridge and then cycle north onto the A3203 road. Continue until you reach the A201 road, where you should take a right turn towards the Blackfriars Bridge. Upon crossing the bridge, take the left onto the Queen Victoria Street and after a short ride, take another left onto Southwark Street. The Tate Modern will be on your left on the Bankside.
To get to the Tate Modern by public transport, you would usually take the Tube to either Southwark on the Jubilee Line or Blackfriars on the District and Circle Lines, both stations being around a 10-minute walk away from the museum. Alternatively, numerous buses stop near the Tate Modern: the RV1 and 381 to Southwark Street; the 344 to Southwark Bridge Road; the 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 168, 171, 172, 176 and 188 to Waterloo Road; the 45, 63, and 100 to Blackfriars Bridge Road and the 381, and RV1 additionally stop on Southwark Street. Should you be travelling from further away, the nearest train station is London Blackfriars, which connects to lines from much of South East England, and further afield you can go to London Bridge station, Waterloo station or Victoria station and then change to local services. Proper planning is needed to avoid getting lost or missing your route in the vibrant city of London.
You need to head towards central London, following the signs for the City. After that, drive onto the A201 and take the exit towards Waterloo station. You will then continue onto the A3200 York Road. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto the A301 Waterloo Bridge and cross the River Thames. Once on the other side of the bridge, follow the signs to the A201 Theobalds Road. Turn right onto A201 Kingsway and follow the road onto the A4200 towards the Holborn underground station. Finally, turn left onto A4 Aldwych and continue until you reach the A301. Turn right and drive until you see signs for the SE1 9TG postcode area – this is where the Tate Modern is situated. Please note, the museum is in the Congestion Charge zone, so you will need to pay the £11.50 daily charge if you're driving within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday.
