Tate Modern

Tate Modern is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year.

Tate Modern viewed from Thames pleasure boat (2003)
Credit: Christine Matthews

Tate Modern is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group (together with Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives and Tate Online). It is based in the former Bankside Power Station, in the Bankside area of the London Borough of Southwark. Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1900 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art.

The galleries are housed in the former Bankside Power Station, which was originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect of Battersea Power Station, and built in two stages between 1947 and 1963. The power station closed in 1981. In 1992 The Tate Gallery at the British National Art Museum proposed a competition to build a new building for modern art. The purpose for the new building would help with the ever-expanding collection on modern and contemporary art. In 1995 it was announced that Herzog & de Meuron had won the competition with their simple design. The architects decided to reinvent the current building instead of demolishing it. The Tate modern is an example of adaptive reuse, the process of finding new life in old buildings. The building itself still resembles the 20th century factory in style from the outside and that is reflected on the inside by the taupe walls, steel girders and concrete floors. The façade of the building is made out of 4.2 million bricks that are separated by groups of thin vertical windows that help create a dramatic light inside. The history of the site as well as information about the conversion was the basis for a 2008 documentary Architects Herzog and de Meuron: Alchemy of Building & Tate Modern. This challenging conversion work was carried by Carillion. The southern third of the building was retained by the French power company EDF Energy as an electrical substation (in 2006, the company released half of this holding).

Tate Modern currently has seven floors, originally numbered 1 to 7, they were renumbered 0 to 6 in 2012. Levels 0 to 4 contain gallery space.

The main collection displays consist of four wings each taking up approximately half a complete floor of the main building. Each wing has a named theme or subject. Within each wing there are some rooms that change periodically showing different works in keeping with the overall theme or subject of the wing.

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Blackfriars Blackfriars station was opened on 30 May 1870, by the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR), now the District line.

Blackfriars

Holy Trinity the Less Holy Trinity the Less was a parish church, destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Holy Trinity the Less

St James Garlickhythe James Garlickhythe is a Church of England parish church in Vintry ward of the City of London, nicknamed "˜Wren’s lantern" owing to its profusion of windows.

St James Garlickhythe

St John the Evangelist Friday Street St John the Evangelist Friday Street was a church in Bread Street Ward of the City of London.

St John the Evangelist Friday Street

St Mary Mounthaw St Mary Mounthaw or Mounthaut was a parish church in Old Fish Street Hill.

St Mary Mounthaw

St Mary Somerset St Mary Somerset was a church in the City of London first recorded in the twelfth century.

St Mary Somerset

St Michael Paternoster Royal St Michael Paternoster Royal is a church in the City of London.

St Michael Paternoster Royal

St Michael Queenhithe St. Michael Queenhithe was a church in the City of London located in what is now Upper Thames Street.

St Michael Queenhithe

St Peter, Paul’s Wharf St Peter, Paul’s Wharf, was a parish church in the City of London.

St Peter, Paul’s Wharf

St Thomas the Apostle St Thomas the Apostle was a parish church in Knightrider Street in the City of London.

St Thomas the Apostle

Walbrook Wharf Walbrook Wharf is an operating freight wharf located in the City of London adjacent to Cannon Street station.

Walbrook Wharf

NEARBY STREETS

America Street, SE1 America Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

America Street, SE1

Anchor Terrace, SE1 Anchor Terrace is a large symmetrical building on the east side of Southwark Bridge Road, situated very close to the River Thames (Southwark)

Anchor Terrace, SE1

Bank End, SE1 Bank End was so-named because of the former earth banks built to protect the area against the Thames (Southwark)

Bank End, SE1

Bankside House, SE1 Bankside House is a block on Sumner Street (Southwark)

Bankside House, SE1

Bankside Lofts, SE1 Bankside Lofts is a block in Southwark (Southwark)

Bankside Lofts, SE1

Bankside, SE1 Bankside is named after former earthen banks built to protect the area against the Thames (South Bank)

Bankside, SE1

Baynard House, EC4V Baynard House is a block on Queen Victoria Street (City of London)

Baynard House, EC4V

Bear Gardens, SE1 Bear Gardens is the site of a medieval pleasure ground (Southwark)

Bear Gardens, SE1

Bear Lane, SE1 Bear Lane is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Bear Lane, SE1

Bell Wharf Lane, EC4R Bell Wharf Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

Bell Wharf Lane, EC4R

Benbow House, SE1 Benbow House is a block on New Globe Walk (Southwark)

Benbow House, SE1

Blackfriars Bridge, EC4V Blackfriars Bridge serves as a road and pedestrian bridge spanning the River Thames (City of London)

Blackfriars Bridge, EC4V

Blackfriars Lane, EC4V Blackfriars Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Blackfriars Lane, EC4V

Blue Fin Building, SE1 Blue Fin Building is a block on Southwark Street (Southwark)

Blue Fin Building, SE1

Bread Street Hill, EC4V Bread Street Hill was the southern continuation of Bread Street, running between Old Fish Street and Thames Street (City of London)

Bread Street Hill, EC4V

Bridge Walk, EC4V Bridge Walk is a road in the SE8 postcode area (River Thames)

Bridge Walk, EC4V

Brinton Walk, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Brinton Walk, SE1

Broken Wharf House, EC4V Broken Wharf House is a block on Broken Wharf (City of London)

Broken Wharf House, EC4V

Broken Wharf, EC4V Broken Wharf is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Broken Wharf, EC4V

Burrell Street, SE1 Burrell Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Burrell Street, SE1

Calvert’s Buildings, SE1 Felix Calvert, local brewer, is recorded as operating here in the late 18th century. (Borough)

Calvert’s Buildings, SE1

Cannon Bridge, EC4R Cannon Bridge is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

Cannon Bridge, EC4R

Canvey Street, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Canvey Street, SE1

Cardinal Cap Alley, SE1 Cardinal Cap Alley is an alley in Bankside. (South Bank)

Cardinal Cap Alley, SE1

Chancel Street, SE1 Chancel Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Chancel Street, SE1

City Apartments, EC4 City Apartments can be found on Cannon Street (City of London)

City Apartments, EC4

City Bridge House, SE1 City Bridge House is a block on Southwark Street (Southwark)

City Bridge House, SE1

City House, EC4N City House is a block on Cannon Street (City of London)

City House, EC4N

Clink Street, SE1 Clink Street is best known as the historic location of the Clink Prison (Southwark)

Clink Street, SE1

Clink Wharf, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Clink Wharf, SE1

Cloak Lane, EC4N Cloak Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

Cloak Lane, EC4N

College Hill, EC4R College Hill is named after Sir Richard Whittington’s college, set up here in the early 1400s (City of London)

College Hill, EC4R

College Street, EC4R College Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

College Street, EC4R

Colombo House, SE1 Colombo House is a block on Joan Street (Southwark)

Colombo House, SE1

Colombo Street, SE1 Colombo Street was - until 1937 - called Collingwood Street (Southwark)

Colombo Street, SE1

Columbo House, SE1 Columbo House is a block on Blackfriars Road (Southwark)

Columbo House, SE1

Cousin Lane, EC4R Cousin Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

Cousin Lane, EC4R

Cubitt House, SE1 Cubitt House is a block on Blackfriars Road (Southwark)

Cubitt House, SE1

Dolben Street, SE1 Dolben Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Dolben Street, SE1

Dorset House, SE1 Dorset House is a block on Stamford Street (Southwark)

Dorset House, SE1

Dowgate Hill, EC4R Dowgate Hill is a continuation of Walbrook along the west side of Cannon Street Station, leading to Dowgate Dock (City of London)

Dowgate Hill, EC4R

Emerson Street, SE1 Emerson Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Emerson Street, SE1

Europoint House, SW8 Europoint House is a location in London (Southwark)

Europoint House, SW8

Ewer Street, SE1 Ewer Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Ewer Street, SE1

Falcon Point Piazza, SE1 Falcon Point Piazza is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Falcon Point Piazza, SE1

Farringdon Road, EC4V Farringdon Road is a road in the EC4A postcode area (City of London)

Farringdon Road, EC4V

Five Kings House, EC4R Five Kings House is located on Queen Street Place (City of London)

Five Kings House, EC4R

Friars Bridge Court, SE1 Friars Bridge Court is located on Blackfriars Road (Southwark)

Friars Bridge Court, SE1

Garlick Hill, EC4N Garlick Hill is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Garlick Hill, EC4N

Gatehouse Square, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Gatehouse Square, SE1

Grande Vitesse Industrial Centre, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Grande Vitesse Industrial Centre, SE1

Great Guildford Business Square, SE1 Great Guildford Business Square is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Great Guildford Business Square, SE1

Great Guildford Street, SE1 Great Guildford Street runs north-south in Southwark (Southwark)

Great Guildford Street, SE1

Great St Thomas Apostle, EC4R Great St Thomas A postle, a rather odd streetname, between Garlick Hill and Queen Street (City of London)

Great St Thomas Apostle, EC4R

Great St Thomas, EC4R Great St Thomas is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Great St Thomas, EC4R

Hatfields, SE1 The name "Hatfields" is believed to originate from a time when the area was used for drying animal skins, which were then used in various industries, including hat-making. (Southwark)

Hatfields, SE1

Heath Lodge, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Heath Lodge, SE1

High Timber Street, EC4V High Timber Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

High Timber Street, EC4V

Holland Street, SE1 Today’s Holland Street was originally part of a street called Gravel Lane (Southwark)

Holland Street, SE1

Hopetown Place, SE1 Russell Place was renamed to Hopetown Place, SE1 in 1892 (Borough)

Hopetown Place, SE1

Hopton Street, SE1 Hopton Street was known as Green Walk until the late nineteenth century (Southwark)

Hopton Street, SE1

Horseshoe Wharf Apartments, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Horseshoe Wharf Apartments, SE1

Invicta Plaza, SE1 Invicta Plaza is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Invicta Plaza, SE1

Isabella Street, SE1 Isabella Street contains a number of restaurants which are housed in the railway arches below the London Bridge - Charing Cross railway lines (Southwark)

Isabella Street, SE1

James Forbes House, SE1 James Forbes House is a block on Great Suffolk Street (Southwark)

James Forbes House, SE1

John Carpenter House, EC4Y John Carpenter House is a block on John Carpenter Street (City of London)

John Carpenter House, EC4Y

John Carpenter Street, EC4Y John Carpenter was town clerk of the City of London in the fifteenth century, and founder of the City of London School (City of London)

John Carpenter Street, EC4Y

Junction Approach, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Borough)

Junction Approach, SE1

Lambert House, SE1 Lambert House is sited on Southwark Street (Southwark)

Lambert House, SE1

Lambeth Hill, EC4V Lambeth Hill is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Lambeth Hill, EC4V

Lavington Street, SE1 Lavington Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Lavington Street, SE1

Little Trinity Lane, EC4V Little Trinity Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Little Trinity Lane, EC4V

Lockesley Square, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Lockesley Square, SE1

Maiden Lane, SE1 Maiden Lane is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Maiden Lane, SE1

Marion’s Way, SE1 Marion’s Way was named after Marion Marples, a local campaigner who died in 2019 (Southwark)

Marion’s Way, SE1

Marlborough Gardens, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Marlborough Gardens, SE1

Merchants House, SE1 Merchants House is a block on Southwark Street (Borough)

Merchants House, SE1

Meymott Street, SE1 Meymott Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Meymott Street, SE1

Millennium Bridge House, EC4V Millennium Bridge House is a block on High Timber Street (City of London)

Millennium Bridge House, EC4V

Milroy Walk, SE1 Milroy Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Milroy Walk, SE1

New Court, EC4V New Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4Y postal area (City of London)

New Court, EC4V

New Globe Walk, SE1 New Globe Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

New Globe Walk, SE1

Nicholson Street, SE1 Nicholson Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Nicholson Street, SE1

O’Meara Street, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

O’Meara Street, SE1

Ocean House, EC4R Ocean House is a block on Cousin Lane (City of London)

Ocean House, EC4R

Old Theatre Court, SE1 Old Theatre Court is a block on Park Street (Southwark)

Old Theatre Court, SE1

One Blackfriars Tower, SE1 One Blackfriars Tower is a building on Upper Ground (Southwark)

One Blackfriars Tower, SE1

Oystergate Walk, SE1 Oystergate Walk is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Borough)

Oystergate Walk, SE1

Paris Garden, SE1 Paris Garden is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Paris Garden, SE1

Park Street, SE1 Park Street runs one block south of Bankside (Southwark)

Park Street, SE1

Paul’s Walk, EC4V Paul’s Walk runs along the north bank of the Thames (City of London)

Paul’s Walk, EC4V

Perkins Square, SE1 Perkins Square is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Perkins Square, SE1

Peter’s Hill, EC4V Peter’s Hill is the northern access to the Millennium Bridge (City of London)

Peter’s Hill, EC4V

Platts Lane, WC1R Platts Lane is a location in London (South Bank)

Platts Lane, WC1R

Porter Street, SE1 Porter Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Porter Street, SE1

Price’s Street, SE1 Price’s Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

Price’s Street, SE1

Puddle Dock, EC4V Puddle Dock is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Puddle Dock, EC4V

Queen St Place, EC4R Queen St Place is one of the streets of London in the EC4R postal area (City of London)

Queen St Place, EC4R

Queen Street Place, EC4R Queen Street Place is a location in London (City of London)

Queen Street Place, EC4R

Queen Street, EC4R Queen Street is a street in the City of London which runs between Upper Thames Street and Cheapside (City of London)

Queen Street, EC4R

Queen Victoria Street, EC4V Queen Victoria Street was built in 1861 to provide a more efficient approach to London’s central business district (City of London)

Queen Victoria Street, EC4V

Queenhithe, EC4V Queenhithe is a small and ancient ward of the City of London, situated by the River Thames and a minor street (City of London)

Queenhithe, EC4V

Queensbridge House, EC4V Queensbridge House is located on Upper Thames Street (City of London)

Queensbridge House, EC4V

Red Lion Court, SE1 Red Lion Court is a building on Park Street (Southwark)

Red Lion Court, SE1

Redcross Way, SE1 Redcross Way was previously called Red Cross Street (Borough)

Redcross Way, SE1

Rennie Street, SE1 Rennie Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Rennie Street, SE1

Riverside House, SE1 Riverside House is sited on Southwark Bridge Road (Southwark)

Riverside House, SE1

Robinson Road, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Robinson Road, SE1

Rochester Walk, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Borough)

Rochester Walk, SE1

Rose Alley, SE1 Rose Alley is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Rose Alley, SE1

Sampson House, SE1 Sampson House is a block on Hopton Street (Southwark)

Sampson House, SE1

Scoresby Street, SE1 Scoresby Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Scoresby Street, SE1

Senator House, EC4V Senator House is a block on Queen Victoria Street (City of London)

Senator House, EC4V

Sir John Lyon House, EC4V Sir John Lyon House can be found on High Timber Street (City of London)

Sir John Lyon House, EC4V

Soho Wharf, SE1 Soho Wharf is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Soho Wharf, SE1

Solomon Way, E1 Solomon Way is a location in London (Southwark)

Solomon Way, E1

Southwark Bridge, EC4V Southwark Bridge is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (River Thames)

Southwark Bridge, EC4V

Southwark Bridge, SE1 This is a street in the EC4R postcode area (River Thames)

Southwark Bridge, SE1

Southwark Street, SE1 Southwark Street is a major street just south of the River Thames. It runs between Blackfriars Road to the west and Borough High Street. (Southwark)

Southwark Street, SE1

Stew Lane, EC4V Stew Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Stew Lane, EC4V

Stoney Street, SE1 Stoney Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Borough)

Stoney Street, SE1

Sumner Street, SE1 Sumner Street runs from Great Guildford Street to Southwark Bridge Road (Southwark)

Sumner Street, SE1

Tallis House, EC4Y Tallis House is a block on Tallis Street (City of London)

Tallis House, EC4Y

Thames House, SE1 Thames House can be found on Park Street (Southwark)

Thames House, SE1

Thames Reach, SE28 Thames Reach is a location in London (Southwark)

Thames Reach, SE28

The Blue Fin Building, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

The Blue Fin Building, SE1

The Hop Exchange, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Borough)

The Hop Exchange, SE1

The Terrace, SE1 The Terrace is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Southwark)

The Terrace, SE1

Thrale Street, SE1 Thrale Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Thrale Street, SE1

Three Barrels Walk, EC4V Three Barrels Walk is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Three Barrels Walk, EC4V

Titan House, SE1 Titan House is a block on Southwark Street (Southwark)

Titan House, SE1

Triangle Court, SE1 Triangle Court is a block on Redcross Way (Borough)

Triangle Court, SE1

Trig Lane, EC4V A street within the EC4V postcode (City of London)

Trig Lane, EC4V

Unilever House, EC4Y Unilever House is a block on Victoria Embankment (City of London)

Unilever House, EC4Y

Upper Thames Street, EC4V Upper Thames Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

Upper Thames Street, EC4V

Victor Wharf, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Victor Wharf, SE1

White Hind Alley, SE1 White Hind Alley was an old street of Bankside (Southwark)

White Hind Alley, SE1

White Lion Hill, EC4V White Lion Hill is one of the streets of London in the EC4V postal area (City of London)

White Lion Hill, EC4V

Whttington House, EC4R Whttington House can be found on College Hill (City of London)

Whttington House, EC4R

William Street, SE1 William Street was the name for Gambia Street between the 1770s and 1892 (Southwark)

William Street, SE1

Winchester Square, SE1 Winchester Square is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Winchester Square, SE1

Winchester Walk, SE1 Winchester Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Southwark)

Winchester Walk, SE1

Winchester Wharf, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Southwark)

Winchester Wharf, SE1

Zoar Street, SE1 Zoar Street is named after the former Zoar Chapel here, named for the Biblical Zoara (Southwark)

Zoar Street, SE1

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