What Is Tate? A Guide to the UK's Family of Art Galleries

Tate is a family of four art galleries in the UK: Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London, Tate Liverpool + RIBA North in Liverpool, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall. It houses the UK's national collection of British art from 1500 to the present alongside international modern and contemporary art. Admission is free at Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Tate Liverpool + RIBA North; Tate St Ives requires a ticket or Membership. Use this guide to decide which gallery to visit, what you can see for free, and what Tate offers online.

The four Tate galleries at a glance

The two London galleries sit on opposite banks of the Thames and are easy to combine in one trip if you have a day to spare. Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives are better suited to a dedicated visit.

What you can see

Tate's programme mixes the permanent collection with temporary exhibitions. Current and upcoming highlights listed on the site include:

• The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain — a decade explored through its "bold creativity and rebellious spirit," with booking available and free entry for Members.
• Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action. at Tate Modern — seven decades of works by the Argentinian artist that turn visitors into active participants, running until 3 May 2027 and free for Members.
• Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern — on the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo, until 3 Jan 2027 and free for Members.
• Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira: When Words Fall Silent, Cinema Speaks — an installation bridging the political and the poetic, until 17 Jan 2027 and free.
• Ana Mendieta at Tate Modern — a survey of an artist whose legacy changed contemporary art, until 17 Jan 2027 and free for Members.

Note the distinction: some exhibitions are free to all, while others are free specifically for Members. Check each listing before you travel.

Tate Membership: when it pays off

Tate Members pay from £8 a month and get free exhibition entry at all four galleries with no need to book. If you plan to see more than one ticketed exhibition in a year — or want to visit Tate St Ives, where entry itself requires a ticket or Membership — the monthly cost can be worth comparing against buying individual tickets. If you only want a single free display at Tate Britain or Tate Modern, you don't need Membership at all.

Using Tate online

You don't have to visit to use much of what Tate offers:

• Search the collection — browse over 70,000 artworks from the national collection.
• Discover Art — curated highlights if you'd rather be guided than search.
• Stories — videos, audio and articles about art and artists.
• Tate Kids — a dedicated site where children can play, draw and learn.
• Shop — books on art, artists and cultural movements, prints from over a thousand posters and artworks, and gifts including puzzles, games and art supplies.

These are useful for research, classroom planning or deciding whether an exhibition is worth a trip.

Deciding which gallery to visit

• First time in London: Tate Modern for international modern art, Tate Britain for British art — both free.
• Already seen the London galleries: Tate Liverpool + RIBA North offers a free northern alternative.
• Want art plus a landscape: Tate St Ives, but budget for a ticket or Membership.
• Travelling with children: check Tate Kids online first, then look for family-friendly displays at the free London galleries.
• Planning around a specific exhibition: confirm dates and whether entry is free or Members-only on the exhibition page before booking travel.

Practical points to confirm before you go

Opening hours, exhibition ticket prices and booking requirements are not specified in the material summarised here, so check the individual gallery page on tate.org.uk before travelling. The one firm rule to remember: Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Tate Liverpool + RIBA North are free to enter, while Tate St Ives is not.