Where Are Tate's Galleries and Is Admission Free?

Tate is a family of four art galleries in England: Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, Tate Liverpool + RIBA North in Liverpool, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall. 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 match each gallery to your location and plan around the admission rule.

Gallery Locations and Admission at a Glance

The three free galleries are the simplest option if you are deciding where to go without booking ahead. Tate St Ives is the exception: plan to buy a ticket or hold a Membership before you travel.

Choosing Between the Galleries

If you are in London

Both London galleries are free, so the choice is about content rather than cost. Tate Britain holds the UK's collection of British art from 1500; Tate Modern covers international modern and contemporary art. The two are on opposite sides of central London (Millbank and Bankside), so pick by collection interest or visit one per day.

If you are in Liverpool or Cornwall

Tate Liverpool + RIBA North at Mann Island is free and fits a general city visit. Tate St Ives sits on Porthmeor Beach and is the only gallery in the family with an admission requirement — budget for a ticket or check Membership before planning the trip.

What's On and How to Plan

Tate's programme spans all four galleries, and exhibitions can be free or free for Members. Current listings include:

• Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action. at Tate Modern, until 3 May 2027 — free for Members
• Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern, until 3 Jan 2027 — free for Members
• Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira: When Words Fall Silent, Cinema Speaks at Tate Britain, until 17 Jan 2027 — free
• Ana Mendieta at Tate Modern, until 17 Jan 2027 — free for Members
• The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain — book now, free for Members

A practical approach: check the "What's on" listings for the gallery you plan to visit, note whether each exhibition is free, free for Members, or ticketed, and book where the listing says to book. If you expect to see several paid exhibitions or visit St Ives, compare the cost against Tate Membership, which the site lists from £8 a month and includes free exhibition entry at all galleries with no need to book.

Quick Verification Steps

1. Confirm the gallery and address from the list above before travelling.
2. Check whether your chosen gallery is free (Britain, Modern, Liverpool) or requires a ticket or Membership (St Ives).
3. Look up current exhibition dates and booking requirements on the What's on pages.
4. If you plan multiple paid exhibitions, price a Membership against individual tickets.

The main pitfall is assuming all Tate galleries are free: three are, but Tate St Ives is not. The second is treating exhibition entry as covered by free gallery admission — some shows are free, others are free only for Members or require booking.