Turner, Scab, Filth From the Thames 1840-2000

Emerging social elites seem to find it necessary to justify their 'natural' right to wealth and privilege. This is done in many ways. The one that interests the reader here is the use of aesthetics to negotiate the social positions of new economic forces. Tate himself directly convinced Harcourt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to help out with funds to build the Tate in order to circumvent the established aesthetic orthodoxy of his period. From its beginning, the Tate has supported the taste values of whichever social elite is emerging at the time.

Address

Tate Modern
Bankside
London SE1 9TG
 
Information: 020 7887 8008 (international +44 20 7887 8008)
Minicom: 020 7887 8687

Gallery Hours

Tate Modern opens to the public on 12 May

Sunday to Thursday, 10.00-18.00; Friday to Saturday, 10.00-22.00
(galleries open at 10.15am)

Admission

Admission to the Gallery will be free, but donations from visitors are needed to support the Gallery's work. You can also help by visiting the Shops and Cafés or by joining Tate Friends. The Supporters section of this site gives more information about how to help the gallery financially and the benefits that supporters gain.

Getting Here

Tate Modern is located on the south bank of the River Thames at Bankside, near Blackfriars Bridge, opposite St Paul's Cathedral and next to the Globe Theatre.

By underground: Southwark (Jubilee Line) and Blackfriars (District and Circle Lines) are the closest underground stations both of which are less than ten minutes walk away.

By bus: A number of buses service the area, including:

45 Streatham Hill to King's Cross via Holborn Circus stopping on Blackfriars Bridge Road
63 Crystal Palace to King's Cross via Farringdon Road stopping on Blackfriars Bridge Road
100 Elephant and Castle to Shadwell stopping on Blackfriars Bridge Road
381 Peckham to Waterloo stopping on Southwark Street
344 Clapham Junction to Liverpool Street station stopping on Southwark Bridge Road

By train: Thameslink links between Bedford and Brighton stop at Blackfriars and London Bridge stations. London Bridge also carries a service to South East London and Kent.

By ferry: A new Fast Ferry service has begun between Embankment and London Bridge City with a weekday extension to Canary Wharf, stopping at the recently opened Bankside Pier outside the Globe Theatre.

By taxi or Dial-a-Ride: If arriving by taxi or Dial-a-Ride please ask the driver to take you to the West Entrance on Holland Street.

By car: Public transport is the easiest way of reaching the gallery as parking at Tate Modern is severely restricted in the surrounding streets. Nine parking spaces for visitors with mobility impairments are available only by booking in advance on 020 7887 8008 . These car parking spaces are situated in Holland Street close to the West Entrance to the building.

By coach: Coach drop-off points are situated on Southwark Street, a short walk from the West Entrance.

By bike: A bicycle shelter is being provided close to the West Entrance.

By foot: The Millennium Bridge will provide a new pedestrian route across to St Paul's Cathedral and the City and to St Paul's underground including Central Line services. Approximate walking time from St Paul's Cathedral will be about 10 minutes.

Visit the London Transport site for more information about buses and the Underground.

Access

Entrances to the Gallery

There are two entrances to the Gallery:
The North Entrance is situated either side of the chimney and is reached via the river walkway. Access is directly to Level 2 from which there are lifts and staircase to all floors.
The West Entrance to Tate Modern is on Holland Street. Entry to the Gallery is via a ramp which extends down into the Turbine Hall and Level 1. A flight of steps with a handrail runs alongside the length of the ramp. Access to the rest of the gallery is via escalator, lift and staircase to all floors
Entry for wheelchairs, prams, and buggies is via the North Entrance or via the Café Entrance situated next to the West Entrance ramp.

Practicalities

Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs for the deaf are welcome.

Wheelchairs for use by Visitors
Six wheelchairs are available on request for use by visitors. It is possible to book a wheelchair in advance by contacting Visitor Services on 020 7401 xxxx

Tickets for Special Exhibitions
Disabled visitors can buy concessionary tickets for special exhibitions and if they are accompanied their escort may enter free. Concessionary rates also apply to Senior Citizens, UB40 card-holders and students in full-time education. Full details are in the leaflet What's On.

Seating
Benches can be found in a number of galleries. Additional seating is provided in the Turbine Hall and concourses and in the surrounding landscape. Viewing stools can be picked up from the concourses on Levels 3, 4 and 5.

Telephones
Card and Cash pay phones are situated on Levels 1 and 2 under the staircase.

Toilets and Cloakrooms
Fully accessible toilets are located on each floor. The cloakroom is situated on the Level 1.

Lifts
There are 4 lifts which are situated by the main stairs on the concourses of each floor. These provide access to all levels.

Programmes and Services

Tate Modern will offers a number of programmes and services for visitors with disabilities. Further information will go live in May.

Baby Care Room

A Baby Care room is found on Level 1. Additional Baby Care facilities are available in the toilets on each floor.

Shopping

The shops at Tate Modern will stock an impressive range of art books - over 10,000 different titles. Seventy new products have been made exclusively for the Tate, and four books have been published to celebrate and commemorate the opening of Tate Modern, ranging in price from £3.50 to £30.

There's also a great choice of posters and prints, stationery, slides and postcards featuring works from the Tate Collection.

If you can't visit in person, you can order Tate products by phone on 020 7887 8769 / 8870. See the Shop Online section of this site for online Tate shopping. Every purchase benefits the gallery.

Eating

There will be four places to eat or drink at Tate Modern, two offering high quality brasserie-style food and outstanding views across London. They are all managed by Tate, for Tate, so purchases directly support the Gallery.

• Café 2 seats 240 people and will be open the same hours as the gallery: Sunday to Thursday, 10.00am-6.00pm; Friday and Saturday: 10.00am-10:00pm.
• The Espresso bar on Level 4 will be open daily 10.00am-6.00pm
• Café 7, at the top of the building on Level 7, seats 170 people and is open daily for lunch from 11.45am-3.00pm (until 4.00pm at weekends). Café 7 is also open for evening meals on Fridays and Saturdays, from 7.00pm-11.00pm. Half of the tables can be reserved in advance, and booking opens on 1 May, for visits from 12 May onwards.
• The Café 7 Bar is open Sunday to Thursday, 10.30am-6.00pm; Friday and Saturday, 10.30am-11.00pm.

Photography

Photography is not normally allowed in the gallery.