From 23 May Tate to Tate, a new boat service on the river Thames, will be available for gallery lovers.
The service, which runs every forty minutes during gallery opening hours between Tate Modern and Tate Britain, will be launched on 22 May by The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. The boat also stops at the London Eye.
A new pier, located in front of Tate Britain at Millbank, has been designed by the award-winning architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, designers of the BA London Eye. Dramatically constructed from welded steel, the 30-metre silver structure features a specially commissioned lighting installation by artist Angela Bulloch, who was shortlisted for the 1997 Turner Prize. Fluorescent tubing embedded into the floor of the pontoon will be computer programmed to provide changing lighting effects on the structure at night.
The Tate to Tate boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, is a state-of-the art 220 seat catamaran with specially commissioned exterior and interior designs by leading artist Damien Hirst. The boat is sponsored by St James Homes, a property developer.
Tickets are available from Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Adult tickets are £4.50 and concessions from £2.35. Tickets are available online, from the ticket desks at Tate Britain and Tate Modern, or call 020 7887 8888 (9.45 - 17.50, Monday - Friday).