Discover over one hundred years of modern and contemporary art at Tate Modern and consider how artists across the world have responded to their surroundings in new and exciting ways. Experience Tate’s iconic Turbine Hall and encounter sculptures, paintings, performances, installations, video works and more.
Free Self-Guided Visits
School Visit, Tate Modern 2016 Photo © Tate (Joe Humphrys)
'We absolutely love coming here. We've had the most amazing day … We wish we could come everyday.'
Secondary School Teacher
Be led by your curiosity!
A self-guided visit is a free, pre-booked school trip to Tate Modern, where you and your students independently explore the gallery.
All young people should see themselves reflected back through the experience of visiting the galleries. Take up space at Tate Modern and engage with art to support your students to learn about themselves, their peers and the world around them.
Choose a particular focus, follow your students' interests, or wander at your own pace.
Bring sketchbooks and dry drawing materials with you or use our free in-gallery resources to capture what you can see, hear, or feel.
Free in-gallery workbooks
£5 Exhibition Tickets
How to Make a Booking
We ask that all groups book their visit to the galleries. Please contact us at least two weeks in advance of your visit, although more time is recommended.
To do this email us at, schoolsandteachers@tate.org.uk and we will send you the relevant booking form.
If you would like to discuss your booking over the phone, call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (option 3):
- Monday - Friday 10.00-16.00, during Term time
- Monday – Friday 11.00-15.00, during the School Half Term holidays.
Please note that our phoneline is closed during the school Winter, Spring and Summer holidays.
Have the following ready when you call:
- Range of dates for your visit
- Group size and age of students
- School address, telephone number and your school email address
Bookings for our ticketed exhibitions must be made at least two weeks in advance to ensure you receive your tickets in time.
If you are enquiring about a visit for Summer Term 2026 (13th April to 31st August 2026), we will keep your email on file and begin to book in from Monday 23rd February 2026.
If you are a school visiting with children under 5, book an early years visit.
If you are a university group with students over the age of 18, book with our general ticketing team.
Access Support for School Visits
Planning Your Visit
School Visit, Tate Modern 2017 photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)
Explore the links below for practical information to support planning your visit to the gallery.
Before you arrive
By bus – Routes 40, 63 and 100 stop on Blackfriars Bridge Road
Route 381 stop on Southwark Street
Route 344 stops on Southwark Bridge Road
By train – Blackfriars 300 metres from the South exit; 800 metres from the North exit
Cannon Street 1,000 metres approx.
London Bridge 1,100 metres approx.
Waterloo 1,280 metres approx.
By Tube – Southwark: Jubilee Line, 600 metres approx.
Blackfriars: District and Circle Line, 800 metres approx.
St Paul’s: Central Line, 1,100 metres approx.
Check TFL before you travel for any changes to their services.
By coach – Coaches are able to drop groups off on Southwark Street or Sumner Street. It is then a short walk to the Turbine Hall entrance.
By boat – Travel direct between Tate Modern at Bankside Pier and Tate Britain at Millbank Pier with the Tate to Tate – RB2 service. Book the Tate to Tate boat service in advance of your visit by contacting the Schools and Teachers team.
The RB2 service runs every 30 minutes. Check Thames Clipper for the latest timetable.
For more information visit the Tate Modern visit page
The gallery has step-free access and accessible toilets throughout, three shops, and the opportunity to buy food and drink.
School Lunchroom
The McAulay lunchroom is a designated space where schools can eat lunch during their visit. A drinking tap is available in this room. This space can fit up to 100 students in total. You can book a 30-minute lunch slot from 11.00–15.00 in advance of your visit, subject to availability.
Lunches can also be eaten on the concourses across Tate Modern as well as the back of the Turbine Hall. As these spaces are neither private nor bookable, we cannot guarantee their availability.
There is a drinking tap in the McAulay lunchroom.
Lockers
School lockers are located in the McAulay lunchroom. You can book lockers in advance of your visit, subject to availability.
Toilets
There are toilets throughout the gallery, including Accessible toilets. Schools toilets are located opposite the McAulay lunchroom.
There is also a Changing Places toilet. Speak to the Schools Assistant on the Schools Welcome desk if you need to access this.
School groups also have access to the following facilities during their visit. Please note that these facilities are open to the public and availability may vary.
Multi-faith and Contemplation Room
This space can be used by all visitors, including groups if required. Contact us in advance of your visit if you have questions about using the Multi-faith and Contemplation Room with your group.
The room is located in Natalie Bell Building, Level 4, off room 2 of the Materials and Objects display. Ask the Visitor Experience Team on the day if you need assistance with finding it. You can identify them by their black Tate branded t-shirts and orange Tate lanyards.
Café
Tate Modern has three cafés. Two cafés are located in the Natalie Bell Building on Level 1 and Level 3, and one café is in the Blavatnik Building on Level 1. Purchased food can be eaten in the McAulay lunchroom during your booked timeslot.
Shops
There are three shops, all taking cash and card payments. These are located in Natalie Bell Building, Level 0 and Level 1 and Blavatnik Building, Level 1.
Accessible Parking
Tate Modern has limited accessible onsite parking. There are nine accessible parking spaces for disabled visitors, accessed via Park Street. This should be booked in advance, and a registration number provided at least 24hrs before the visit by contacting the Schools and Teachers team.
Quiet Room
We have two quiet rooms available:
- A quiet room on Level 4 of the Natalie Bell Building can be accessed from Room 7 of Materials and Objects
- A quiet room on Level 2 of the Natalie Bell Building can be accessed from Room 4 of Artist and Society
These can be used by all visitors including groups, if space away from the gallery is required.
Borrowing Access Resources
An Access Station is located in Natalie Bell Building, Level 2 concourse. Ask the Visitor Experience Team if you need assistance with finding this.
Here you can borrow:
- Ear defenders (both adult and child sizes)
- Ramble tags
- Magnifier overlay sheets
- Coloured gel overlay sheets
For detailed information on Tate’s access resources, including communication cards and audio description recordings of artworks visit: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/accessibility
Visual Story
Before you visit, you can share our Visual Story with your students to help them know what to expect when they’re in the gallery
Students under 16 must be accompanied at all times.
Maximum group size per gallery room is 20.
Required adult to student ratio is as follows:
- Under 5 years - 1:5
- 6-11 years - 1:10
- 12-16 years - 1:15
- Over 16 years - 1:20
When planning a visit to one of the Tate galleries, groups are advised to carry out a risk assessment relevant to their particular group’s needs. Teachers and group leaders are responsible for their student's behaviour and safety at all times. At no stage can Tate assume the formal duty of care on behalf of teachers.
Tate complies with all Health and Safety and Fire Safety legislation and relevant Local Authority and licensing regulations. The galleries are subject to regular inspections by these bodies and conducts its own internal audit procedure. We maintain high standards of public safety and carry out regular reviews of our risk assessments. Where there is an identified hazard and for public areas where we are introducing elements, such as new exhibitions or displays, these are recorded and can be made available for inspection by appropriate authorities. As a non-departmental body, Tate is not required to carry out Public Liability insurance.
As part of our commitment to the safety and security of our visitors, we always have security staff and invigilators on duty who are trained in emergency response procedures, including first aid.
On the day
Monday - Friday
School groups are asked to enter via the Turbine Hall entrance (entrance number 3 on the above map) and sign in at the Schools Welcome desk in the Clore Hub, Natalie Bell Building, Level 0. This is an accessible entrance.
The lead teacher will be asked to sign in on behalf of the group, collect Tate Teacher stickers, and will be given information about available resources.
You can also ask the Schools Assistants for directions or pointers to different areas of the gallery.
Please arrive at your allocated timeslot. If you are running late for your slot, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Weekends, bank holidays and school holidays
School groups can enter via the Turbine Hall entrance (entrance number 3 on the above map).
Groups can exit via any entrance. All entrances are accessible.
The Schools Welcome desk is closed at weekends and holidays- for support please speak to a member of the Visitor Experience team located throughout the gallery.
You and your students are welcome to get excited, take ownership of the gallery, and engage with the artwork. Groups are encouraged to make noise and take up space in the gallery. You are welcome to draw, sketch, make, sing, and dance in the collection spaces.
Teachers are responsible for their students’ behaviour and safety.
Students under 16 must be accompanied at all times.
Maximum group size per gallery room is 20.
We ask people to not:
- Run in the galleries
- Touch the artworks
- Eat or drink in the galleries. Our lunchroom can be booked, or outside space is available.
- Move around the gallery in large groups. We recommend smaller groups of 20 or less. Please be mindful of others in the space.
- Use wet or dusty materials that will leave behind marks, such as permanent marker, water colours, or charcoal. You are welcome to use dry materials such as pencils, pens, and colouring pencils.
We encourage you to take photos in the gallery as long as you don’t use flash or tripods. Photography is allowed for personal, non-commercial purposes only and it is the visitor’s responsibility to ensure no copyright is infringed.
Please speak to the Schools Assistants if you have any questions, need directions, or would like to request any of our accessible facilities.
The Visitor Experience team are also situated around the galleries.
After your visit
Explore our range of teaching resources once you are back at school to continue the learning in your classroom and beyond.
