Free early years visits
Early Years' Visits are for Early Years Practitioners working in children's centres, nurseries and pre-schools who want to lead a self-guided visit to Tate Modern or Tate Britain with groups of under 5s in their care.
Early Years Visits to Tate Modern and Tate Britain are free. All groups must book in advance of visiting.
When you book a visit, please advise us of any specific access requirements that members of your group may have.
How to make a booking
Early years visits are available Monday to Friday from 10.00 - 12.00 during school term-time.
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.
The maximum number of visitors per visit is 30 and our recommended ratio for 1-5 year-olds is 1:5.
If you would like to discuss your booking over the phone, call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (option 3):
- Monday to Friday 10.00–16.00, during Term time
- Monday to 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 contact us:
- Range of dates for your visit
- Group size and age of students
- School address, telephone number and your school email address
Alternatively you can email us at schoolsandteachers@tate.org.uk.
You will receive your booking confirmation by email, which you can show on a mobile phone at the entrance. Alternatively, you can print the tickets out.
Planning your visit
Early Years visits to Tate Modern and Tate Britain take approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. We advise choosing a few gallery rooms to explore together and not trying to do too much on one visit. Once inside the gallery we ask that you split up into smaller groups when moving around.
For more information visit the Tate Modern visit page or Tate Britain visit page.
The gallery has step-free access and accessible toilets throughout, shops, and the opportunity to buy food and drink.
Snacks and lunches can be eaten in the schools’ lunchroom at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Please let us know if you would like to use either of them when making your booking. At Tate Modern you are welcome to eat in any non-gallery space such as the level 4 concourse, level 1 bridge or Turbine Hall.
Accessible Parking
Tate Britain has limited accessible onsite parking. There are five accessible parking spaces for disabled visitors, accessed via John Islip 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.
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
The Quiet Room at Tate Britain can be used by all visitors including groups, if space away from the gallery is required. It is located on the upper floor.
Tate Modern has 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
At Tate Britain these are located around the gallery. Ask the Visitor Experience Team if you need assistance with finding these.
Here you can borrow:
- Ear defenders (both adult and child sizes)
- Ramble tags
- Magnifier overlay sheets
- Coloured gel overlay sheets
Read detailed information on Tate’s access resources, including communication cards and audio description recordings of artworks.
At Tate Modern 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
Visual stories
To help plan your visit to Tate Britain or Tate Modern, have a look at our visual stories. They include photographs and information about what you can expect from a visit to the galleries.
Read our picks of family-friendly art highlights at Tate Britain and Tate Modern.
Additionally, you can email the Early Years and Families’ team earlyyears@tate.org.uk, who can advise on activities suitable for your group.
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.
A full route map, as well as a list of highlights across the route, can be found here:
You and your under 5s 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.
Early years' practitioners are responsible for their under 5s' 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.