Tate Modern

Tate Modern is a very large gallery made of two buildings, Natalie Bell Building and Blavatnik Building.

Visiting all galleries involves moving around on different floors and buildings, across indoor bridges. Lifts are available on each level. Visit our Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Provision section for more information.

There are five entrances to the gallery.

Download the map

Turbine Hall entrance on Holland Street

• There is a ramp into level 0 of the gallery
• A flight of steps with a handrail runs alongside the length of the ramp
• From here, there is escalator, lift and stair access to all levels

River entrance on Queen’s Walk

• The river entrance provides access directly to level 1.
• From here there are lifts and staircase to all floors in the Natalie Bell Building

Blavatnik Building entrance on Sumner Street

• The entrance is located on the south side of the building and it provides access directly to the Terrace Bar and Terrace shop
• From here there are lifts to all levels in the Blavatnik Building and access to the Natalie Bell Building via Level 1 Bridge
• The two parts of the Tate Modern building: Natalie Bell Building and Blavatnik Building are connected on Level 0 through Turbine Hall, Level 1 Bridge and Level 4 Bridge

South entrance

• Two RADAR Key operated lifts link the South Entrance on Level 1 and the Ticket desks in the Turbine Hall on Level 0. RADAR keys are available from staff at the South Entrance on Level 1, and from the cloakroom and ticket desks on Level 0

Additional entrance to the Café

• There is an additional entrance to the Café on Level 1 next to the Turbine Hall entrance on Holland Street

Natalie Bell Building and Blavatnik Building

• The two parts of the Tate Modern building: Natalie Bell Building and Blavatnik Building are connected on Level 0 through Turbine Hall, Level 1 Bridge and Level 4 Bridge

Wheelchairs, prams and buggies

• All entrances are accessible for wheelchairs, prams and buggies

Six wheelchairs, three mobility scooters and one walker are available at the gallery.

If you want to borrow a wheelchair you can either book in advance or ask a member of staff on arrival (subject to availability). The reservation is free.

If you want to borrow a mobility scooter please book in advance giving at least 24 hours’ notice. The reservation is free. You must have driven a mobility scooter before to use one at Tate Modern.

To book:

Email ticketing@tate.org.uk

Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (daily 09.45–18.00)

Please note your name, contact details, date and time of visit are required to make the booking.

Information desks

Information desks are located near the River entrance, in the Turbine Hall and in the Clore Welcome Room on Level 0. Staff are happy to help with any questions you have.

Toilets

Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor, on the concourses.
A Changing Places toilet is available on Level 0 Natalie Bell Building. Visitors can access the toilet using their RADAR key. RADAR keys are available from the cloakroom and ticket desks on Level 0, and from staff at the South Entrance on Level 1.

It offers:

• Plenty of room for carers
• Full room coverage electric hoist equipment
• Height adjustable changing bench
• Paper roll
• Height adjustable wash hand basin
• Non-slip floor
• Privacy screen
• Seating

Baby changing facilities

• The Baby Care Room is located on Level 0 Natalie Bell Building
• Additional nappy-changing facilities are available in all toilets on each floor

Lifts

• There are four lifts in the Natalie Bell Building part of the building situated by the main stairs on each floor. You can reach the lifts from the River entrance, the Turbine Hall entrance and the Café entrance
• There are eight lifts in the Blavatnik Building, situated by the main stairs on each floor
• Two RADAR Key operated lifts link the South Entrance on Level 1 and the Ticket desks in the Turbine Hall on Level 0. RADAR keys are available from staff at the South Entrance on Level 1, and from the cloakroom and ticket desks on Level 0

Cloakroom and Lockers

• The cloakroom is located on level 0 Natalie Bell Building. The service is free of charge
• You may be requested to leave briefcases, bags or umbrellas in the cloakroom
• Buggies can also be stored there, subject to space availability
• Self-service lockers are located in the Tanks lobby on Level 0 Blavatnik Building
• The use of the lockers is free of charge with the requirement of a £1 deposit
• Bags larger than cabin bag size (55cm x 40cm x 20cm), sports or recreational equipment (musical instruments), large wheelie bags or boxes are not permitted into the gallery
• Foldable bicycles, large skate boards and child or adult scooters are permitted into the building but must be deposited in the cloakroom.

Seating

• There are seats and benches throughout Tate Modern galleries, Turbine Hall and the concourses
• Folding seats are available – just ask a member of staff or pick up a stool from the racks located on the concourses on levels 2, 3 and 4

Restaurant, Café and Espresso Bar

• The Kitchen and Bar on Level 6 Natalie Bell Building and the Restaurant on Level 9 Blavatnik Building are both accessible via lifts. Both have waiter service
• Café on level 1 Natalie Bell Building and the Terrace Bar on Level 1 Blavatnik Building are accessible from street level. The Espresso Bar on Level 3 Natalie Bell Building is accessible via lifts in the Natalie Bell Building. All are self-service but staff are happy to help if you need assistance

Tate Modern shops

There are four shops at Tate Modern:

• the Terrace shop on Level 1, Blavatnik Building
• the Turbine Hall shop on Level 0, Natalie Bell Building
• the River Shop on Level 1, Natalie Bell Building
• the Exhibition Shop on Level 3, Natalie Bell Building

Telephones

• There is a card and cash pay phone on Level 1 in the Natalie Bell Building, under the staircase in the lift lobby
• They are equipped with volume control and inductive couplers, and are accessible to wheelchair users
• Staff at the Information desks will call the Dial-a-Ride service for visitors

Water fountains

• There are water fountains by the toilets on levels 2, 3 and 4 in the Natalie Bell Building

• There are no water fountains in the Blavatnik Building

Member Facilities

• The Members Room is located on Level 8 Blavatnik Building. Lifts are available on every floor
• The Members Bar is located on Level 5 Natalie Bell Building. Lifts are available on every floor

Low frequency sound during Hyundai Commission: Tania Bruguera

As part of the Hyundai Commission: Tania Bruguera installation there is a sound system in the Turbine Hall that produces low frequency sound. Because the sound frequencies are low some people can feel the sound bodily when they stand or pass through certain areas of the hall. The ear defenders available from the Information desks might not help with the bodily sensations of the sounds.

If you prefer to bypass the installation, we recommend using the Blavatnik Building entrance. The Blavatnik Building is generally quieter than the Natalie Bell Building.

The River Entrance gives direct access to Level 1 Information Desk where visitors can pick up ear defenders. It also gives direct access to the Turbine Hall and the installation.

Download the map

For more information in advance of your visit, contact the Information team - call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (09.00–18.00 daily) or email information@tate.org.uk

Admission to Tate Modern is free, but there is a charge for special exhibitions.

Visitors with a disability pay a concessionary rate, and a companion/carers entrance is free.
Details are available on each special exhibition page.

The ticket desk is in the Turbine Hall on Level 0. Consider purchasing your e-ticket in advance on the special exhibition page and show it at the exhibition entrance. No booking fee.

Guide dogs

We welcome guide dogs. A drinking bowl is available at the cloakroom on level 0 – just ask a member of staff.

Enlarged print gallery plans

Enlarged print gallery plans are available on request from the Information desks.

Large print guides

Large print exhibition guides are available at all special exhibitions at Tate Modern. Please ask at the exhibition entrance.

Large print captions are currently not available for the permanent collection. Visitors can borrow a Magnifier from one of the Information Desks.

Magnifiers and Coloured Overlays

Magnifiers and coloured overlays are available from the Information desks and the exhibition entrances.

Audioguide

The audioguide is designed to give you an insight into the artworks featured once you are in front of them. It is not designed to navigate you through the gallery to each work. A separate paper guide will help you with finding each artwork.

• The Tate Modern audioguide talks you through a selection of the most iconic works in the collection displays, including international paintings and sculptures spanning a century.
• Each work is thoroughly described as the narrator draws your attention to each feature of the painting, sculpture or installation.
• Description is followed by information about the artist and the context in which the work was made.

You can pick up the audioguide from the Multimedia desk on Level 1.

The audioguide is free of charge for blind and partially sighted visitors.

Touch tours

Touch Tours introduce visually impaired visitors to the thematic arrangement of the displays. Tours engage with the ideas, materials and techniques of the art on display.

Touch tours typically include a sculpture that can be explored through direct handling and a number of other two and three dimensional works that are explored using a combination of raised images, handling objects, description and discussion.

We ask that visitors book at least a week in advance, although it may be possible to arrange tours at shorter notice. Tours can be arranged for any time during normal gallery opening hours.

To book call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (option 2 (9.00-18.00, daily)

Audio described tours

Audio described tours explore works on display in the permanent collection and the special exhibitions.

Check the list of tours available on the What’s on pages.

Tours takes place seated in the gallery and are delivered by visually impaired artists. Hearing loops and amplifiers are available.

Sighted companions and guide dogs are welcome.

Audio described tours at Tate Modern occur 4 times a year. Each tour lasts around one hour.

Please join us in the Community Room (in the Blavatnik building, next to Terrace Café) for tea and coffee from 15.30 before the tour.

Audio described tours at Tate are free. No booking required.

If you have any other access needs that you would like to let us know about please contact: Public Programmes: publicprogrammes@tate.org.uk and use the subject line ACCESS or call +44 (0)20 7887 8888.

Hearing loops

The following areas of Tate Modern are fitted with a hearing loop:

• Information desks
• Auditorium
• Hearing loops are also available on most gallery tours

Find out whether an event at Tate Modern has a hearing loop in the What’s on pages.

BSL talks

Join our BSL talks to discover works on display in the permanent collection and the special exhibitions.

Tate trained guides deliver tours at Tate Modern in spoken English with British Sign Language interpretation. Hearing loops and amplifiers are available.

Each tour lasts around one hour.

Check the list of tours available on the What’s on pages to learn about dates, time and meeting point.

BSL Talks at Tate are free. No booking required.

If you have any other access needs that you would like to let us know about please contact: Public Programmes: publicprogrammes@tate.org.uk and use the subject line ACCESS or call +44 (0)20 7887 8888.

Signing Art training programme

Signing Art was a training programme for Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users interested in developing the skills needed to become gallery guides. The programme included sessions on; research skills for art, professionalism, and how to best present to a Deaf audience in a gallery setting. These three sessions have been replicated as videos here in BSL or with BSL translation throughout as a reference for those interested in learning more.

Signing Art is supported by the Skills Funding Agency

• Signing Art video 1: Serena Cant on research skills
• Signing Art video 2: Signing Art: John Wilson on how to present to a Deaf audience
• Signing Art video 3: Marcus Dickey Horley on professionalism in museums and galleries

Signing Art Project In a Box: A guide on how to implement your own training programme

• British Sign Language Lipspeaking tours [PDF document, 1MB]
• Signing Art Project in a Box [PDF document, 140KB]
• Signing Art Project: Lesson plans [PDF document, 112KB]

Supported by the Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation

Multimedia guide

The handheld computer plays video clips of interpreters signing a tour of 14 highlights of the displays, as well as presenting visual interactive content such as games and opinion polls.

The tour provides on-demand interpretation for deaf and hearing impaired visitors in their preferred language.

Multimedia guides are available from Level 1 multimedia guide desk. The guide is free for deaf and hearing impaired visitors.

We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs in the gallery. Drinking bowls are available from the cloakroom – just ask a member of staff.

• Coloured overlays and magnifiers are available at the Information desks and at the special exhibition entrances
• Large print captions are available in all special exhibitions. Ask at the exhibition entrance

Ear defenders

Ear defenders can be borrowed from the Information desks.

Low frequency sound during Hyundai Commission: Tania Bruguera

As part of the Hyundai Commission: Tania Bruguera installation there is a sound system in the Turbine Hall that produces low frequency sound. Because the sound frequencies are low some people can feel the sound bodily when they stand or pass through certain areas of the hall. The ear defenders available from the Information desks might not help with the bodily sensations of the sounds.

If you prefer to bypass the installation, we recommend using the Blavatnik Building entrance. The Blavatnik Building is generally quieter than the Natalie Bell Building.

The River Entrance gives direct access to Level 1 Information Desk where visitors can pick up ear defenders. It also gives direct access to the Turbine Hall and the installation.

Download the map

For more information in advance of your visit, contact the Information team - call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 (09.00–18.00 daily) or email information@tate.org.uk

Tate Modern programmes events for all audiences
Access Events at Tate Modern

Tate Modern offers events and workshops for a wide range of community groups. Attendees currently include mental health service users, people who experience homelessness, adults with learning difficulties and ESOL (English as a Second Language) groups.

Find out more about Group Visits.

For:

• group reservations
• mobility scooter reservations
• wheelchair reservations
• accessible car park reservations
• membership and ticketing services

Email ticketing@tate.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (09.45–18.00, daily)

For:

• general information to plan your visit
• book a touch tour

Email information@tate.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 2 (09.00–18.00, daily)

For out of hours emergencies call +44 (0)20 7887 8999​

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