Tate Britain

What to expect

Tate Britain opened in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art, on the site of the former Millbank Prison, and was renamed Tate Britain in 2000. J. M. W. Turner left his collection to the nation, and the gallery holds a large share of his work, shown in the Clore Gallery, which opened in 1987. The 2013 renovation added a spiral staircase beneath the rotunda.

The permanent collection runs from the 16th century to today, with Constable, Blake, the Pre-Raphaelites and more recent artists such as David Hockney. It is free to enter, and temporary exhibitions are ticketed. The building is large but easy to navigate chronologically. The Turner Prize is shown here every other year. Most visitors spend one to two hours.

Don't miss

• Turner's paintings in the Clore Gallery
• Millais's Ophelia
• Rossetti's Beata Beatrix
• The spiral staircase
• William Blake's works

Tips for your visit

• The permanent collection is free, so you can see a single room and leave.
• Free tours run on the hour, and short talks are offered on some weekday afternoons.
• A river boat links the gallery's pier with Tate Modern.
• Pimlico is the nearest Tube station.