Tate Britain

simonlarois

Great Tate Britain 3rd September 2008

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My absolute favourite gallery in the whole wide world! Tate Britain is the place to go for art, with a good mix of modern and traditional, old masters and new pretenders.

Hosting the perennially controversial Turner Prize exhibition each year, the Tate Britain gallery offers a glimpse of the forefront of modern art mixed with classic portraiture and sculpture. My personal favourite is the statue ‘The Sluggard’. Also, video of an orange exploding! On the (arguably) more traditional front, there are (or were) some great William Blake illustrations from his illuminated manuscripts on display.

Overall, a great day out – you could spend hours there and not see everything. And, like all of our Great British galleries, it’s free!

codam

Great museum 31st August 2008

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Though less popular than its overshadowing sister museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain is an excellent museum. The museum, located on Millbank, houses historic British Art. It has got some fantastic pieces, from Constable to Turner to Francis Bacon to Tracey Emin. If you’ve only got time for one Tate during your visit to London, then it should be Tate Modern, but if you do have time you should definitely visit Tate Britain. This summer Turner Prize winner Martin Creed has had a display there which consists of a runner sprinting through Tate Britain – proving that it is no less exciting than its sister museum.

ajay73

Hmmm 22nd August 2008

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After hearing Tate Britain this, Tate Britain that, I really had high expectations. But upon arrival, I was asking myself if I was in the wrong building! First of all, it was very isolated from most of London attractions. Not easy to find or to get to. The staff strutted around in black t-shirts, acting like a bunch of pretentious hairstylists. I ended up asking a janitor questions about a specific painting because the staff hadn't a clue!

There were definitely some beautiful works of art, but the tone of the environment left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll probably never waste my time there again as there are so many other great places to visit in London.

traveladdict

Brilliant 21st August 2008

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Tate Britain is well worth a visit if in the capital. Just as good as Tate Modern, its sister museum!

I love the exhibitions they have at regular intervals - Bacon's one in September will be well worth a visit.

Easy to get to - don't forget it!

deadleg21

tate britain 21st August 2008

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The forgotten sister of the tate modern is brilliant in its own sense. It houses the more traditional modern art and is a great asset of london which is often overlooked. If you've seen that tate modern and liked it the britain is the obvious successor - i can say you wont be disappointed. Personally i have visited during the day and am intrigued by Ltro_K's suggestion of "Late at Tate", i will certainly be giving this a try. On the 11th of september an exhit by francis bacon will begin, ending on the 4th january. His work is truely stunning and i believe my personal favourite "head VI" will be on display.

Litro_K

One (often forgotten) Great Tate 21st July 2008

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I am surprised that 11 people have sung the praises of Tate Modern, but its poor relation, Tate Britain, seems to have been ignored so far. I wonder why this is - the building is arguably much more beautiful, dating from 1897, on a site previously occupied by a prison. What's not to like? The riverside at Millbank is calmer, the pace more relaxed for visitors, giving stellar views towards Westminster.

As for the art, some of my favourites are housed in the permanent collection here: John William Waterhouse's 'The Lady of Shalott', John Singer Sargent's 'Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth', 'The Bath of Psyche' by Lord Leighton and some noted works by Stubbs, Gainsborough, and Hogarth. Just as impressive as the feted exhibitions in the Turbine Hall, and the surroundings are a great deal more peaceful!

The gallery comes alive on the first of every month with special 'Late at Tate' evenings, designed to correspond with the main exhibition going on at the time. There are usually free talks, live music, djs, half-price admission to the paid exhibitions and lots of fabulously artsy, liberated (drunken) people to watch.

It might not be as famous as Tate Modern, but it’s definitely not the fusty older sibling, either. Definitely worth a look - many, in fact. And if you still prefer the other one, you can always hop back on the river boat linking the two.

Five massive stars for a great British art institution!