Guide
Tate Britain tickets explained
You do not need a ticket to see the main collection at Tate Britain — it is free and you can walk straight in during opening hours. You only pay for major temporary exhibitions, which use timed entry slots every 15 minutes. Tours and experiences sold by third parties are separate again.
- Collection
- Free, no booking
- Exhibitions
- Paid, timed slots
- Members
- Free exhibition entry
- Open
- Daily 10:00–18:00
What is free?
The permanent collection displays — Turner, Constable, Hogarth, Blake, the Pre-Raphaelites, Bacon, Hepworth, Hockney and Riley among them — are free to everyone. Drop in any time between 10:00 and 18:00, with last entry around 17:15–17:30.
What needs a paid ticket?
Major temporary exhibitions are ticketed. Entry is by timed slot in 15-minute windows, and popular shows do sell out at weekends and in school holidays, so book ahead if your dates are fixed. Tate Members get unlimited free exhibition entry without booking.
Correct as of August 2026 — check tate.org.uk before you travel.
Where do guided tours fit in?
Guided tours and walking tours that include Tate Britain are run by independent operators, not by the gallery. They are useful if you want context and a route planned for you, especially for the Turner rooms.
Affiliate disclosure: Some ticket links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the price you pay or what we recommend.
See tours and ticketsBooking tips
Book exhibition slots for late morning or after 15:00 for a calmer room. Arrive within your slot window, keep bags small to speed up security, and remember the gallery closes at 18:00 — a 17:00 arrival is not enough time for a paid show.