The National Gallery, Tate Modern and Tate Britain are three of London's biggest art museums, each with a different focus. Here's how they compare, and Audioguide.London offers a free audio guide at all three.
| The National Gallery | Tate Modern | Tate Britain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection focus | European painting, about 1250-1900 | Modern and contemporary art, international | British art, 1500 to today |
| Location | Trafalgar Square | Bankside | Millbank |
| Admission | Free (permanent collection) | Free (permanent collection) | Free (permanent collection) |
| Free audio guide | Yes, via Audioguide.London | Yes, via Audioguide.London | Yes, via Audioguide.London |
If you love Old Masters like Van Gogh, Vermeer or Botticelli, start with The National Gallery. If you're drawn to modern and contemporary art, Tate Modern is the better fit. If you want to see British art's story from the 1500s to now, including Turner and contemporary British artists, Tate Britain is the one. All three are free to enter, and if you have a full day, you can reasonably fit two of them in.
Instead of separate paid audio guides at each museum, Audioguide.London is a single free audio guide that works at all three, and at three more London museums. See the free National Gallery audio guide for details on coverage and languages.
Not sure where to begin? See the National Gallery highlights or the Tate Britain highlights.
It depends on what you like. The National Gallery focuses on European painting up to about 1900, while Tate Modern focuses on modern and contemporary art. Neither is objectively better, they cover different periods.
Yes. All three offer free general admission, and no booking is usually required for the permanent collections. With a full day, visiting two is realistic.
Yes. Audioguide.London provides a free audio guide at The National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain and three other London museums.