London is one of the top cities in the world to enjoy and explore the world of classic, contemporary and cutting edge art. With many forms and many art schools, the city itself has homegrown some of the best in the industry and presents both popular and overlooked artistic icons from throughout the centuries. With the Chilworth London Paddington located in the heart of West London, guests will be ideally placed to explore some of the best art galleries in the English capital.
This blog will outline everything guests of hotels near Chilworth will need to know for a first time visit to the Tate Modern. From transport routes to entry fees, this radical art museum is a must for culture connoisseurs visiting London for the first time.
History Of The Tate Modern
Charting international contemporary art from the start of the 20th century up to the modern day, the Tate Modern is part of the larger Tate group of art galleries that also include the Tate Britain in Pimlico, Tate St Ives and the Tate Liverpool. The Tate Modern, however, is the youngest of the group, having been opened on the banks of the River Thames in the year 2000.
The Tate Modern was built into the former Bankside Power Station, closed in 1981 and at risk of demolition until it was taken over by the Tate group. The gallery was expanded in the mid-noughties to include an extra 5000 square metres of space, due to its footfall exceeding expectations in the first years of its existence. Thanks to the expansion, the Tate Modern sees millions visit its many free and temporary exhibits each year, whilst programmed speakers and workshops are programmed throughout the year.
Exhibits At The Tate Modern
The Tate Modern has hosted a wealth of famous artists from throughout the 20th and 21st century. Among its permanent exhibitions, visitors can see works by Picasso and Claude Monet, whilst temporary exhibitions have recently included the works of Andy Warhol, Nam June Paik and an alternative history of surrealist painting.
Each of the 8 permanent exhibition spaces have a different theme and focus, whilst temporary exhibitions are often situated in the Boiler House, which usually hosts two exhibits that are ticketed. Turbine Hall – the large courtyard space, is often used for installations and sculptures by contemporary artists, whilst the Tanks, focused on a room of large oil tanks, commissions video art every year for the space.
Tate Modern Layout
There are two sides to the Tate Modern – the Boiler House and the Switch House, separated by the large Turbine Hall. Guests of Paddington Hotel special offers visiting for the first time might be confused at first, but fear not, there are two different lifts and staircase systems that run to separate floors with 11 in total, though the building itself is 6 floors tall. Floors 0, 2, 3 and 4 contain galleries whilst others contain offices, bars, restaurant and cafe areas.
How To Get To The Tate Modern
Whether stopping by before your Paddington afternoon tea or diving into the many Tate Modern galleries, the building itself is easy to reach from Southwark Station, a 0.4 mile walk across the river on the Jubilee Line. Train stations nearby include Blackfriars and London Bridge, the latter also running a tube station.
55 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London W2 3UY
