Tate Britain, Art gallery in Westminster, London, England
Tate Britain is an art museum on the Thames riverbank in Westminster that displays over 78,000 works of British art from the 16th century to the present. The rooms spread across several floors with rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection arranged by period and theme.
The gallery opened in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art on the site of the former Millbank Prison. The name Tate Britain emerged in 2000 when the institution split from Tate Modern and focused solely on British art.
The collection holds the world's largest number of works by J. M. W. Turner, displayed in a dedicated wing. Each year, the venue hosts the Turner Prize, which recognizes British artists under 50 and often sparks debates about contemporary art.
The entrance sits a short walk from Pimlico station, and the permanent collection is open daily with free admission. Special exhibitions usually require a separate ticket, which can be booked online in advance.
During World War II, more than 700 artworks were secretly moved to Muncaster Castle in Cumbria on 24 August 1939. A brick wall was built in front of Stanley Spencer's large painting, judged too big to move, to shield it during bombing raids.
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