Hotels near Tate Britain

Tate Britain is just a short distance from Pimlico Tube station on the Victoria Line. You can also get there using the boat services that run on the River Thames – disembark at Millbank Pier.

Entry to Tate Britain is free, although you may have to pay a small charge for temporary exhibitions. The gallery is open every day of the year apart from 24–26 December. There are even free guided tours if you want to learn even more about the gallery's artworks.

As well as being home to the world's largest collection of works by the artist JMW Turner, Tate Britain also houses A Bigger Splash by David Hockney, Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais, and sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Eduardo Paolozzi.

Make sure you check out the view across the River Thames from Tate Britain. You may recognise the art deco building on the bank opposite – it served as the headquarters of the MI6 security services in James Bond movies.

Take a short stroll along the Thames to Westminster Abbey, which is where royal weddings and coronations have taken place for centuries. Check out Poets' Corner, where many of the greatest British writers are buried, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Ted Hughes and CS Lewis.

Outside the Abbey, and in front of the Houses of Parliament, is Parliament Square, a small garden that houses statues of the most significant figures in British politics. A recent addition had been a statue of suffragette Millicent Fawcett.

Head away from the River Thames and you'll soon come to The Mall, the grand avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, the main royal residence in London. The Buckingham Palace state rooms are open for a short period during the summer months – it's well worth booking tickets in advance to ensure entry.