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As one of London’s most famous and well-reputed art galleries, it’s no surprise Tate Modern is also one of the city’s most popular attractions, welcoming around 6 million visitors through its doors each year.
And while we’re big fans of the gallery’s efforts to bring modern art to the masses, this does mean that the South Bank institution can get rather crowded, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
It’s great news, then, that the gallery will soon be offering early risers the opportunity to take in its world-class collection without having to battle through the crowds, on exclusive Before Hours tours available through GetYourGuide.
Launched in response to GetYourGuide’s own research, which found that a growing number of travellers are concerned about crowding and overtourism, the ‘All Art, No Crowds’ campaign sees the travel experience company partner with Tate Modern, alongside MoMA in New York and the Vatican Museums, to delivery monthly small-group tours before the galleries officially open each morning.
Beginning over the coming bank holiday weekend, the hour-long tours will allow ticket holders to get to know the Tate’s impressive displays with the help of an expert guide or curator, delving into a century of art, from early 1900s modernism to major artists working today, and taking in works that typically draw large crowds and can therefore be difficult to appreciate fully during the gallery’s regular hours.
Tate Modern’s Senior Manager of Tours, Experiences and Financial Operations, Emily Barnes, said ‘At Tate Modern, we believe art should be experienced, not just viewed. Our work with GetYourGuide allows visitors to form a genuine connection with our collections. These intimate morning sessions transform how people engage with contemporary art, creating moments of reflection that resonate long after they leave our galleries.’
Tickets for the exclusive tours are £69 per person, and are available to book now via GetYourGuide’s website. The early bird really does catch the worm. Or the Louise Bourgeois spider, in this case.
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