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What you need to know

Entry

Tate St Ives is an art gallery and you must have a ticket to visit the gallery spaces. It is free to visit the café and shop.

Getting here

Tate St Ives is on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall. Find directions for how to get here on our website.

Buying a ticket

You can book a ticket online before you visit. If you have not booked a ticket, buy one at the ticket desk when you arrive.

Members

do not need to book, but will need to bring their membership card.

In the summer, Tate St Ives is open every day, from 10.00–17.20.

In the winter, Tate St Ives is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00–16.20 apart from 24–26 December when it is closed.

It is usually quietest at the start and end of the day. The galleries are busy during the school holidays.

You can call us on +44 (0)1736 79 6226 (daily 10.00–17.00) to find out how busy the gallery will be.

Accessible parking

There is one accessible parking space at Tate St Ives for blue badge holders. Please book the space at least 24 hours in advance. Email visitingstives@tate.org.uk or call +44 (0)1736 792226 (daily 10.00–17.00) to book.

Relaxed hours

We have Relaxed Hours which are useful for anyone with sensory needs who prefers a more relaxed experience.

Please email visiting.stives@tate.org.uk for more information.

When you arrive

To reach the gallery entrance you can use the stairs or the ramp. Both have handrails.

At the top of the stairs is a round pavilion. There are automatic doors, followed by a revolving door or accessible push button doors.

When you enter the building, you are now on Level 1.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

The lockers are located on Level 1, after the main entrance doors. Please bring a £1 coin if you wish to store any items in a locker.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

The ticket desk is on Level 1 after the lockers.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

These are Membership and Ticketing Assistants.

They are at the ticket desk and can help you buy a ticket or sign up to become a Member.

You can also ask them for help or information.

Two smiling Membership and Ticketing Assistants sitting behind their computers at the ticketing desk.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

A smiling Security Officer wearing a shirt and tie, standing in front of a gallery wall displaying artwork by Alfred Wallis.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

This is a Security Officer.

They wear shirts and ties and are there to keep us safe.

Getting around

We have signs in the gallery to help show you where to go.

You can use the stairs.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

You can use the lift.

There are 2 lifts in Tate St Ives.

You may have to queue to use a lift.

The walls inside the lifts may be decorated with colourful artwork.

Accessibility

Our passenger lift can accommodate wheelchairs with a width of no more than 80cm and a length of no more than 140cm. If you are using a chair of greater size, please contact us and we can support an alternative route to our galleries and facilities.

The admissions desk and lockers are on Level 1.

The displays and exhibitions are on Level 3.

The café and shop are on Level 4.

The displays and exhibitions change, so you might see something different every time you visit.

Seating

There are lots of types of seating.

There are benches inside the displays and exhibitions.

A set of folding stools leaning against a wall.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

There are folding stools you can borrow at the entrances of displays and exhibitions.

Visitor Assistants

This is a Visitor Assistant.

They wear an orange lanyard with Tate written on it and are very friendly.

They can help you and they can answer any questions you might have.

Some Visitor Assistants lead gallery tours that are free with admission.

A smiling Visitor Assistant wearing an orange Tate lanyard decorated with an LGBTQ+ badge, holding a walkie talkie.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Access resources

Ramble tags

Ear defenders

Magnifiers

Communication cards

Using communication cards

Next to the ticketing desk there is a wooden access trolley with ear defenders, colour overlays, magnifiers and communication cards. You can help yourself to these.

You can use our communication cards to ask for directions to facilities in the gallery. These include toilet, café, seating, shop, and exit.

Show one of the cards to a member of Tate staff if you need to be shown to one of these places.

There are two colour versions and are available to download onto your device or print at home. Use whichever version you find easiest to read.

Print communication cards (white)

Print communication cards (yellow)

Digital communication cards (white)

Digital communication cards (yellow)

What you will see

There may be visitors talking.

You might see people drawing.

You might see people taking photos.

You might see families or groups of school children visiting. They might be playing or doing activities.

Some areas can get crowded and noisy but other parts of the gallery are quiet.

Ask a member of staff if you would like to be taken to a quieter area.

A group of children in school uniforms holding sketchbooks. An adult hands out coloured pencils.

Photo © Tate

You will see different types of art. There are sculptures, paintings, films and installations.

The art pieces may be small or large. Some may be hanging on the walls or from the ceiling, and others may be free standing on the floor.

Some spaces can be dark, some spaces can be light or have big windows. There may be different coloured walls.

You will see views across the sea from some of the windows.

You cannot touch the artworks

You cannot eat or drink in the galleries

You can take photos, but make sure the flash is turned off

Look out for cord barriers around the art. This is so you do not get too close to the art.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Finding the toilets

All toilets are located on Level 3 in the gallery. Hand sanitisers are located at the entrance to the galleries.

Please look for the toilet signs or ask a member of staff to direct you.

The toilets can be noisy due to hand driers.

There are:

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Gender-neutral toilets with baby changing by Gallery 1

A parent and baby room with toilet between Gallery 3 and 4

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Single sex toilets and an accessible toilet with baby changing next to Gallery 6

Changing Places toilet

The Changing Places toilet is on Level 3 to the left of the entrance to Gallery 1.

A RADAR key is needed for access to this room. You can borrow a RADAR key from the ticketing desk, cafe, shop, or from a Visitor Assistant in Gallery 1.

The inside of the Changing Places accessible toilet. The room includes a hoist. Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Things to do

There are guided tours and talks in the gallery where staff share stories about artists and artworks. These are included in your ticket price.

You can find the times for tours and talks on the Level 3 landing. You can also ask a member of staff.

Sometimes there are events you can join, like a talk or a workshop.

Find out what events are coming up on our What's On page.

A group of people standing in a gallery room with paintings behind them, mouths open in conversation.

Photo © Tate

The café

The café and shop are on Level 4.

In the café you can only eat food that you have bought there.

You can find a table and then order at the counter. The staff will ask for your table number when you order.

In the summer you can choose to sit inside or outside.

It can be crowded and noisy some of the time, especially at lunchtime.

A round table with two chairs at a window overlooking the sea.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Food brought from home

You cannot eat or drink in the galleries.

There are some outdoor places where you can eat food you have brought from home.

You can eat your own food in the loggia by the front entrance at Level 1.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

You can also eat your own food in the rooftop garden.

Staff can tell you where to find these spaces.

The shop

The shop is on Level 4, opposite the entrance to the café.

You can buy books, art materials, homeware, prints, postcards and more in the shop.

Shop Assistants will take payment for anything you purchase.

They can also help you with questions about things in the shop you would like to buy.

A colourful shop filled with books, artworks, t-shirts and other items on display. A smiling Shop Assistant stands behind the till.

Photo © Tate (Josh Croll)

If the fire alarm goes off

In the event of an evacuation, a loud alarm will sound. Staff will ask you to exit the gallery via the nearest door and wait outside.

They will let you know when it is safe to go back inside the building.

Leaving Tate St Ives

When it is time to go home you can exit the building the same way you entered.

We hope you enjoy your visit.

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