Tate Britain: Arty Fun for Families
February half term can be a dreary affair if you’re not basking in the warmth of a holiday somewhere other than the UK. On the upside, I’m in London, so there are lots of things to do with the family. On the downside…it’s crowded…very, very crowded. Fortunately, there’s a gem in the city that offers a refreshing alternative to the busy South Kensington Museum mile: Tate Britain.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Natural History Museum, but shuffling around the Dinosaur Exhibition with half of London (the ones that are not on holiday)… well, can we go somewhere quieter instead? Of course, this was not what the younger members of my family wanted to hear, but this free art gallery turned out to be a great day out.
The journey begins with a train ride, always a hit with 7-year-olds. Arriving at Vauxhall, a quick 10-minute walk over the bridge leads to the Vauxhall riverwalk, offering a perfect pitstop at a cafe with a creative seat-cum-play area. A quick coffee for the grown-up and a re-enactment of ‘The Floor is Lava’ for the kids and it’s time to explore Tate Britain.
Tate Britain, housed in a beautiful building, showcases 500 years of British art and its stories. The staff are sweet and after seeing my large bag of snacks remind me that eating isn’t allowed in the galleries – but there’s a spacious cafe downstairs with lots of seating where we can. Blissful words for a parent!
Navigating art galleries with my children usually involves a routine: let them draw for a bit, feed them, and then allow a brief exploration for the designated grown-up. Tate Britain helps with that as the staff hand over Tate-themed sketch books and pencils to the kids and tell us that the play studio, story space and Tate Draw are open.
The play studio is amazing – filled with art materials, kinetic sand, books, toys, and even a massive green screen. Under the guidance of encouraging staff, an hour later my young artists emerged proudly displaying their masterpieces.
But the highlight for the kids came with Tate Draw, where digital pads allow them to create drawings showcased on a giant digital gallery wall. They were giddy with excitement as they experimented with backgrounds, pixelated art, and free draw options before getting their artworks projected larger than life above their heads.
Finally, the actual gallery exploration begins, and surprisingly, Tate Britain is welcoming to young art enthusiasts. It has lots of interesting pieces – and my kids turn out to be brutal art critics. Turners are dismissed as ‘gloomy’ while unusual works like Damien Hirst‘s sheep or Barbara Hepworth’s shell-like sculpture get the thumbs up. Some of the artists they’d even heard of like Andrew Gormley and Bridget Riley – thanks to Olaf Falafel and Trixie Pickle. ‘Oooooh look – a penis!’ in response to Gormley’s ‘Three Ways: Mould Hole and Passage‘ and ‘Oh, that’s makes me feel dizzy’ on Riley’s black and white OpArt.
I’m largely amused by the commentary until we hit a Francis Bacon. ‘I do NOT like that!’ one child pronounced loudly pointing to a large painting of 3 very ‘melty’ looking figures (Triptych August 1972). I can’t say I disagreed, but was mortified at spotting a very serious looking chap sitting on a bench in front of said artwork who appeared to have been ruminating on it for quite some time. He didn’t seem to notice – or was very polite. I encourage critical thinking in my kids but maybe I should introduce diplomacy too?
In total, we spent about four hours at Tate Britain, with a significant portion dedicated to exploring the artworks. My kids would happily go again, and I would highly recommend it to other parents who want to find the fun in typically more grown-up public museums and galleries (and avoid the endless dinosaur queue in the ‘other’ museum). And it’s free! What more could you ask for?
P.S. As a side note, a quick Google search led to a Guardian review last year from a seasoned art critic that was in humorous contrast to my opinionated kids. He hated everything!! Maybe the gallery just isn’t intended for Guardian critics anymore? Make way for the new generation of art enthusiasts! Hey Guardian (art and design) – can my kids write an article for you?