Tate Modern

This powerhouse of modern art is awe-inspiring even before you enter, thanks to its industrial architecture. Tate Modern was built as Bankside Power Station and designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also architect of Battersea Power Station. Shut down in 1981, it opened as an art museum in 2000 and has enjoyed spectacular popularity ever since. Inside, the original cavernous turbine hall is used to jaw-dropping effect as the home of large-scale, temporary installations. The permanent collection draws from the Tate organisation's collections of modern art (international works from 1900 and on) and features heavy-hitters such as Matisse, Rothko, Bacon, Twombly and Beuys. In 2006, the galleries were completely rehung, with the artworks grouped according to movement (surrealism, minimalism, post-war abstraction) rather than theme. If you don't know where to start, take one of the guided tours. The Tate-to-Tate boat service - décor courtesy of Damien Hirst - links with Tate Britain and has a well-placed bar on board.