If you are visiting London and checking out some of the museums you’ve got to get yourself along to the Tate Modern. The industrial Bankside building holds the modern and contemporary collections of the Tate group (of which the Tate Britain is also a member), as well as temporary exhibitions throughout the year.  Winter 2012/13 at the museum looks exciting; the main attraction being a photography exhibition from two influential photographers, William Klein and Daido Moriyama.

 
William Klein is a New York born, self-taught photographer and filmmaker who found fame in the world of fashion photography and photojournalism. Noted for his atypical camera techniques, Klein’s photos are often blurred and grainy; resulting in a body of work in which his Vogue cover shoots regularly display as much genuine candour as his documentary street photography.

Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama has been shooting the streets of Tokyo for years, taking influence from photographers including William Klein, as well as significant figures like Jack Kerouac and Andy Warhol. His style is reminiscent of Klein’s, though perhaps with darker undertones – he has spent much of his career focussing on Tokyo’s Shinjuku district; a traditional haunt for artists, photographers, strippers and gangsters.

The exhibition at the Tate Modern from this October to January 2013 displays the two photographers’ work in parallel; depicting modern urban life in New York and Tokyo. The works on display date from the 1950s to now, representing 60 years documenting the people, political movements and urban environments that have played muse to these two important photographers.

There’s also a great deal else to check out at the museum, on top of the Klein/Moriyama show. The Tate Modern houses works by famous modern artists including Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali and Mark Rothko; and throughout the year there are lots of free exhibitions that are well worth a look. You’ll often see people sketching and taking notes – it’s a great place for getting inspired.

If you want to get some additional insight into the collections, the Tate offers various different guided tours. As well as daily free tours, you can book private group tours or even a tour for two, with the option of including a meal if you want to make a day of it.

To stay locally check out hotels near Blackfriars – you get easy access to the Tate Modern and the lively South Bank area from there. There are of course lots of smaller galleries and attractions to catch while you’re in town, including The Hayward Gallery, the British Film Institute and the National Portrait Gallery; but the Tate Modern is a great place start getting stuck into all the city has to offer.