London's Tate Modern today launched an interactive online tour of the museum.

Tate Online, developed jointly by Tate and BT lets people create their own 'tour' of the gallery in a number of ways. These include using an interactive map, timeline, choosing artists by name or by researching a particular movement with the help of glossary definitions.

Written captions are given for works along with audio clips drawn from a wide range of sources which allow for detailed examination of the works and provide explanations of different displays.

The timeline, which starts in 1900, explains how displays relate to historical events during the 20th Century. Users can also choose to select and save their personal tour and favourite works for revisiting at another time.

As well as letting people look at the collections online, it allows people to plan visits to the South Bank museum. The online Maps show the layout of the building and let people look at what works are on show in individual galleries.

The site also offers a useful guide to the Tate's UBS Openings which opened on 23 May and runs until 26 November 2006.

The programme features the complete re-hang of Tate Modern's permanent collection, including a selection of works from The UBS Art Collection, an annual cultural festival, regular live events and a range of activities for families.

Jemima Rellie, head of digital programmes at Tate, said: "Explore Tate Modern extends the redisplay of the artworks to audiences all around the world, offering visitors online and onsite enhanced opportunities to interact with the new Collection displays.

"It has never been easier for visitors to locate a work or movement of interest or indeed to re-visit the space that captured their imagination."