Turner Contemporary
With a National Art Pass you get
Just like its namesake, Turner Contemporary bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary art, housed in striking modern building on Margate seafront.
JMW Turner loved Margate; he first visited aged 11 when his parents sent him to school in Love Lane. After returning to sketch the town aged 21, he became a regular visitor. More than 100 of Turner’s works were inspired by the East Kent coast. It was the unique quality of light in this part of Kent that drew Turner back – he remarked to the influential art critic John Ruskin that 'the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe'.
Turner’s relationship with his landlady in Margate, Mrs Booth, was clearly special to him – he even called himself ‘Mr Booth’ after the death of her husband. Mrs Booth’s seafront guest house was originally situated on the same site where the gallery has been built.
Turner Contemporary was nominated for the Art Fund Prize 2012.
In Spring 2018, the gallery ran a successful Art Happens to bring Paula the polar bear to Margate. They raised over £15,000 to take their exhibition, Animals & Us, out of the gallery and onto the beach to get everyone talking about climate change.
Why you should go
Explore cutting-edge contemporary art
See Antony Gormley: Another Time outdoor statues
Enjoy food, drinks and music in the café/restaurant
Visitor information
Address
Rendezvous, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HG
01843 233000
Opening times
Exclusions and safety measures
Accessibility
- The gallery is wheelchair accessible with an outdoor ramp and lift access to both floors.
- Wheelchairs are available for visitors. Please contact us ahead of your visit if you would like to book one.
- Portable stools are also available. Please ask a member of staff on arrival if you would like to use one.
- Large print text, magnifying sheets and audio versions of exhibition texts are available. Ask a member of staff for more information.
- We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs in the gallery.
For more accessibility information visit: turnercontemporary.org/accessibility
For access support please contact us ahead of your visit: access@turnercontemporary.org | 01843 233 025 (operated daily 10:00 – 17:00)
Visitor information
Museums nearby
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.