Margate's Old Town draws both tourists and art-lovers with its speciality shops and contemporary art galleries. Vintage stores line the cobbled lanes around Market Place, while cafés and fish-and-chip shops overlook Margate Sands.

Margate's Old Town draws both tourists and art-lovers with its speciality shops and contemporary art galleries. Vintage stores line the cobbled lanes around Market Place, while cafés and fish-and-chip shops overlook Margate Sands.

Since Turner Contemporary opened its doors in Margate in 2011, it has been a place for artistic exploration and discovery. Built on the site of the boarding house where JMW Turner stayed during his visits to Margate, the gallery is inspired by the life and work of the celebrated artist, who found inspiration in the town’s skies and light and believed in the power of art as an agent for change. Visitors to Turner Contemporary can enjoy the latest art exhibition, take part in tours or activities, or simply sit and relax in the café while enjoying views of the harbour. The shop features artworks, limited edition prints and specially commissioned clothing and objects by leading contemporary artists and designers. Since we opened, Turner Contemporary has welcomed over 4 million visitors, put over £80 million back into the Kent economy and connected with thousands of people from the local community through our world-class programme. Built on the site where JMW Turner visited, you can see the skies that inspired much of his work from our windows. We celebrate Turner’s spirit of radical enquiry. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, our building offers unrivalled views out to sea. The windows capture the everchanging light conditions. Every year we work with thousands of children and young people from Margate and Kent. Our pioneering learning programme champions children’s leadership through the arts.

Since Turner Contemporary opened its doors in Margate in 2011, it has been a place for artistic exploration and discovery. Built on the site of the boarding house where JMW Turner stayed during his visits to Margate, the gallery is inspired by the life and work of the celebrated artist, who found inspiration in the town’s skies and light and believed in the power of art as an agent for change. Visitors to Turner Contemporary can enjoy the latest art exhibition, take part in tours or activities, or simply sit and relax in the café while enjoying views of the harbour. The shop features artworks, limited edition prints and specially commissioned clothing and objects by leading contemporary artists and designers. Since we opened, Turner Contemporary has welcomed over 4 million visitors, put over £80 million back into the Kent economy and connected with thousands of people from the local community through our world-class programme. Built on the site where JMW Turner visited, you can see the skies that inspired much of his work from our windows. We celebrate Turner’s spirit of radical enquiry. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, our building offers unrivalled views out to sea. The windows capture the everchanging light conditions. Every year we work with thousands of children and young people from Margate and Kent. Our pioneering learning programme champions children’s leadership through the arts.