Visit

Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous
Margate
Kent CT9 1HG

Tel: + 44 (0)1843 233 000
Fax: + 44 (0)1843 233 029
Email: info@turnercontemporary.org

Situated on the North Kent coast, Margate is only a 90 minute drive or train journey from central London.

Our landmark gallery is just over half a mile along the seafront from Margate train station and close to all main bus routes in the town. The gallery is just a short walk from Margate town centre and the Old Town, where there are a number of artists' studios, galleries and lively cafés and restaurants.

Canterbury city is only a half hour drive, or 45 minute bus journey away. We’re also only a few miles from other main attractions in Kent such as Hornby Visitor Centre and Quex Park in Birchington-on-Sea.

By car
Plan your journey using AA's routefinder

Parking

The gallery only has onsite disabled parking (seven spaces), on the piazza at the front of the gallery. These spaces are signposted. The seafront piazza is for pedestrians and cyclists only and must be kept clear at all times for the RNLI lifeboat in case of emergencies.

There is on-street parking near the gallery (on the Harbour Arm next to the gallery, charges apply), as well as pay and display car parks close by:

- College Square (Morrison's multi storey) CT9 1QA

- Trinity Square CT9 1HR

For a map of parking in Margate, please click here.

Please note: Flood defence works in progress along Margate Harbour Arm, the Parade and Marine Drive may affect parking. Read more >

By Train

- High speed trains from London St Pancras and Stratford International run every hour and take just 90 minutes. 

- Mainline trains from London Victoria, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and London Bridge, which take a little longer. Victoria offers a frequent service with trains running approximately every half hour.

Special Southeastern £10 Portas Pilot weekend return ticket from London to Margate
Southeastern trains is offering today announced a special £10 return ticket for travel from London to Margate during the winter months (Nov 2012 to Feb 2013 inclusive). The special deal is in support of the Portas Pilot initiative for Margate led by retail and marketing expert, Mary Portas. Buy tickets below >>

By Bus

Direct buses to Margate from all surrounding towns in East Kent. Visit Kent County Council's Public Transport website to find your most direct bus route. There you can also download a map of Kent and all available bus routes in the county.

Eastonways Island Hoppa Bus E83 route offers a direct service from Margate station to Turner Contemporary and the Old Town. Find out more.

Turner Contemporary is fully accessible for visitors, with a ramp to the main entrance and café, as well as an internal lift to all upper floor galleries.

Seven disabled parking spaces are available on the piazza at the front of the gallery, as signposted.

We have two wheelchairs available for visitors to use. 

For school visits click here. 

Please fill in and return the group booking form available to download at the bottom of this page to visit@turnercontemporary.org prior to your planned visit.


Tours
Our friendly team of Navigators have been trained to lead group tours of the exhibition, inspired by your questions. 60 minute sessions £2.50 per head (minimum of 5 per group). Please book at least two weeks in advance.

Coach parties
There is a drop off and turning point for coaches in front of the gallery. There is a nearby coach parks at Dreamland (cost of £5 per coach per day).

To request information about group visits or to book a visit, please email us at visit@turnercontemporary.org or call 01843 233000.

You may also like to combine your trip to Turner Contemporary with a visit to nearby attractions Hornby Visitor Centre and Quex Park, for a full day itinerary.

For any further information about the area, accommodation and a complete events listing for Thanet, please visit the Visitor Information Centre at Droit House (next door to Turner Contemporary on Margate Harbour Arm) or go to www.visitthanet.co.uk.

'This is just a note to thank you on behalf of my fellow NADFAS members for organising for us such a good visit to Turner Contemporary. Your colleagues were all friendly and helpful. And what a splendid gift shop! We were very happy with our visit. Thank you.'
Vanessa Shenton, Visits Secretary Beckenham Decorative and Fine Arts Society

 

 

The gallery is situated next to the Harbour Arm and close to Margate town centre and the Old Town, where there are a number of artists' studios, galleries and lively cafés and restaurants. Read more about Margate >

Other attractions include the Theatre Royal, Winter Gardens, Margate Museum and Shell Grotto, all of which are a short distance from the gallery.

In 2013, Dreamland will reopen as a vibrant amusement park with many thrilling historic rides. Nearby, Hornby Visitor Centre and Quex Park in Birchington-on-Sea are great attractions for an extended visit.

Download the Discover Margate map to find attractions and follow a heritage trail around the town.

Thanet is a lively coastal isle and there's always something to see and do that will enhance your visit to Turner Contemporary. To see a full events diary, please go to www.visitthanet.co.uk. To find events that are happening across the county, please visit www.visitkent.co.uk.

If you're visiting for longer, Leeds Castle is also closeby 7 miles east of Maidstone and is open all year round.

You can find more information about Margate's creative quarter here and life on the Isle here.

To celebrate our Turner and the Elements exhibition, we have commissioned artist Stephen Turner to look at JMW Turner’s relationship with Kent.

Stephen has selected 10 images that show the breadth of Turner’s work in Kent and invite readers to travel to a number of locations around the county visited by the artist himself.

Download the tour below and travel through Turner's Kent... 

Our media sponsor for Turner and the Elements, The Independent, have written a review of the tour, read it here.