Entry to exhibitions at Turner Contemporary is free. Turner Contemporary is a charity and you can support us to help artists realise exciting new exhibitions and inspire thousands of people each year by making a donation. Every donation makes a difference. 

Turner Contemporary is in Margate on the Kent Coast at Rendezvous, CT9 1HG.

Support our work    How to get here

Opening Times

Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm, plus bank holidays.

Last entry 4pm.

Festive Opening Hours

Monday 23 – Thursday 26 December – CLOSED

Friday 27 – Sunday 29 December – OPEN, 10am – 5pm

Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December – CLOSED

Wednesday 1 – Sunday 5 January – OPEN

Plan your visit

Booking your ticket

find out What’s on

• Turner Contemporary is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access and a lift serving both floors. An access ramp is located to the right of the entrance steps, please look for appropriate signage.
• 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 10am – 5pm)

What to expect on your visit

• Our shop is open with contactless payments preferred. You can also browse our online shop here and place a ‘click and collect’ order for your visit.
• Our public lockers are available for use.
• We may search your bag on entry to the gallery.

Our staff are present throughout the gallery, they are here to ensure everyone enjoys their visit and follows our visitor guidelines. If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to ask them.

These guidelines have been created to help make sure that you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

• Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• We ask that you do not touch the artwork or cross barriers and protective spaces in front of artworks.
• Consumption of food or drink is not permitted in the galleries.
• Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere in the building.
• We ask that you refrain from blocking or obstructing entrance/exit doors or steps providing access to the gallery spaces.
• Pets are not permitted in the gallery except working guide, hearing and assistance dogs.
• During busy exhibitions you may be asked to remove and carry your backpack.
• We ask that you do not run inside the gallery.
• Visitors must keep footwear on while in the gallery.
• We de not permit visitors to climb on any part of the building including internal or external walls and ledges.
• Campaign materials are not permitted into the building.
• We encourage sketching and drawing of artworks with graphite and coloured pencils. But ask that visitors do not use charcoal, permanent markers, pastels, watercolours or oil paints.

Turner Contemporary takes the safety of our visitors and staff, and the security of our building and artworks very seriously.

In the interests of security it may be necessary to conduct bag searches. Visitors are asked to present any bags to staff for inspection on request.

We reserve the right not to allow any bag, or other item to be brought into the Gallery and you may not be permitted entry to the Gallery if you refuse a bag search.

Turner Contemporary is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for our staff, collaborators, and visitors. We will not tolerate abuse or violence towards any visitor, contractor or member of staff, or any form of harassment or discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion.

If our staff believe you are intoxicated, behaving antisocially or your behaviour risks the safety and comfort of others, our building or artworks, they will ask you to stop, and you may be asked to leave. Our staff have the authority to escort you from the gallery if necessary.

Our staff are present throughout the gallery to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

If our staff think you may be causing offence to other visitors, or are endangering yourself, others, our building or artworks, they will ask you to stop.  Our staff have the authority to escort you from the gallery if necessary.

We will not tolerate abuse or violence towards any visitor, contractor or member of staff, or any form of harassment or discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion.

Lockers are available to store items such as bags and coats during your visit. Lockers are located on the ground floor. Our lockers have a £1 charge.

Cabin sized suitcases must be stored in a locker. Any items larger than 56 x 25 x 45 cm are not permitted in the gallery.

All items are left at the owner’s risk, the Gallery does not accept liability for loss or damage to personal belongings. Lockers are emptied daily, any left belongings will be treated as lost property.

Offsite Bag Drop services

Turner Contemporary does not offer a bag drop service and our lockers are reserved for visitors to the gallery. If you leave the building you are required to collect your items before you leave.

The Visitor Information Centre opposite the Gallery provides a Bag Drop Service for visitors in need of a secure place to leave luggage while exploring Margate.

For further information and to check availability, please get in touch with them directly: 01843 577577

Thanet Visitor Information Centre – Droit House, Stone Pier, Margate, CT9 1JD

Please do not leave any of your property unattended when visiting the Gallery. Any property left unattended may be removed from the museum. If you lose any item during your visit, please speak to a member of staff.   Anything unclaimed after one month will be donated to charity or disposed of.

We reserve the right to remove and/ or destroy unattended property without warning in the interests of safety and security. We do not accept liability for any lost items and/or unattended property that we remove or destroy.

Please contact us if you have lost an item of property info@turnercontemporary.org.

Mobility scooters are welcome in the gallery. Please find more details about how we can make your visit accessible here: Accessibility | Turner Contemporary

You are not permitted to cycle or ride scooters anywhere inside the gallery.

Electric scooters are not allowed in the gallery. You can lock your scooter in the bike racks outside the Margate Visitor Information Centre next to the gallery.

Non-electric scooters and folding bikes are permitted but must be stored in the public lockers.

Photography for personal, non-commercial purposes is allowed in the gallery unless stated otherwise.

The use of flash, tripods, professional photographic equipment or selfie sticks is not permitted.

Please respect visitors’ enjoyment of the gallery and exhibitions, do not photograph, or record other visitors without their permission.

We will always let visitors know if filming or photography is taking place in the museum during their visit.

For any commercial or press photography or filming requests, please contact the Press Team. press@turnercontemporary.org