Turner Contemporary — Attraction in Thanet

As a relatively new wheelchair user, I have been struggling to find things that I can comfortably do within the confines of my powered chair.

Well, the Turner Contemporary has been the best by a clear mile! From the smooth access ramp out the front (no need to call anyone for assistance!), through the completely flat flooring throughout the gallery, and of course, the largest lift I have ever seen- no more awkwardness if a wheelchair and pushchair (or anyone else that needs it) need to use it, everyone will fit!

Now for the staff- I was happily greeted upon entering (most places I get ignored or an awkward "hello") which was lovely as it made me feel more human.

The exhibition itself was fantastic, but you'll have to go and look for yourself. I mentioned to one of the staff that I wish I could touch the exhibits because they looked like they were made to be touched, but I obviously understand you can't have everyone touching everything, and she said that each room has a tactile bag, each one being different! She went and got it for me and went through it a bit with me, which was fantastic as it made me feel more comfortable and normal. I had no idea these things existed- there's no manual to becoming disabled! So if you are a "need to touch" person like me, you just have to ask for it and they let you borrow it for that room and then you return it to go to the next room and get the next one etc.

And, also, the doors are accessible within the gallery, they have lower handles, but the staff offered to open the door for me at each one so it made it just a bit easier for me. Help is there if you need it!

Overall, I went to go and see some art so I could feel something, and ended up having a lovely day out, being treated like a regular human, which left me feeling uplifted and inspired. Thankyou to everyone who was...

I am a Turner fan - as such an (overdue) impromptu Margate visit made the Contemporary a main focus. Disable Parking was convenient, the entrance is predominantly a very nicely appointed and spacious shop.

Large tactile-looking sculptures adorned the ground-floor space encouraging visitors to be... well, tactile. But don't. The small and too-distant wall plaque says not to touch... at a height and size unsuitable for smaller children, the disabled or otherwise challenged folk to notice before they had passed (and touched) the sculptures(?)

The seaward window is amazing - a real nod to what the Contemporary's namesake would come to Margate to see/paint/harness.

There wasn't anything else of note available/on-view downstairs, other dusplay room doors were locked or closed off. Moving upstairs was the main gallery feature of Ed Clarke work. This was a pleasing homage and insight into the artist and his method(s). It was across three medium-sized gallery rooms. For us this wasn't enough unfortunately, and means you leave the space prematurely. The coffee shop is well located and takes advantage of lots of light and glass. The cakes were unfortunately not good enough in our opinion, lacking flavour.

There's plenty of arty hubbub and eclecticism to be found elsewhere in the surrounding streets; vintage mod moped riders, carib dining, vintage furnishings/clothing, sweets and ice creams. Dreamland is a very short walk. By midday Margate has a compact, thriving, summery feel.

A classic seaside town in recovery and constant positive transition... 'Turner conditions'. Margate...

I visited Turner Contemporary in Margate, and my experience was a mix of highs and lows. The gallery itself is in a great location, with beautiful views of the sea, which adds to the overall ambiance. The building's modern design is striking and blends well with the coastal surroundings.

The exhibits were thought-provoking, with a good range of contemporary art that caters to different tastes. I particularly enjoyed the installations, which were both creative and engaging. However, I felt that the overall collection was a bit limited, and some of the exhibits didn’t quite resonate with me.

While the staff was friendly and welcoming, I found that the layout of the gallery could be improved. It felt somewhat disjointed, making it difficult to navigate between different sections. Additionally, I was hoping for more information and context about the artwork on display. The lack of detailed descriptions made it harder to fully appreciate the pieces.

The café offered a decent selection of food and drinks, but the prices were on the higher side for what was offered. It would have been nice to see more affordable options available.

Overall, Turner Contemporary is worth a visit if you're in Margate, especially for art enthusiasts. However, there's definitely room for improvement in terms of exhibit variety and...