I can't believe it's taken me this long to finally make it to Margate! Only 1 1/2 hours by train…read morefrom St Pancras, there really is no excuse. As for most of the other reviewers the recently opened (well 2011) Turner Contemporary gallery was the main incentive. It's amazing what difference a bit of culture can make to a hitherto neglected and underrated seaside town. Just as the Jerwood did for Hastings, Turner Contemporary is a true highlight on a visit to Margate. The curators know what they are doing too and put on a family friendly show of "Animals & Us" this Summer that perfectly combines natural history with contemporary art. It's the perfect place to hide from the elements and unlike Dreamland, entry is free. The cafe is lovely, too. Probably not worth the trip in its own right but combined with a walk along the beach (seeing Antony Gormley's sculpture emerge from the sea during low tide is an absolute highlight - you also get a perfect view from the gallery), fish and chips in the harbour, a walk around the old town and a compulsory visit to Dreamland a visit to Turner Contemporary rounds up a perfect day out.

The Turner Contemporary was the main aim of our trip to this part of Kent. Originally we wanted to…read moresee the Tracey Emin exhibition here, but realising this had finished we decided to come anyway and see what the gallery had to offer! Opened in April 2011, as part of a project to regenerate the somewhat flagging town of Margate, it certainly has become a monolith on the harbour! Although many have criticised it's bleak appearance, I quite like its industrial, steel facade. It certainly stands out in an area which is fairly bleak in itself. The gallery is named after the noted landscape painter J.M.W.Turner who spent much time in this area in his youth. As well as showcasing various artists exhibitions, the space is also used for teaching, workshops, talks and performances which can only be beneficial for the people of Margate. The actually exhibition areas themselves are fairly small - I would have expected to be able to see far more here, although in some ways I like that fact that I'm not overwhelmed by the quantity of the work here as can be the case in some of the larger galleries. On this occasion there were exhibitions by Carl Andre, Rosa Barba and Turner himself. There was also an interactive piece of art by Brazilian artist Maria Nepomuceno which was great fun to wonder into and touch and play with the different textures. The gallery is free to enter although they do ask for a donation. Staff are friendly and helpful and there is a nice cafe in the foyer. The Turner Contemporary is a great addition to the area, although I would probably only return if there was an exhibition that I particularly wanted to visit.

local artists show their work hereread more

The IOTA are currently based on the Harbour Arm in Margate…read more Some interesting exhibitions, when they're open. My favourite works are by local photographer Dan Bass.