24 Sep 2014
This Autumn, take time to visit Margate, the Kentish coastal town which inspired the famed British artist Turner and which grew to be a town he loved dearly. From a visit to see works by the artist at Turner Contemporary, the site where JMW Turner frequently stayed at Mrs Booth's residence, to enjoying Margate's breath-taking sunsets, an inspiration for Turner and what he believed to be “the loveliest skies in all Europe”.
JMW Turner's Margate
- If travelling from London, take South Eastern's 90 minute High Speed 1 train from St Pancras International to Margate
- Stay at Margate's Crescent Victoria Hotel, a recently opened 14-bedroom boutique hotel on Margate's seafront, just a stone's throw away from where Turner himself stayed
- Enjoy a two course Mr Turner lunch at Turner Contemporary's café and watch Margate's changing tide and boats at sea as Turner did during his stay in the town
- Visit Turner Contemporary's autumn exhibition Jeremy Deller: English Magic (11 Oct - 11 Jan 2015) featuring JMW Turner's watercolours of Venice
- Watch Mr Turner at one of Margate's local cinemas
- Take the Turner and Dickens walk, a four mile sign posted route based on the ancient path linking St John's Church in Margate with St Peter's Church in Broadstairs. Take time to identify Dickens characters and Turner paintings and the local landmarks represented in each location
- Then head to Shepherd Neame's Royal Albion in Broadstairs, where Dickens is known to have stayed. Enjoy lunch overlooking the beautiful Viking Bay and sample Shepherd Neame's Double Stout brew, a historic recipe which uses the UK's last remaining solid oak bash tuns and Wast Kent Golding hops. A beer which Turner and his contemporaries may have enjoyed.
The Crescent Victoria Hotel
The Crescent Victoria Margate is a newly opened 14 bedroom boutique hotel located on Fort Crescent. Offering individually designed bedrooms and a plethora of opportunities for convivial eating and drink, the hotel boasts a restaurant, bar and courtyard lounge area and an enviable location for exploring a quintessential English resort.
Margate has been a popular seaside haven for over 250 years, drawing busy Londoners to its peaceful Victorian winter gardens and the restorative sea air of its beaches. The hometown of Tracey Emin, its recent regeneration has firmly established its place on the British art map. The town's new Turner Gallery – just a stone's throw from the hotel – celebrates British artist J M W Turner, who described the skies around Margate as the loveliest in all of Europe. In neighbouring Broadstairs, you'll find Bleak House, Charles Dickens' summer home, on the clifftop of a pretty old smuggling town.
Autumn/Winter Escape at the Crescent Victoria: Enjoy 2 nights Bed and Full English Breakfast, with Dinner in the Restaurant on your first night.£89.50 per night, based on 2 people sharing a standard double room.(Dining allocation £25.00 per person (food only). Minimum 2 night stay. Offer available on selected dates from September - 13th March 2014.)
Reservations: reservations.victoria@bespokehotels.com
www.bespokehotels.com/crescentvictoriahotel
For more information, interview, imagery and appearances please contact: Gabby Brunton Gabby@streetand.co 0203 701 7510/07803 290 886
Editors Notes
Local attraction include:
Turner Contemporary – www.turnercontemporary.orgThe centre evokes the atmosphere of Dreamland and gives a taste of things to come when the world's first amusement park of thrilling historic rides opens next year.
One big mystery – 70ft of winding underground passages decorated with strange symbols mosaiced in millions of shells.
Thought to be one of the oldest of its kind in Kent, built around 1525.
A place for creativity and the arts, with a range of galleries, cafes, and niche shops.
They also have an onsite farmers market, restaurant and craft village. Short distance from Margate.
The Ambrette - www.theambrette.co.uk
Bebeached (on Margate's harbour arm) – www.bebeached.co.uk
GB Pizza - greatbritishpizza.com
The Greedy Cow Deli and Eatery – www.greedycowdeli.com
Cup Cake Café – www.thecupcake.biz
Melt Gelato Ice Cream Parlour at The Sands
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