MARGATE.- To coincide with the film release of Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner on 31 October starring Timothy Spall, Turner Contemporary are working with local partners to offer the chance to experience JMW Turner’s Margate as part of a two day autumn self-guided tour.

From 31 October until 30 November, experience a unique two day itinerary in Margate inspired by the artist and his love of the town. From a visit to see works by the artist at Turner Contemporary, the site where JMW Turner frequently stayed at Sophia Booth’s guesthouse, to enjoying Margate’s breath-taking sunsets from the Bay restaurant balcony at the Sands Hotel, an inspiration for Turner and what he quoted as “the loveliest skies in all Europe”.

JMW Turner’s Margate tour

• Take South Eastern’s 90 minute High Speed 1 train from St Pancras International to Margate (prices subject to change).

• Enjoy a two course Mr Turner lunch with wine at Turner Contemporary’s café and watch Margate’s changing tide and boats at sea as Turner did during his stay in the town (£17.00 per person).

• Visit Turner Contemporary’s autumn exhibition Jeremy Deller: English Magic (11 October-11 January 2015), featuring JMW Turner’s watercolours of Venice (Free).

• Enjoy a Champagne Turner Afternoon Tea at the Sands Hotel at sunset, experiencing Margate’s unique sunset from the balcony, which was a source of inspiration for the artist (£21.95 per person).

• Watch Mr Turner at one of Margate’s local cinemas (prices vary).

• Stay at Margate’s Crescent Victoria Hotel, a new 14-bedroom boutique hotel on Margate’s seafront just a stone’s throw away from where Turner himself stayed at Sophia Booth's guest house (around £100 for a Double Room with breakfast per overnight stay).

• Turner produced more than 30,000 works in his lifetime, over 100 of which can be traced to his time in Margate and Thanet. Take the coastal walk from Margate to Broadstairs through Botany Bay, taking in the unique quality of the light and identifying location spots and landmarks from Turner’s various paintings (Free).

• After your walk stop at Shepherd Neame’s Royal Albion Hotel in Broadstairs, where Dickens is known to have stayed, enjoy lunch overlooking the beautiful Viking Bay (Three course lunch excluding drinks - £35 per person). Why not sample Shepherd Neame’s Double Stout brew, a historic recipe which uses the UK's last remaining solid oak mash tuns and East Kent Golding hops. A beer which Turner and his contemporaries may have enjoyed.