The Turner collection

When J.M.W. Turner died in 1851 he left the contents of his studio to the nation: finished oils, unsold canvases, and thousands of sketches and watercolours. That bequest is the heart of the Clore Gallery, purpose-built to show it.

Start with the big finished oils, then move to the loose, unfinished works. Turner was chasing light and weather rather than detail, so stand back first for the whole atmosphere, then come close to see how little paint it took.

Works on paper are light-sensitive, so displays rotate. That means the room changes through the year — a good reason to come back — and also that a specific favourite may not be on show. Check with staff if you have one in mind.

Correct as of August 2026 — check tate.org.uk before you travel.

Give yourself 20 minutes in the main oils room, 20 minutes with the sketches and watercolours, then walk back through Constable to see how differently two great painters handled the same English sky.