Tomlinson was primarily known as a composer of light orchestral pieces and produced a considerable body of works ranging from overtures, suites and rhapsodies and miniatures, of which "Little Serenade" and "Cantilena" are probably the most popular. Also notable are a number of English folk-dance arrangements. In the 1960s, he wrote a number of "Test Card" pieces such as "Stately Occasion" and the tongue-in-cheek "Capability Brown". His "Fantasia on Auld Lang Syne" (1976) in its 20 minutes weaves in 129 quotations from pieces by other composers.