The Isle of Wight is a lush, green island in the UK. It’s quaint, full of people who love to sail and feels a bit like a step back in time. In a charming way! One of the wonderful things about the Isle of Wight is that it truly is set up for tourism. Because you need to get a boat there, it always feels like you have a proper holiday. Even if you’re just there for a few days!

I’ve been to the Isle of Wight on several occasions. Some places in this post I’ve been to multiple times, some only once. My most recent visit was in August 2025 and it hadn’t changed one bit!

Where is the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight is a small island located in the Solent. The Solent is a stretch of water that runs along the south coast of the UK.

How do you get to the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight easily accessible by ferry from Portsmouth and Southampton. From Portsmouth the car ferry is about 40 mins ride. There is a small airport on the Island, but I think it’s for private planes only.

We went using WightLink Ferries. There are a couple of reasons I would really recommend them:

• The booking was really flexible – we were easily able to change our crossing time and the fee was minimal.
• If you are early, and there is space, they will let you on an earlier ferry. No “computer says no”
• They were really well organised: we boarded and disembarked really quickly.

Is the Isle of Wight a place I should visit?

I think so. The thing about the Isle of Wight is there is something for everyone.

There is really good food and drink, and not only in the main towns, but often in the villages and country pubs. It is set up for families to visit, but it is also a good location for hen dos, walking weekends or camping.

Where should I stay on the Isle of Wight?

If you are taking a car to, or hiring a car on the Isle of Wight, you really can stay anywhere. The road network is pretty good, and it is difficult to drive even an hour between two points on the Island.

What you do need to take into account is the Sailing calendar. Cowes Week (for example) takes out much of the accommodation in the north of the Island.

I’ve stayed in Air BnB, holiday homes belonging to friends and B&Bs. On balance I’d advocate for an Air BnB or cottage. This is mainly because of the weather. You want somewhere to stay where you have enough space to hang out if it pours down with rain. Which I think it has every single time I have been to the Isle of Wight.

On our most recent trip we stayed at 24 Ward Avenue* in Cowes. It was wonderful. The hosts offered chalets in the garden which were cosy, well equipped and charming.

What should I do on the Isle of Wight?

Many of the historic places of interest on the Isle of Wight are owned by English Heritage. In just one visit you can make back most of the annual membership fee. It is definitely worth taking it out if you are visiting the Island.

Visit Osborne House

Osborne House was built in the Nineteenth Century for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a holiday home. It is located near Fishbourne in the north of the Island and gives you a rare glimpse into the life of the British Royal Family. The narrative around the palace is clear – Victoria and Albert craved privacy. Osborne House enabled them to live like a “normal family”, away from the gaze of the general public.

The house is a real testament to Prince Albert’s love of architecture. There are hundreds of rooms in the house. Many of these showcase the influence that countries in the British Empire had on interior design at the time. Some of the rooms really reminded me of those at Brighton Pavillion, which was built in the century before.

As you go through Osborne House, you’re also on a journey through late nineteenth century innovation. The House has an early lift, a bath and an organ. All of which are very much of their time.

One of the many joys of Osborne House is the private beach, which has a stunning view of Portsmouth. It’s about a kilometer walk from the house down a stunning tree-lined path. There is also a Swiss Cottage in the grounds. This was designed for Victoria and Albert’s children to play at adult things such as sewing, gardening and cooking.

Osborne House is accessible by bus and car. It costs £21.00 to go round and is free to National Art Pass holders and English Heritage members. You can buy tickets on the gate or in advance via GetYourGuide.*

Try and see a Red Squirrel

Red Squirrels are very rare in the UK. They are mainly found in Scotland, on the Isle of Wight and on Brownsea Island. Having only once spotted one, but battling their gray cousins on a daily basis, we made a really concerted effort to spy a Red Squirrel. It was one of those, like the Manx Cat, where we went away disappointed. The garden of our B&B was home to them. Not on our visit. We went to Parkhurst Forest which has a dedicated Red Squirrel viewing hide. Nothing. Yes Parkhurst Forest was nice. But a Red Squirrel would have made it nicer!

Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle is an absolute jewel in the crown of the island. The Castle is most famous for housing King Charles I for 14 months at the end of the English Civil War. There is also a brilliant video guide, a lovely garden and donkeys to see. You can walk around the perimeter of the castle and take in the view. There is also a small museum that gives you more information about the Anglo-Saxon roots of the castle and of course, the Civil War.

Carisbrooke Castle is mainly outside, so is best visited when it is not raining. It is free for English Heritage members and adult tickets are from £13. You also have to pay for parking (about £4). You can book entry in advance via GetYourGuide.*

Alum Bay

Alum Bay is a geological marvel. It is a beach and cliff near the Needles with multi-coloured sand. The “attraction” of Alum Bay is not just the cable car or walk down to see the coloured cliffs but also the glass experience.

You cannot help yourself to the coloured sand on the cliffs (sorry, spoiler!). There is an excellent visitor centre where you can see glass blowing and learn more about the sand. I still have a glass in the shape of a guitar which I filled with the sand at Alum Bay when I was about eight years old.

My first memory of visiting Alum Bay was on a school trip in the 1990s. There is something so cool about the different colours of sand which just occur naturally. If you have time, you can also take a boat trip around the needles – two chalky rocks just off the coast.

In addition to seeing the sand, there are some wonderful cliffs you can walk across near the visitor center. If the weather is good, you really can spend a day with everything there is to do.

Alum Bay is best accessed by car or coach trip. Parking is £6 and is discounted to National Trust Members. There are lots of different ways you can spend money once at the site – from the cable car to mini golf.

The Needles Battery nearby is also free for National Trust members.

The Monkey Haven

The Isle of Wight Monkey Haven is a sanctuary with many different breeds of monkeys. In addition to the primates there are owls, meercats and lizards.

Each primate at the Haven has a story. Many are really traumatised from being trafficked, abandoned or kept in terrible circumstances. The monkeys have been rehabilitated from countries across the world.

The Monkey Haven is best accessed by car, and entry is from £16 for adults. Parking is free and there are some cafes there too.

Visit Cowes

Cowes is one of the biggest sailing towns on the Island. It’s cute and the shops definitely skew towards the sailing audience. It’s a brilliant place to wander around and has a breathtaking view of the harbour where you can watch the boats go in.

A quick pit-stop in Cowes is the Sir Max Aitken Museum. This is a small, free museum that looks at the life of the former owner of the Daily Express. It charts much of the Island’s naval history and you can take in many of the exhibits in half an hour.

There are loads of great cafes and restaurants in Cowes. We ate at the Red Duster which is a small British restaurant. It has quirky meal combinations, but it was excellent.

Visit Newport

Newport is the county town on the Island. It has a Roman Palace (closed when we went), and a great selection of shops and cafes.

We ended up eating at Richmonds Cafe which served an exceptional salad and even better cake.

Visit the Beach at Shanklin

Shanklin is home to a beautiful and stormy beach, with fantastic pubs to eat in. I last ate in one during COVID, the Fisherman’s Cottage which was magnificent. Even though we were in a marquee on a rainy day!

In the old village in Shanklin, there are many quaint buildings to look at and the most magnificent bright pink tea shop. It serves a range of traditional english cakes and meals.

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