Isle of Wight Things to Do

  The Needles
by devat81
 
  • The Needles
      The Needles
    by devat81
  • Needles from Old Battery
      Needles from Old Battery
    by devat81
  • We at Sandown Bay
      We at Sandown Bay
    by devat81
  • The Town Side
      The Town Side
    by devat81
  • Farm House
      Farm House
    by devat81
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Sandown Beach

by darkjedi

The town of Sanddown is typical of many on the south-east coast of the island and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible golden sandy beach. It is the site of the lost Sandown Castle. Sandown has been a seaside resort town since the Victorian age thanks to its sands and the sunny weather. Today Sandown Esplanade boasts some fine Victorian and Edwardian hotels which overlook the golden sands of the beach below. Sandown Pier hosts a large amusement centre with arcade games and children's play areas, typical of a sea-side resort. The pier is also good for doing a spot of sea fishing with designated areas especially for the keen angler.

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St. Helens - The Nature

by magyarozag

Much of the land around the lower part of St Helens is countryside and maintained by the National Trust. By the Old Church are numerous pathways leading along the beach to Seaview, up the hill to Nodes Point and up to St Helens village. These walks are only short in comparison to other Island walks but you still take in alot of nature. In wooded areas you may get a chance to see a red squirrel or if you stay by the coast see the birds breaking open shells and snails to feed on. These walks may not be a highlight but can be anice break. A well walked path leads from behind Baywatch cafe and crosses St Helens duver, a magnificent area of open land, criss crossed by a river and covered in wild plant life. From the duver you can cross over a causeway to Bembridge or cross the wooden bridge and ascend the hill to St Helens village.

Osborne House - Swiss Cottage

by magyarozag

This is the Swiss cottage located in the grounds of Osborne House. It was designed by Victoria's husband Albert and built for use of the children. The area is surrounded with vegetable gardens where the Royal children used to grow food which they would later cook and serve to their parents in the cottage. The other Swiss cottage just behind the one pictured was a museum where the family displayed all their presents given from foreign Kings, Queens and ambassadors. From stuffed birds to Zulu shields nearly all the gifts given to the children are displayed there. To get there from Osborne House is a ten minute walk or two minute minibus journey. Not open in winter due to cost of keeping open.

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Bestival - the best festival on the Isle of Wight!

by mollymoo0oo0

Well, I admit I'm a little biased, in that I've never been to another festival on the Isle of Wight... but that aside, in my experience of festivalising, I enjoyed the Bestival immensely... at the time of (originally) writing, they will have just held this year's one which, disappointedly, I was unable to attend. And that would only be the 3rd one they've held so far.The Bestival is the last major music festival of the season in the UK, won a 'best medium sized festival' award, and felt just right for a balance of music, activity, size (ie being able to explore as much as possible without being bored or feeling you have run out of time)... and most importantly, good F.U.N.There is a fantastic dressing-up theme to the party, and last year we collectively won a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for the biggest ever fancy dress party :DAlongside a whole array of musical delights,...

Wanna buy a fort?

by budapest8

Permission to use information given by the RN Museum in Portsmouthand Country Life.A secure investmentPenny ChurchillDecember 20, 2005No Man's Land fort in the Solent proves a man's home can be his castleThe property values showing little sign of falling, the fate of one familiar property, No Man's Land fort in the Solent off the coast of Hampshire, is a timely reminder that the financial laws of gravity still apply.The massive fort was built during the 1890s to prevent ironclad French warships from bombarding Portsmouth's dockyards. Massive granite blocks were cut and shaped on land, trans-ported on barges and lowered into the sea to form a base for the fortress. The upper walls were covered in thick armour plating, and internally, the gun-emplacements were designed to absorb the heaviest barrage.In the early 1990s, the fort was offered for sale by Knight Frank at a guide price of...

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The Solent Sea Forts

by budapest8

These forts can be seen when you take a trip over to the Island from Portsmouth or walk along the beaches closeto Ryde or on the 'Pompey' side. I used to hear stories as a boy of how boats would go out the forts and use a horsehead as bait to catch conger eels. Fact or fiction these fortsalways visible but steeped in mystery and had a very forebodinglook about them. Would be a great place to make a horror moviealternatively, set the stage to write a ghost story.Permission to use information given by the RN Museum in Portsmouthand Country Life.The Sea FortsThese sea forts were built to prevent any ship from entering the Solent on the east without coming into range of their big guns. * St Helen's Fort - privately owned. * No Man's Land Fort - recently up for sale for £10,000,000. * Horse Sand Fort - owned by the Ministry of Defence * Spitbank Fort

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Walking along Island beaches

by budapest8

I returned after 26 years to the Island and the cream on the cake was a visit to the West Wight!Brook Bay-Driving along the Military Road toFreshwater Bay then onto to Yarmouth then back to Newport and över to Arreton Downs where we were staying on a farm.Here is a view of Ryde from the pier.This is the town where I grew up and issteeped in history.Any references on these pages from the web I have permission to use.

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Osborne House

by JBourne

Queen Victoria's hideaway on the island. Apparently the Queen and her husband loved the area so much on a visit, that they commissioned the building of a holiday home here for themselves. Osborne House is reachable by bus and requires a good couple of hours to see the house and grounds. We went in August and expected it to be busy, but in fact it was pleasantly quiet. It is a beautiful house, in the Italianate style, and you are able to go around a good many of the rooms, which still contain the Queen's possessions. The art collection, including paintings of the family, is well worth seeing. We also had a startling experience of finding a tiny horseshoe bat caught in a spider's web, in the eaves of the Swiss Cottage. My husband has to rescue it as the spider was trying to wrap it further, and the tiny bat was shrieking loudly. Apparently there is a successful breeding programme in the...

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Osborne House

by magyarozag

Ever since Queen Victoria died in 1901, Osborne has in some way or another been neglected. Her son Edward closed off half the household with a big iron gate just after she died. And later the royal family sold bits of Osborne off until none of it was a Royal Residence. Since it fell into English Heritage hands it hads realy taken off. Especially in 2007. Being left grey for years it was onlyin 2006 that English Heritage discovered that really it had been creamy orange. Today Osborne is a changed place, since the 1990's the potting shed, old barracks, a new restaurant and toilets have opened, ares of forest cultivated, the beach stabilized and the coach house (off limits to public unless tour) renovated in addition to parts of the house itself. The frescoes in the Victoria's hall have been repainted, and walls redone. The gardens ornaments repaired and replaced, and the original statues...

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Freshwater/Yarmouth - The Causeway

by magyarozag

From the pillbox in Freshwater, there is an old Causeway which runs right into the centre of Yarmouth. It is a wide, gravelled pathway which is popular with walkers, cyclists, dog walkers and families, who spend either a Sunday or Bank holiday walking along it. Along the way there are numerous viewpoints, benches, and the old Tidemill. Built in 1793 to help meeting demand for flour arising from the war with France, today it is only a house. The Causeway leads right up to Yarmouths main road, where you can cross and enter Yarmouth itself.

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Fun things to do in Isle of Wight

Top 3 Hotels in Isle of Wight

The Channel View Hotel  Shanklin

 1 Review and 68 Opinions  We have just returned from a most excellent stay in this hotel, excellent in ALL respects. The... 

 Hotels in Shanklin

Channel View Hotel  Sandown

 1 Review and 67 Opinions  Unfortunately I received a very nasty bout of food poisoning whilst staying at this hotel. I missed... 

 Hotels in Sandown

Lakeside Park Hotel  Ryde

 135 Opinions

 Hotels in Ryde

200 Hotels in Isle of Wight
 
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Reviews and photos of Isle of Wight attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Isle of Wight sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Isle of Wight
  1. Sandown Things to Do
  2. Ryde Things to Do
  3. Freshwater Things to Do
  4. Newport Things to Do
  5. Yarmouth Things to Do

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Questions and Answers

northeast80 profile photo

Q:  Hi All Has anyone ever cycled round the Isle of Wight? I've found a few routes and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. We... 

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A: IOW is a brilliant place to explore and especially out of school holiday season. I don't think it matters which way round you go as it is a circle and sooner or later you... 

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