As lots of people might consider a UK staycation this year, the Isle of Wight looks like the perfect destination to relax this summer (or even autumn): renowned for its amazing beaches and seafront promenades, the good weather conditions, and a wide range of interesting activities and attractions for all ages, this island is the best option if you want to avoid traveling abroad. I spent a few days there a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so much I want to come back soon!
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON shares with you the highlights of the stunning Isle of Wight!

The Isle of Wight: introduction

Situation

Situated just off the south coast of England, it’s very easy to get to the Isle of Wight, especially coming from London. Embarking onto the ferry sounds like a little adventure and although the crossing was quite short, as soon as we set foot on the Isle of Wight we were ready to make the most of our stay there!

The Isle of Wight assets

In a nutshell, the Isle of Wight is the largest and second-most populous island in England (140k people); some resorts have been holiday destinations since Victorian times, and the island is renowned for “its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland, and chines”. It is also designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
So many highlights and areas to explore on this island! With only 5 days on the spot, we picked a selection of things to do and see on this lovely island and enjoyed every bit of this busy schedule!

Isle of Wight etymology

Before diving into the Isle of Wight main attractions, here’s a question my kids asked upon arrival: why is the spelling of the island’s name ‘Wight’ rather than ‘Isle of White’? According to my online search, there are several possible explanations as to where the name Isle of Wight came from, and these are the likely ones:
1. Around 1900 BC the Beaker people arrived and they called the Island “Wiht” (Weight) meaning “raised or what rises over the sea”.
2. 400BC – Iron Age Celts from the Continent gave Wight its name, meaning “place of the division” because it is between the two arms of the Solent.
Now that we have tackled a bit of history and facts, let’s immerse ourselves in the spectacular Isle of Wight!

The Isle of Wight selection of landmark attractions

Exploring The Needles

Our accommodation was in the western part of the Island, just 10mn away from the Needles, which turned out to be a true advantage to avoid all queues and admire the place in its authentic state (when we left the place, it was a whole different context).
The Needles is the name given to a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30m out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight.

For all thrill-seekers: book a Chairlift to go from the top of the Alum Bay cliffs down to the beach below, to get spectacular views of the picturesque Needles Rocks and Lighthouse!

Then, if you are still lacking adrenaline I recommend hopping on the available speed boat to get a closer view of the lighthouse and Needles Rocks. That was absolutely sensational and we all had a blast!
Afterwards, we spent a couple of hours on the beach (a mix of pebbles and sand), taking in the sun and tasting the sea!
That was the most beautiful day that week and we were definitely aware of being lucky!

Hiking on the Isle of Wight

Let’s be clear: the Isle of Wight is a paradise for walkers!
More than half of the island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which basically means that you’ll see breath-taking scenery everywhere you look.
Whether you’re after a brief excursion with your family or a more challenging walk, the Isle of Wight has something to offer!
We tailored our walks to our schedule, and except for one day, we always managed to spend a couple of hours walking and enjoying the stunning landscape!
There’s a Coastal path that can be split into six sections and will give you the opportunity to discover the island with one eye constantly turned to the sea! Doesn’t it sound like the perfect holiday?

Visiting the Isle of Wight’s villages & towns

There are several towns worthy of interest on the Isle of Wight and each one has its own unique character and charm.
Yarmouth was the first village we visited due to its proximity to our accommodation. We loved its pretty streets, harbour, and lovely shops and pubs.
Godshill was another beautiful (yet busy) village with plenty of lovely shops, pretty houses and tempting restaurants (the problem was that without booking in advance, we could not get a table anywhere and ended up picnicking on the beach!).

If you have enough time, Godshill is also renowned for its model village and its cider company.
Shanklin on the island’s southeastern coast is one of the most popular holiday hotspots.

In Shanklin, we didn’t particularly feel the charm we appreciated in other towns (except for its picturesque Old Village lined with thatched-roofed pubs and restaurants) but we enjoyed the Shanklin Chine attraction and the beautiful beach.

We only passed through Ventnor, which offers a beautiful beachfront promenade and a famous Botanic Garden, as well as pretty shops I would have loved to visit, but that’s on the list for our next trip to the Isle of Wight!

Sandown, Cowes and East Cowes, Newport and Bembridge are also worthy of interest but we did not have the time to explore these towns either. I will obviously update this post next time I stay on the island…

Soaking in the sun on the beautiful beaches

This seems obvious, but you NEED to spend time on the beach while staying on the Isle of Wight!
There’s such a wide range of stunning beaches on the Isle of Wight, sometimes with pure sand or (more usually) pebbly (or a mix), it’s difficult to choose! But all these beaches are magnificent, with their own specificities and charm and you definitely won’t regret stopping for a few hours basking in the sun…
After our perfect day at the Needles (above), our expectations were quite high but the island was full of surprises!
While the weather was still amazing, we had a great time on Freshwater Bay.
One day, we were hiking along the coastal path overlooking Yaverland beach and were stunned by its wild beauty.
Compton Bay is accessible via steps from three National Trust car parks and despite the wind we fought that afternoon we loved its beautiful pebbles and amazing view.
The west end of Shanklin Beach, with its pretty beach huts, is to put on your list of the best beaches on the Isle of Wight too.
On our way back to the Red Jet ferry terminal in Cowes, we spent a couple of hours on Gurnard beach. Renowned for its curving bay with a sand and shingle beach, the lovely huts, and its beautiful sunsets, you will definitely want to linger there watching the sea and taking in the atmosphere.

Enjoying great food on the Isle of Wight

There are different options, whether you’re looking for a simple lunch, a great food experience, or a great venue with a view. Here are 3 places I highly recommend.

Tapnell Farm, Yarmouth

Tapnell Farm hosts a farm-themed amusement park with a petting zoo, plus go-kart rides, sledge slides & play areas, but we came there only to eat at their restaurant as all pubs in the area were fully booked!

We enjoyed simple yet tasty meals and the kids had fun with the cows outside. You can plan to stay there for the whole day given the wide range of exciting activities available there.

The Terrace, Yarmouth

This is THE restaurant to book in advance if you fancy fine cuisine: The Terrace, a harbour-side restaurant in Yarmouth.

Every bite was perfect and the staff very friendly and attentive. For us, it is the best address on the island so far…

The blacksmiths, Newport

Another great place for food and scenery: The Blacksmiths pub & restaurant.
Rightly renowned locally, this pub is located in the heart of the Isle of Wight and offers amazing panoramic views of the open countryside. A safe bet if you want to eat out!

Discovering a few attractions on the Isle of Wight

Here again, the Isle of Wight offers so many opportunities you will have to make your own choices. Ours were guided by our children and the availabilities on the week we visited the island.

The Wildheart Sanctuary, Sandown

It was previously known as the Isle of Wight Zoo. It is a sanctuary inside the former Sandown Fort on the coastline of Sandown.
The sanctuary focuses mainly on big cats and Madagascan animals, some animals having been rescued from abusive treatments in their previous environments.
It was a small but very interesting place, with staff speaking about the different species regularly during the day. We enjoyed it a lot and I highly recommend this visit for families.

Donkey sanctuary, Ventnor

Another sanctuary, this one being a haven place for rescued donkeys & ponies where visitors can meet the animals, which is the best when going there with kids.
The sanctuary is free of charge, with donations welcome. We had a little tour and touched a few animals. The staff is very welcoming and committed and it’s easy to learn a lot about donkeys and ponies if you are curious.

Osborne, East Cowes

Osborne is the palatial former holiday home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. At the moment you can visit the ground floor state rooms, once used to entertain heads of states, princes and princesses. Lots of things to see that will immerse you in the queen’s daily life!
If you are more interested in nature than history, you can also have a stroll through the garden terraces and take in the stunning views.
When we visited Osborne we were lucky to discover a few stands with activities from Victorian times (ball games, games of skills), a puppet theatre, and a speaker explaining a few main facts from the Victorian era.
It was lots of fun and very interesting. We all preferred this part of the visit rather than exploring the Palace with very few explanations. I would recommend looking at the website and planned events before getting there.

As you can see it’s very easy to fill in the days with lots of things to do and see on the Isle of Wight! There are plenty more other attractions and activities available, which you can select according to your likings.

I can’t wait to come back to this island with undeniable charm and explore what I have not seen yet.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to travel to the Isle of Wight soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To go further:
Isle of Wight Coastal path website
Osborne website
The donkey sanctuary website
The Wildheart Sanctuary website
The Blacksmiths website
The Terrace website
Tapnell Farm website
Shanklin Chine website
The Needles website

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