10 Best Things To Do on the Isle of Wight

10 Best Things To Do on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is one of the most popular UK holiday destinations, with its close proximity to the mainland and its beautiful coastline. Referred to as ‘The Island’ by locals, there are plenty of activities to be found on the Isle of Wight, to suit all ages. Here are 10 of the best things to do on the Isle of Wight.

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Where is the Isle of Wight?

Isle of Wight lies off the south coast of England, in the English Channel. It’s approximately 2 hours from London, including hovercraft or ferry travel time and just 45 minutes via ferry from Portsmouth.

It is England’s largest island at 23 miles long and the famous landmark, The Needles, sits on the island’s westerly tip. The total area of the Isle of Wight is approximately 147 square miles with almost half of it a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Weather on the Isle of Wight

The island sees 4 distinct seasons, with summer being the most popular time to visit in terms of tourism. You can expect mild-warm days throughout summer and cold and windy winters. Though the island seems to be windier than the mainland, on average it is warmer all year round.

SEASON	AVERAGE LOWS/HIGHS
SPRING	6°/15°
SUMMER	13°/20°
AUTUMN	8°/19°
WINTER	5°/10°

10 Best Things To Do on the Isle of Wight

Whether you’re looking for family friendly activities, historic tours or walks in nature, here are 10 of the best things to do on your next trip to the Isle of Wight.

1. Osborne House

One of the most popular things to do on the island is to take a walk around a former royal residence, Osborne House. What once was the holiday residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, is now open for all to view.

The house was built between 1845 and 1851 in the style of a Renaissance palazzo, evident in the furnishings and architect of the home. It is truly a spectacle to walk amongst the corridors of this grand house, gazing upon the exquisite artwork. You can also explore the grounds, including the children’s playhouse, Swiss Cottage. In addition to the charming beachfront, which once was Queen Victoria’s private beach.

2. Shanklin Chine

Located in Shanklin Old Village, the leafy gorge is an absolute must-do. Its natural beauty has inspired artists, writers and poets over the years and is inspiration for all who visit. The walk stretches from the village to the beach and is open both day and night. Those who visit during the evening are treated to enchanting illuminations throughout the gorge.

Shanklin Chine has welcomed visitors for over 200 years, including Queen Victoria as a young princess – which led her to fall in love with the island and return years later.

Tickets cost £9.50 pp and includes unlimited access for 7 days.

Shanklin Chine may close during winter and during bad weather, you can check opening times here.

3. Red Squirrel Trail

The Red Squirrel Trail is 32 miles of mostly traffic-free cycling through the heart of the island. The trail passes through woodland, farmland, estuaries and some coastline.

You can choose to do the entire trail over two days or opt for sections of the trail for full or half day experiences. It’s a great activity for the whole family and there are multiple places to hire bikes across the island.

4. Tennyson Down Trail

Tennyson Down Trail is an incredible headland walk with magnificent views of The Needles, a Cold War rocket site and a 19th century fort. The trail is 7 miles (11km) long and follows a figure of 8 trail, though it can be split into two sections for shorter walks.

Dogs are welcome on the trail. However, it is an extremely exposed headland so we would recommend keeping them on leash, as well as a close eye on children and avoiding the trail during high winds.

We would recommend packing a small picnic to enjoy the scenic view or stopping at Needles Old Battery tea-room for a refreshment.

5. Needles Old & New Battery

An absolute must on the Isle of Wight is the Needles Old Battery, a Victorian coastal defence sat overlooking The Needles and New Battery, a rocket testing site. Other than the epic views, there are a few really awesome things to do here.

Needles Old Battery

Needles Old Battery was built in 1862 as a defensive fort, it was active during the two World Wars. On the parade stand you will find two guns, great for a photo backdrop and as a lookout. Nearby you will also find a stairway that leads down to an underground tunnel! The tunnel winds its was though the white, chalky cliffs to a searchlight emplacement. Adults and kids alike will love this adventure.

Another highlight of Needles Old Battery is the vintage tea-room. Constructed in the early 1940s, the tea-room was manned by naval staff throughout the Second World War and later used as a base for coastguards. Nowadays it is what we consider to be the tea-room with the best scenic view in all of the UK. They even provide binoculars to gaze through as you sip your tea!

Needles New Battery

The New Battery was built when the Old Battery began to deteriorate and more space was needed. During the 1950s – 1970s British space rockets were secretly tested here, which you can learn all about in two underground rooms. The area was extremely top secret and the rooms have been recreated to what they would have looked like during the operation. Also, this area is another great photo location for The Needles!

There is no carpark located at the Old/New Battery site. The nearest carpark is located at the Needles Landmark attraction, Alum Bay or Freshwater Bay. From Alum Bay it is a 15 minute up-hill walk. You can reach also Needles Old Battery via the Tennyson Down Trail.

The Old Battery and New Battery is part of the National Trust, you will need to pay a fee or be a member to enter the area. You can find prices and opening times here.

6. The Garlic Farm

We hope you like garlic, because this place sure does. The Garlic Farm is a family business who run… you guessed it, a garlic farm! The farm has an onsite restaurant, as well as accommodation, a produce shop and various events and shows throughout the year.

We would highly recommend a visit to the award-winning restaurant where every item has garlic within the dish, it’s a fun concept and honestly, the food was great. Plus, the setting is really beautiful. There are free-roaming chickens, beautiful blooming flowers and if you’re lucky, red squirrels.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers afternoon tea as well as homemade cakes and scones.

Book your table here.

7. St Catherine’s Oratory

If you’re a history buff, this one is for you!

Completed in 1328, St Catherine’s Oratory is a prehistoric burial mound and a small medieval oratory. It is believed that the west tower was used as a lighthouse and to this day it is the only medieval lighthouse standing in England.

Locals affectionately call it the Pepperpot due to the resemblance in shape. The slender tower stands 35ft (11 meters) tall and has an eight-sided pyramid roof. You are able to walk right up to, and in, the tower if you please.

The walk to St Catherine’s Oratory takes about 15 minutes from the nearby carpark. You will have to cross a road and pass through a field with wild animals. (Keep dogs on a leash)

Find the exact location on Google Maps here.

8. Tapnell Farm

Located in the countryside, Tapnell Farm is perfect for a day trip with the family or a for couples weekend away. It is home to award-winning accommodation, all weather farm park attraction, restaurant and the islands only water park.

We were lucky enough to enjoy Tapnell farm during an overnight stay in their geodesic domes. It was such a unique stay and had unspoilt views of the coast. They do offer a range of other accommodation options also, from farm cottages to safari tents.

When it comes to entertainment, Tapnell Farm has something for the whole family! The farm park is perfect for the little ones and they can even meet some of their favourite farmyard animals. There’s also the seasonal outdoor aqua park as well as the archery and axe throwing, which will keep the dads entertained. We tried our hand at football golf, which was a pretty fun combination of sports and had us entertained for a good hour or two.

The Cow is the on-site restaurant, offering home-grown and locally sourced produce. It caters to all dietary needs and is dog friendly.

9. Kayak Tour

Isle of Wight offers plenty of water-based activities including surfing, bodyboarding, paddle boarding, sailing and kayaking. You can even paddle your way around the famous Needles!

We joined a sea kayaking tour with Tackt-Isle Adventures during our trip and had a lot of fun, though the weather and wind wasn’t on our side. They offer a wide range of activites including paddle boards, canoeing, and dinghy sailing. As well as equipment hire. They are based in St Helens, which tends to have some of the calmest water.

If you’re interested in surfing/bodyboarding the best beginner friendly locations are Yaverland, Sandown, Shanklin or Ventnor. Compton Bay and Sandown/Lake are options for bigger waves.

10. Tip of the Wight walk

Stretching 3.5 miles (5.6km) the Tip of the Wight walk is a moderately challenging walk on the southerly point of the Isle of Wight.

The trail passes the islands only serving onshore lighthouse, St Catherine’s Lighthouse, as well as Marconi plaque. The Marcroni plaque is dedicated to Guglielmo Marconi, a young Italian inventor, who came to the Isle of Wight to build the world’s first permanent wireless station.

It is a beautiful loop walk the takes you along the coastal cliffs, through farmland and along grassy tracks. Allow 2-2.5 hours to complete the walk.

Thank You

Hi adventurers, thanks for reading this guide!

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