8 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight, UK /

Although the Isle of Wight only consists of just 147 square miles, in many ways it is England in miniature. Visitors are awed by the beaches, the hills, the forests, the acres of pastureland and of course the iconic Needles.

Karl Marx rented a house in Ventnor and described the place as a paradise. Charles Dickens was also impressed. While staying at Bonchurch, he wrote to his wife, “It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life.” While Tennyson thought the island’s invigorating air was “worth six pence a pint”. JMR Turner, the great painter of light, was often drawn to the island for its sweeping views.

1. Cross over

Ferries have been running to the Isle of Wight since 1420. The fast Wightlink crossing from Portsmouth to Fishbourne continues the tradition in style.

Leaving their cars on the decks below, passengers relax as they cruise through the Solent, with just enough time to grab a drink and snack from the cafe.

2. Osborne House

Queen Victoria’s love of the Isle of Wight, as an escape from the stuffy formalities of court, helped make the island more widely known as a holiday destination in the nineteenth century.

Today, English Heritage cares for Osborne House, the Italianate palazzo-style escape that Prince Albert designed for the family’s summers. Their nine children loved playing in the Swiss Cottage and going to their private beach.

3. The Royal Hotel, Ventnor

Victoria visited the island before she became queen. In Ventnor, Fishers Hotel, built in 1832, became a favorite spot for afternoon tea. In honor of her patronage, the hotel changed its name to The Royal Hotel.

Sheltered by Ventnor’s sheer cliffs, the cypresses and palm trees by the hotel’s pool show how a microclimate has earned the town its nickname of English Madeira.

The Geranium Restaurant with two AA rosettes, with royal coats of arms in the royal blue carpet and a dozen chandeliers, recalls the grandeur of the Georgian and Victorian eras.

4. Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle, once again cared for by English Heritage, tells the story of the history of the Isle of Wight through the ages.

Besieged by the French in 1377 during the Hundred Years’ War, Carisbrooke Castle has been much more than just a fortress. The museum tells the story of how King Charles I was imprisoned during the English Civil War. The castle has also served as a country house, royal residence and place of government.

Museum exhibits reveal the island’s industries through the ages: farming, fishing, and at the height of the smuggling trade, an estimated 80% of the population was involved in the trade.

5. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Havenstreet Railway Station has been restored and now serves as the base for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The steam trains, museum and station tell the story of the Golden Age of Railways when the tiny island had 33 stations. Visitors can book nostalgic journeys on the trains, first or third class.

Next to Havenstreet Station is the Haven Falconry where flying displays of falcons and hawks take place.

6. The Taverners in Godshill

Godshill with its thatched cottages is one of the most picturesque quaint villages on the island. Formerly a bakehouse and then a post office, The Taverners attracts many cyclists and walkers and is now a popular gastropub.

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Oak beams and flagstones worn smooth over the centuries, this gastropub offers fine dining both indoors and in the large garden during the summer. Specials on the board reflect seasonal produce and the local fisherman’s daily catch.

7. Black Gang China

This year, 2023, Black Gang China celebrates its 180th birthday, making it the oldest theme park in the UK, long before the term theme park was invented.

To celebrate the anniversary, the new Extinction attraction has now been opened. The ride throws its passengers through full 360-degree vertical rotations and offers spectacular views of the Blackgang coastline.

8. The Coastal Path

A 70 mile coastal path takes in much of the variety of the Isle of Wight. It passes family-friendly yellow sand beaches that gently slope into the sea.

At other times the walk gives a view of the stand of sailors braving the wind and currents that sweep through the Solent and English Channel.

In some places, the meadows are seldom mowed to encourage the return of wildflowers such as orchids and the butterflies that flutter among them.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Visit Isle of Wight.