Plan & Travel

Welcome to the gateway of adventure! Nestled just off the South Coast of England, our enchanting Island is a haven for explorers, nature lovers, and seekers of tranquility alike. From the moment you set foot on our shores, you'll be captivated by the rich tapestry of landscapes, from rolling countryside to pristine beaches.

Travelling to the Isle of Wight is easy and very straightforward. And once you’re here, you have a whole host of options to get you from a to b. Whether you travel on the Island by car, bus, train, bike or foot, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome, breath taking scenery and a fabulous holiday.

So pack your sense of adventure, leave your worries behind, and let your Island escape begin! We cannot wait to welcome you.

Getting to the South Coast

Whether you decide to travel by road or rail there are simple and direct routes to Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea and Lymington.

If you’re travelling by road in your own car you can travel on many of the larger motorways to get to the ferry ports easily.

South Western Railway has train services from London Waterloo to Southampton, Portsmouth and Southsea, perfect for picking up the Red Funnel Red Jet, Wightlink FastCat or Hovertravel's hovercraft to the Island. You can plan ahead and buy combined train and ferry tickets online or at your local ticket office to save time and money.

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Crossing the water

The journey across the water is as much a part of the fun as the destination itself, and there are lots of easy ways to get yourself onto the Island.

If you’re in your car then you have a choice of car ferries at Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington which run frequently. You can also use these ferries as foot passengers or if you are bringing your bike with you. If you want to to zip onto the Island more quickly then there’s the Red Jet from Southampton into Cowes, the Wightlink Fastcat from Portsmouth to Ryde or the Hovertravel hovercraft from Southsea also to Ryde. All passenger routes connect to public transport on the Isle of Wight to help you to easily get to your hotel or accommodation.

Keep an eye out for wildlife as you sail towards our Island!

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Getting around the Island

If you’re coming to the Island without a car (or you wish you leave the car at the accommodation!) there are lots of ways to get around. Catch the train up the esplanade at Ryde and on to Sandown and Shanklin or hop on a Southern Vectis bus from any ferry port to the hub of Newport and beyond. Rover tickets are available for multiple journeys.

We love the ‘drive less, see more’ ethos on the Isle of Wight and there are miles of cycle paths and walking routes to explore which cover the Island and give you a real flavour of coast and countryside. There is also the Isle of Wight Steam Railway which will take you on a nostalgic journey as you travel the full length of the railway. Buy an all-day rover ticket, enjoy the attractions along the route and pick up links to other public transport.

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Sunshine Island - what's the weather like?

The Isle of Wight weather is one of the main reasons people return year after year to the place dubbed the ‘Sunshine Island’ - and we don’t have that name for nothing, in fact, in the 1930s, the Isle of Wight was known as ‘England’s Garden Isle of Sunshine’ and people were encouraged to head south for winter sunshine and to help recoup from illnesses.

The sunniest staycation destination, the Island averages more hours of sunshine than the rest of the UK, typically enjoying 37 hours per week compared to the national average of 29. Plus, not only do we have more hours of sunshine, but we also regularly have higher temperatures than the rest of the country thanks to the natural buffer of being surrounded by the sea. 

Our higher temperatures allow us to grow produce more typically seen in the Mediterranean, such as apricots, cherries, garlic and vine-ripened tomatoes. You could be mistaken for thinking you’ve arrived on far-flung shores whilst out in Ventnor - home to the Island’s unique microclimate, which is 5°C higher here all year round, thanks to the tall cliffs to the North and the English Channel to the South. Combined, this provides a mild climate with only 28 inches of average rainfall and enables a wide variety of plants considered too tender for much of mainland Britain, to be grown outdoors. We really are a holiday ‘hotspot’!

Because of our proximity to the sea, the weather can change very quickly and it’s not that uncommon to encounter the ‘four seasons in one day’ at our shorelines, where you can also experience strong winds and sea swells, so it’s always advisable to pack a raincoat, whatever time of year you are visiting.