Filming on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is sometimes referred to as ‘England in a Nutshell’ and with its huge variation in landscape and terrain it’s not hard to see why. We’ve got everything from pebbly secret coves and vast sandy beaches to golden fields and quaint streets lined with thatched cottages, making it the perfect backdrop for any film or media project. When you’re on the Island, all these beautiful and varied scenes lie within a 23 mile radius, making for an easily accessible film set. The weather should hold out too – the Isle of Wight has its own microclimate! It has been recorded over the years that the Island has more hours of sunshine than the rest of the UK, so you’re likely to have more clear days for filming and the wet weather equipment can stay at home! To add to the great climate and look of the landscape, we have a wide range of trusted creative services available on the Island, from professional camerapersons and models to stills photographers and recording studios. If you’re looking for the perfect retreat to get the creative juices flowing whilst having access to a range of experienced creative professionals, the Isle of Wight has got it covered.

Find the perfect backdrop...

Coastal

Being an Island naturally means we’re surround by coastline! We’ve got stunning sandy beaches as well as quaint, pebbly coves and bays located at various points along the coastline.

• Compton Bay is well known for its surf and vast sands, making it the perfect destination for beach lovers in the summer and a great place to take a bracing walk in the winter.
• Appley Beach at Ryde offers miles and miles of sandy shores as well as its very own tower that looks over the sea. The bright golden sands conjure up pictures of the Caribbean rather than the UK.
• Steephill Cove is one of the Isle of Wight’s most idyllic seaside locations. This very small, pebbly cove lined with quaint coastal cottages is a favourite with visitors and residents and provides stunning views out over the English Channel.
• Freshwater Bay is a pebbly beach surrounded by chalky cliffs and stacks and is steeped in history. Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Julia Margaret Cameron made the Island their home in Victorian times and were central figures in the famous ‘Freshwater Circle’. The bay lies beside Tennyson Down, a large grassy hill where Tennyson loved to walk in search of inspiration for his poetry.

Towns & Villages

The Isle of Wight is a great place to see chocolate-box thatched cottages and quaint roads harking back to yesteryear!

• Winkle Street is known as one of the wonders of the Isle of Wight! The street is made up of a row of picturesque cottages opposite a stream and fields.
• Shanklin Old Village is a picturesque olden day village made up of stone, thatched buildings leading down to a magical chine. The roads are lined with small, local shops and at the centre of the town is a thatched pub!
• Cowes is a hive of activity in the summer months when it hosts one of the world’s largest sailing regattas Cowes Week. The high street of this popular sailing town is lined with local shops and excellent cafes (with some larger chains) and is a great place to visit to soak up the Island’s relaxed coastal atmosphere.
• Newport is the Isle of Wight's central town and the main shopping destination. A number of cafes sit alongside the River Medina, which runs through the town. On the outskirts of Newport lies Carisbrooke, a small village particularly famous for its medieval castle!

AONB

Did you know that half of the Isle of Wight is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? As well as stunning beaches and quaint towns and villages, we have untouched green fields and lowland aplenty.

Services

If you’d like to make the Isle of Wight the home of your next media project, take a look at some of the services we have to offer. Many creative professionals choose to make the Island their home due to its separation from the mainland and its inspirational natural beauty, so you won’t be stuck for resources whilst you’re here.

• Film Expo South provides a production support service. They offer a dual role of promoting the Isle of Wight as a film friendly Island as well as providing support to feature films, TV programmes, commercials, corporates, music videos, photo shoots, short films and web series. 

• IOW Locations can help you find the perfect location to film on the Isle of Wight. 

• Wight Media Services offer sound and video production and are extremely experienced in the field having worked in professional broadcast for over 20 years. Take a look at the video below by Wight Media Services to see why the Isle of Wight is a great film location.

• Island People provide models, actors and voiceover services on the Isle of Wight.

Accommodation

Looking for somewhere to stay? We’ve got a wide range of accommodation available to suit all party sizes and budgets from hotels and hostels to self-catering cottages and B&Bs. View our accommodation page to browse the entire list and take a look at some of the Island’s best things to do in between shoots!