Shanklin Town

One of the most popular holiday destinations on the Isle of Wight, Shanklin has everything you need for a great family holiday or to go to with friends or as a couple. Sandown Bay, which stretches from Culver Down in the North 8.5 miles through Sandown, Lake and Shanklin to the South was the winner of the Beach Of The Year in the Countryfile Magazine Awards 2019.

From the long wide sandy beach, perfect for bucket and spade days to the wooded ravine which is Shanklin Chine and the Old Village with its independent shops, restaurants and pubs, you won’t be short of something to do. Shanklin has all the charm of a proper seaside town and set against the dramatic sandstone cliffs, the beach is one of the most stunning walks to take on the Island. You could rent a beach hut and watch the world go by or try your hand at the water sports on offer or have a paddle.

What to do in Shanklin?

Whether you’re young or old or somewhere in between there’s plenty to do for everyone. With its mixtures of green spaces, beach and town, parks and gardens, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Sit in the peaceful and tranquil Rylstone Gardens, take a picnic and just relax. 

Go and see a show at Shanklin Theatre which has an amazing mix of professional and amateur shows as well as concerts and comedy to choose from. Take the kids to the Esplanade and spend some pennies on traditional seaside games and amusements and take advantage of the wide range of pubs and cafes or walk through Shanklin Chine and admire this unique gorge with its rare plants and delightful waterfall.

The Old Village with its pretty thatched cottages and history, housing gift shops and tea rooms is the perfect spot for a cream tea or a light lunch. There are also miles of cycle ways and footpaths for you to enjoy so come prepared to get yourself some all- important vitamin sea and during the summer months, there are carnivals and the Shanklin Regatta to enjoy, which add to the excitement of any holiday.

And why not take part in an interesting historical Shanklin Walk using this guide. An historic walk around Shanklin, the route reveals the changing history of the settlement from a small fishing village to a major sea resort town.

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Eating Out in Shanklin

Cream tea? Light lunch? Traditional fish and chips? Locally caught crab and lobster? Whatever your foodie pleasure, you’ll find it in Shanklin. From traditional cafes, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants to an ice cream beside the seaside, you’ll have no problem pleasing everyone. Lots of venues have live music, quizzes and entertainment at weekends and during the summer months so it’s well worth having a look to see what’s going on. Many pubs and restaurants serve local ales and produce sourced from the Island so that you really will be able to taste and eat the Wight.

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Where to Stay?

With so much to offer, it’s not surprising that Shanklin has a variety of great places to stay and has a reputation for high quality B&Bs and guesthouses as well as hotels and self- catering options.

The Clifton is a B&B that provides breathtaking seaviews and is within walking distance of the Old Village and Rylstone Gardens. The coastal path is on The Clifton’s doorstep providing lovely walks between Shanklin and Sandown with views across Sandown Bay. For a great family friendly option with breath-taking sea views there’s the Luccombe Hall Hotel.

If self- catering is more to your liking then Luccombe Villa Holiday Apartments could be the choice for you. The apartments are set within a quiet position, yet still close to the town of Shanklin, shops and local amenities and within walking distance of Shanklin Chine and the beach.

So, whether you would like to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast, or would prefer self-catering or the extensive facilities of a holiday park, you will find exactly the accommodation that you are looking for in Shanklin.

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Shanklin Tourist Information

Shanklin has a Tourist Information Point located at Vernon Cottage Tearooms and Gift-shop, which can be found at the top of Shanklin Old Village next to the main car park. Here you will find a range of brochures, leaflets, maps and information on the Isle of Wight to help you during your visit.

Shanklin has a strong culture of being environmentally aware with the Shanklin Green Towns project focusing on recycling and improving the local environment and Plastic Free Shanklin aiming to reduce single use plastics.

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Live view from Haven Hall Hotel

Getting Around Shanklin

Exploring Shanklin is easy with buses, trains, the cliff lift and ample car parking. During the Summer months the Shanklin Shuttle runs a circular route around the resort taking in the seafront, Old Village, Town and Railway Station. Bus services operate northwards to Sandown, Brading and Ryde, south to Ventnor, or across the Island to Godshill, Newport and Cowes. Getting to Shanklin from the mainland is fast and easy with the Island Line train service linking Shanklin to Ryde Pier Head in 24 minutes. What are you waiting for? …Visit Shanklin…