Explore the Isle of Wight

Discover the charm and variety of the Isle of Wight, a hidden gem off the South Coast of England, perfect for your next UK staycation. Whether you're drawn to quaint villages, bustling towns, incredible landmarks, or even ancient dinosaur footprints, the Isle of Wight has something to captivate every traveler.

This diamond-shaped Island is bursting with diverse attractions, beautiful beaches, stunning countryside, top-quality local food and drink, as well as rich culture and history. From family adventures and solo explorations to romantic weekend getaways, the Isle of Wight offers an experience that caters to all tastes and interests.

So, why not Say Yes to the Isle of Wight for your next holiday or short break? Dive into the myriad of experiences the Garden Isle has to offer and see why so many visitors keep coming back for more. Explore the Isle of Wight and uncover your new favourite destination on the South Coast of England!

Make sure you check directly with your accommodation provider on ferry discounts that they have available, and head to our Ways to Save section for further money saving tips to the Isle of Wight.

Top Isle of Wight towns and villages

There are lots of towns and villages to enjoy and explore on the Isle of Wight but here are three suggestions of communities you might like to visit.

1. Take a trip to Shanklin to enjoy a superb sandy shoreline, tons of fun on the Esplanade, history aplenty at Shanklin Chine, shopping in Regent Street and a top-notch community theatre hosting nationally-known comedians, shows and musicians throughout the year.
2. Compact but full of character, Yarmouth has a harbour packed with yachts and motor cruisers, a wooden pier to stroll up, more than its fair share of great pubs and restaurants and the attraction of nearby Fort Victoria.
3. Ryde for Pride is the town’s motto and it is well deserved. The biggest town on the Isle of Wight has something for everybody. From scooter rallies to Isle of Wight Pride and the country’s oldest carnival. But it also has an amazing shopping and hospitality street in Union Street, miles of golden sands, seafront walks and much, much more.

Explore the natural beauty of the Isle of Wight

Whether you want to lace up your hiking boots or get on your bike, Say Yes to seeing the best of the Isle of Wight in a clean, green way.

Isle of Wight walking trails are well marked and can range from short strolls to 66-mile treks around the Isle of Wight coastal path. There are downland trails and woodland walks to enjoy 12 months of a year, whether it be to look at the springtime bluebells and red squirrels to spectacular autumn leaves.

If you fancy letting the pedals do the work for you, there are lots of wonderful Isle of Wight cycle routes to explore. On-road or off-road there are loads of options and the Isle of Wight is often judged to be up there as one of the top ten places to cycle in the UK.

Our island is also a favourite location for both trail and road runners, offering a wide variety of on and off road routes to suit all levels and distances.  

Isle of Wight dinosaurs are a roaring success

Around 125 million years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, the Isle of Wight was a hotspot for dinosaur life.

Today, the Isle of Wight is still considered the UK’s dinosaur capital and the stretch of coastline between Compton Bay and Sandown is still turning up incredible fossils.

There are many ways to find out more about our ancestors and none better than Dinosaur Isle museum at Sandown, built to resemble a flying pterosaur that could once have been seen swooping over the Island.

Or, if you prefer to be outdoors to see something truly outstanding, take a walk at Hanover Point near Brook to see the casts of dinosaur prints cast in the shoreline. There are also tours of the South West beaches with dinosaur hunters - a great day out for the family.

Or for a more comedic look at the old reptiles, check out Area 5 at Blackgang Chine or have a round of Dino Golf in Sandham Gardens, Sandown.

Isle of Wight landmarks

Say Yes to seeing superb landmarks on the Isle of Wight during your stay.

On a lovely day, take a hike to check out to lovely lighthouses, two magnificent monuments, a wonderful windmill, a mysterious, spiritual stone and an ancient oratory perched high on a hill.

The Island's super seven are:

1. The Needles lighthouse and pinnacles in West Wight, perhaps the Isle of Wight’s most iconic viewpoint.
2. St Catherine’s Lighthouse at the southern extremity. This superb structure has stories and views to die for.
3. The Earl of Yarborough Monument on Culver Down near Sandown marks the high point of this part of the Island and is the tallest monument. Even today it acts as a seamark. It is named after The Earl of Yarborough (1781-1846).
4. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, one of Britain’s most revered pots was a Victorian resident of the West Wight and the Tennyson Monument on Tennyson Down is a well-known waypoint on the long march to The Needles from Freshwater Bay.
5. At the other end of the Isle of Wight, Bembridge Windmill was built around 1700 and is the only surviving windmill on the Island. It is very photogenic and often features in local and national picture competitions.
6. Beloved of the Isle of Wight pagan community, The Longstone at Mottistone is a jutting Neolithic monument that has baffled and fascinated locals for thousands of years. The stones are the remains of a 6000-year-old communal long barrow, used for burying the dead. 
7. Last but not least on our Seven Wonders of the Wight, we have St Catherine’s Oratory, near Chale on the south west coast. What remains there today looks like a medieval space rocket but is all that remains of an oratory on high (one of the Island’s highest spots).

From Romans to Victorians, explore Isle of Wight history

From the dinosaurs to Britain’s forays into the space race, the Isle of Wight has always been front and centre in the United Kingdom’s story.

We have wonderful historic buildings from Brading Roman Villa to Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House, fascinating museums telling the Island’s story and trails telling how people such as Sir Winston Churchill were associated with the Island.

Shanklin Chine and the story of the Pipeline Under the Ocean (PLUTO – a vital part of the D-Day operation in the Second World War) is well worth exploring and the Museum of Island Life at Newport Guildhall gives a good flavour of the high and low points in Isle of Wight history.

If you want to go uber-local, towns such as Ryde, Cowes, Ventnor and East Cowes all have fascinating local history centres to enjoy.

Get away from it all on the Isle of Wight

One of the best reasons to come to the Island is to get away from it all. Whether that is through a spot of pampering at a spa or losing yourself on a paddleboard of our golden sands, Say Yes to wellness on the Isle of Wight

It might not just be about physical relaxation either.

Spiritual inner peace could be achieved by a gentle stroll around Quarr Abbey or the Island’s ‘cathedral’, Newport Minster, or how about a little learning with an arts course or physical activity.

Then there is always the option of feeding or watering your soul with a quality meal or a little drink at a bar while taking in a spectacular sunset.

A yurt, an old James Bond sub or a luxurious hotel, just where to stay?

Where to stay for your short break or holiday

Isle of Wight breaks and Isle of Wight holidays come in all shapes and sizes and cater for all budgets.

Choosing your accommodation is a vital part of any holiday and the choice on the Island is pretty spectacular.

Here are just five of the many options on offer:

1. An old helicopter or a Bond sub at Windmill Campersite in the shadow of Carisbrooke Castle.
2. A spot of glamping at Tom’s Eco Lodges at Tapnell Farm - complete with a wood-fired hot tub for some end of day relaxation.
3. Get the Railway Children experience with a stay in Whitwell Station near Ventnor.
4. Houseboat Islay at Bembridge offers a luxury feel while looking over the huge expanse of Bembridge Harbour.
5. Award-winning Haven Hall Hotel at Shanklin, a favourite with stars such as Colin Firth and Peter Crouch.

Wherever you choose, the Isle of Wight is sure to offer a great welcome.

Food and drink scene on our island

Come on now, let’s not be coy, we all enjoy a top-quality meal and a glass of something cold on holiday and Isle of Wight food is generally rated some of the best in the country.

Isle of Wight cheese, tomatoes, garlic and gin are all regular award winners, to say nothing of our thirst-quenching ales, ciders and wines.

But if all you are after is a slice of cake and a cuppa after a long day of sightseeing, you don’t have to walk far before you are Saying Yes to some lemon drizzle or a scone and cream.

Isle of Wight pubs, restaurants and cafes all now go the extra mile to make vegans and vegetarians feel welcome with some exquisite choices for non meat eaters.

If you want to eat at your accommodation, the Island now has lots of local produce for you to slice and dice for yourself.

Three of the best known farm shops are:

1. Harvey Browns at Arreton, which has only opened in recent years but provides all you could want in terms of local produce.
2. The Isle of Wight Farm Shop at Godshill, which specialises in Isle of Wight beef, pork and lamb reared by its owners.
3. The No. 8 Farm Shop at Bembridge, which as well as having a great choice of Island produce, also specialises in health and wholefoods.

So, whatever you are planning for your holiday, be it an Isle of Wight family holiday or a short break out of season, be assured the Isle of Wight is ready for you.