Itinerary Planner

Explore Victoria's Island by bus

This journey is by bus, but with the occasional walk. 

Suggested Day Excursion. Times are approximate. Please check ferry times before travelling.

8:15 Depart Portsmouth on the foot passenger service (Portsmouth Harbour)

Regular train services from London, Brighton and across the south all stop at Portsmouth Harbour.

Check ferry, train and bus times before you depart.

8:45 Arrive Ryde Pier Head

Follow the signs from the ferry to Ryde Pier Head train station

The train is due at 8:49 and should be waiting for you on the platform. You can also choose to walk down the Victorian Pier – offering wonderful views of the town of Ryde, and still make it to the bus station in time for the next part of the journey.

8:49 Board Island Line train for Ryde Esplanade

8:51 Arrive at Ryde Esplanade

The number 8 bus is due at 9:35, so exit the bus station and turn to the right. A 5 minute walk away you will the Prince Consort Building, now a private residence. It was built as a private place for the Queen, because the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, would not allow female visitors - whether they were royal or not.

9:25: Make your way back to the Bus station.

9:30: Arrive at Ryde bus station

Look for the number 8 bus, operating towards Bembridge, Sandown and Newport. Board the bus and buy your tickets.

9:35 Bus departs Ryde

Enjoy the views as the bus makes its way out of the Victorian town of Ryde. You can also enjoy the wonderful views from the top deck of the bus, through Seaview, St Helens and Bembridge.

10:25 Bus arrives at the Isle of Wight Zoo

Keep an eye out for the signs. The zoo is situated facing the beach, in an old Victorian fort, so is easy to spot. The bus will stop opposite the zoo.

10:30 Enter the Isle of Wight Zoo

As you enter the car park for the zoo, you can’t help but notice the fort – with a tiger sitting on top. The fort was constructed during Queen Victoria’s reign, and was built in response to a perceived French invasion.

Spend some time in the zoo, which features some of the Tigers made famous by the ITV series Tiger Island. Even from the inside you can see some of the feature of the fort.

12:30 Depart Isle of Wight Zoo

When you come out of the zoo, turn right and walk up the esplanade, you can see Sandown pier in the distance. Victorian visitors used to arrive at the end of the pier by paddle steamers, to start their holidays on the Isle of Wight.

1:00 Arrive at Sandown Pier

Take time to walk along the pier and imagine what it must have been like for Victorian visitors.

1:30 Depart Sandown pier

Exit the pier and walk Pier Street, opposite the pier. There is a slight gradient to this road. Once you get to the top of the road, turn left and wait for the number 3 bus to Shanklin.

1:50 Depart Sandown for Shanklin Old Village

2:00 Arrive Shanklin Old Village

Take a walk through the old village, where you will find Keats Cottage, named after the romantic poet John Keats, who wrote some of his work there.

Continue on through Shanklin and follow the signs to Shanklin Chine. This is quite a long walk, with a big gradient in some parts, as the chine leads down to Shanklin Beach.

2:30 Arrive Shanklin Chine

The young Princess Victoria visited Shanklin Chine aged 14 with her mother in 1833. Entry was via Fisherman’s Cottage (open as a pub today) where local fisherman and smuggler William Colenutt charged an entrance fee. According to legend the then Princess Victoria helped herself to a prawn on the way in!

3:30 Depart Shanklin Chine

You are now down on the seafront at Shanklin. Now is a good time to enjoy a bite to eat at the Fisherman’s Cottage before you make your way home.

4:30 Depart Fisherman’s Cottage

Turn left when you leave Fisherman’s Cottage and make your way up the esplanade. After about a 10 minute walk, you will see the Shanklin Cliff Lift, to take you back up to the top.

4:45 Arrive at Shanklin Cliff Lift

The first cliff lift on the site was built in 1892 and would have been used by Victorian visitors.

4:50 Arrive at the top of the cliff

Once at the top, follow the signs into Shanklin town. The bus station is situated at the Co-operative store in the centre of town.

5:00 Arrive Shanklin bus station.

Catch the number 2 or 3 bus towards Ryde. Get off at Ryde bus station and wait for a train to Ryde Pier Head, or take a walk up the pier to enjoy the evening air. In winter it can be chilly, so be sure to wrap up warm.

6:30 Depart Ryde

Check ferry times before planning your trip. Times are subject to change.

7:00 Arrive Portsmouth