Parks & Gardens on the Isle of Wight

Lovingly named the ‘Garden Isle’ for the past century, the Isle of Wight is recognised for its beautiful countryside and quintessentially English rolling landscape, and for the past century it has been lovingly named the 'Garden Isle'. Thanks to its warmer-than-average weather, the Island has the perfect temperature and humidity to host a range of exotic plants that wouldn’t survive in the rest of the UK.

Explore the Garden Isle for yourself – take a walk through vast landscape gardens produced by the world-famous Capability Brown or relax in colourful, tropical paradises to the south of the Island. Take inspiration for your own plot with a sneak peek into the Island's most beautiful private gardens with the National Garden Scheme. All you need to do is type ‘Isle of Wight’ into the search box to find a garden you’d like to explore near you.

Being outdoors and at one with nature is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend your time on the Isle of Wight, so breathe in the fresh air and find your pure Island happiness!

Explore the Garden Isle by bike or foot

There are so many ways to explore the Garden Isle. Hop on a bus (try open top in the summer) and easily make your way from town to town, or why not get on your bike and make use of our network of cycle paths.

As well as being the ‘Garden Isle’, the Isle of Wight is also known as ‘Bicycle Island’. The Island boasts a wide range of cycle tracks for all levels, from those looking for a gently meandering route through the countryside, to cycling enthusiasts looking to ride over steep chalky cliffs and put those thigh muscles to the test! Viewing the Island from two wheels is a great way to see the best of its beautiful countryside. Ride through our quaint, picturesque villages and make a pit stop at one of our friendly local cafes for afternoon tea.

If you prefer being on foot, you can stroll for miles through colourful landscapes, natural woodland and rolling parkland. You don’t even have to plan your route – you’re never far from the untouched English countryside.

An abundance of natural wonder to discover

You’ll find a huge range of gardens on your travels around the Island, from vast landscapes such as Appuldurcombe and Osborne to perfect English country gardens.

Rising steeply above the Victorian town Ventnor, Ventnor Downs offers dramatic views from the highest point of the Island. Explore the chalk hills, witness sparkling waters and enjoy being surrounded by a rich blend of wildlife. You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the goats that graze on Bonchurch Down and Coombe Bottom.

Farringford Gardens is another breathtaking place to explore. Once home to poet Lord Tennyson, it was here where he found the quiet he needed to write, drawing inspiration from the commanding views of the down, sea and surrounding landscape. Today, discover oriental poppies, home-grown fruits and vegetables, and a wide variety of flowering plants within the Walled Garden.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a list of some of the great gardens that you can visit on the Isle of Wight.

Wight in Bloom 2023 - Garden Awards

Wight in Bloom is the Isle of Wight’s largest competition of its kind and the winners of the 2023 Wight in Bloom have been revealed.

Organised by Visit Isle of Wight, Wight in Bloom is the Island-wide competition to discover the green-fingered talents of residents and businesses who go above and beyond to help the Island cement its reputation as ‘the Garden Isle’ and looking colourful for you when you visit our Island. Click below to find out the winners!

Discover more

For more information about the Isle of Wight, including accommodation, things to do and where the best places to eat and drink are, click on the buttons below to start your search.

For a list of the Island's visitor-friendly gardens, keep scrolling!