Osborne

About

UPDATE:
Osborne is open and continues to be through Winter into 2021. Please see opening section on this page for specific opening days and times during the Winter. You will need to book your timed tickets in advance. Tickets are available to book on the English Heritage website. Please ensure you bring your booking confirmation when you visit as you will not be able to enter Osborne without this. If you're a Member your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. 

The Osborne gardens and grounds including the beach, woodland walk and terraces are fully open.

The ground floor of the house is open with social distancing measures in place. The Grand corridor, State Rooms and Durbar Wing is open with a one-way system in place, but some areas including the Exhibition Room, Council Room Corridor and Table Deckers will be closed to ensure social distancing.

There is a limited mini bus service available between the house and Queen Victoria's beach.

The beach cafe is open for takeaway service offering snacks and refreshments. The orangery is open for hot and cold drinks, beer and wine and takeaway cakes, hot sausage rolls and pasties. The Gazelle house cake stop adjacent to the Swiss Cottage is open for takeaway drinks and snacks. 

Swiss Cottage and museum are closed. Playgrounds are closed.

The shop is open with a one-way system in place.

Toilets are available in the gardens. Additional hand sanitising stations are available in various locations. Face coverings must be worn in the ground floor of the house, indoor shop, cafe or tea room, therefore please bring your own face covering.

For more information please visit the English Heritage website.  

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Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s family home, is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight. After first visiting Osborne, Queen Victoria wrote: 'It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot'.

Highlights include:

• Victorian opulence and extravagant interiors

• Stunning Indian décor of the Durbar Room

• Private apartments including the Queen’s bedroom, nursery rooms and royal bathrooms

• The Swiss Cottage - chalet built for the royal children

• Extensive grounds - stunning views across the Solent

• A Victorian Walled Garden

• Hothouses containing exotic plants

• A delightful restaurant and café

Don't forget to check out our extensive events at www.english-heritage.org.uk/events or call 0870 3331181 for more information.

Prices may vary at special events.

Address: York Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Hants PO32 6JX.

Tel: 01983 200022

1 mile south east of East Cowes.

YOUR WEDDING OR CORPORATE EVENT VENUE

When it comes to homes on the Isle of Wight, you won't find one more famous than Osborne House, owned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The island palace has seen royal weddings, romances and parties grace its rooms and gardens over the last 160 years and now you can write the next chapter in the story of this unique home, and begin your new life together where one of greatest love stories played out.

Complemented by stunning gardens and grounds, this magnificent Italianate ‘royal palace by the sea’ has nine unique locations throughout the estate for your wedding ceremony and reception. Choose from the Indian inspired state banqueting hall the Durbar Room, the Duchess of Kent Suite, with wonderful views over the terraces, or the Victoria Hall, Queen Victoria's private chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows. Alternatively, take full advantage of the stunning views across the Solent with an outdoor ceremony at Osborne. The lavishly restored Belvedere and Lower terrace frame your ceremony beautifully with the resplendent house on one side and clear views to the sea on the other. The Walled Garden, however, will ensure you ceremony is filled with floral fragrances from Prince Albert’s 18th-century gardens. Our final ceremony locations are perhaps the most unique of all, as you can have your ceremony in Queen Victoria’s Alcove or on the Veranda at the café on the private beach at Osborne.

After saying ‘I do’, celebrate with a drinks reception in any of our ceremony locations before the celebrations truly begin with your reception. Emulate Queen Victoria with a marquee on the beach or the lawn as you dine and dance under the stars. For more intimate receptions, any of our indoor ceremony locations make the ideal backdrop with decadent rooms filled with gifts of love exchanged between the royal couple.

Osborne is also the perfect venue for your meetings or Corporate Event, surrounded by history and beauty. For more information please view the Corporate Hire Brochure within the 'Downloads' section of this web page.

For further queries regarding weddings or events visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborneweddings or email osbornehospitality@english-heritage.org.uk. Alternatively you can speak directly with a member of staff - call (01983) 203055 – we look forward to hearing from you, and help you plan your perfect event.

EDUCATIONAL GROUPS

As Osborne offers a real insight into the private lives of Queen Victoria and her family it enables educational groups to cover many aspects of the curriculum in a fun and engaging way. There are various options available for visits. For more information please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 0370 333 0606 or email bookeducation@english-heritage.org.uk

DRIVE LESS SEE MORE EXPERIENCES

If you are on your bike take the way marked Taste Round the Island Cycle Route from Wootton or East Cowes and diverts off at Beatrice Avenue to Osborne house the home of Queen Victoria. A day ride to this English Heritage site.

* Taste Round the Island Cycle Route page and map: http://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/bicycle-island/taste-round-the-island-route

* Bus Route - 4 or 5. More info - http://www.islandbuses.info/