The Needles Old Battery & New Battery

About

NEEDLES OLD BATTERY

Please note there is no longer a requirement to pre-book a visit to the Needles Old Battery. For further information please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-needles-old-battery-and-new-battery

The National Trust’s Needles Old Battery is spectacularly sited above the Needles Rocks and has the best views you can get from land of the iconic geological formation.

Recently returned from conservation work, visitors can see the original dress uniform jacket worn by Master Gunner Robert Lakeman who worked at the Battery, or head through the underground tunnel, that takes you deep through the cliffs, for a unique bird's eye view of The Needles.

The tea-room is in an old look-out tower and serves hot and cold drinks, light lunches, sandwiches, cakes and traybakes with dramatic views of the Needles Rocks and Dorset in the distance.

From the Old Battery there are miles of wonderful cliff top walks stretching from the Needles Headland to Freshwater Bay across the Headland and Tennyson Down.

National Trust Members - FREE

PRICES: please see above.

Please note that for visitor safety, the property closes in high winds; please see website or phone on day of visit to check.

Old Battery tea-room winter opening– The tea-room is open each weekend during the winter (please see website for details). Gates to the fort will be open but internal buildings and tunnel will be closed. 

 

NEEDLES NEW BATTERY

Please note the New Battery is open on Saturdays only (10.30am - 4pm) from 25 May until 31 August 2024.

Built after the Old Battery, the New Battery was the location of the British ‘race for space’ during the Cold War and saw the design and testing of rockets and satellites. The underground rooms of the New Battery, situated next to the bus turning point, contain an exhibition about the secret rocket testing carried out on the site in the 1950s and 60s.

As with the Old Battery, the property closes in high winds so please see website on day of visit to check.

PRICES: Admission to the Needles New Battery is free.

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EDUCATIONAL GROUPS - Group visits and school visits available. For more information and to book your visit please call 01983 754772 or email isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk

Please note there is no vehicular access to the Needles Headland or Batteries. For disabled access please phone 01983 754772 on arrival at the entrance to the Headland Road or email isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk

Reduced fare available to National Trust members on Needles Tour Bus (run by Southern Vectis). Please ask driver for details.