Why visit the Isle of Wight?
Chalky cliffs and cracking coastal views
Being England’s largest island, the lovely lozenge-shaped nugget of land that is the Isle of Wight has almost 60 miles of exceptional coastline to explore.
Choosing to settle down here is a sure-fire way to get an extended spell of time on the beach, whether you’re after lazy bucket and spade days in Shanklin, Victorian elegance in Ventnor or dramatic west coast sights like The Needles and Tennyson Down.
With all that choice around, it won’t take you long to find a campsite on the Isle of Wight with sea views. But even if you opt for the innermost parts of the island’s interior, you’ll never be more than 15 minutes’ drive from the beach.
Pitching up on an island also brings easy access to a huge range of aquatic activities: windsurfing, paddleboarding, scuba diving and sailing are all on the cards here. Salty spectator sports are also on the agenda, particularly in August when Cowes Week – one of the world’s biggest regattas – comes to town.
Top-tier family attractions
Who doesn’t love a good castle? The Isle of Wight can provide in that department as soon as you step off the boat, whether you disembark in Yarmouth for wanders around King Henry VIII’s artillery fort or land at Cowes for elegant outings to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s favourite summer residence.
The notorious IOW also has lots on offer in terms of family-friendly theme parks. In the south there’s Blackgang Chine near Ventnor, a winning combination of cowboys, dinosaurs and old-fashioned rides. Over in the centre of the island, there’s also Robin Hills near Newport, perhaps best described as a theme park for people who don’t do theme parks. With over 80 hectares of greenery plus toboggans and treetop walkways, the park makes an excellent choice for relaxed adventures in the open air.
Or, for something completely different, visit GoodLeaf tree climbing near Appley beach, where you and your family will be taught to safely climb an old Oak Tree of over 15 metres tall.
Small size, big smiles
Strategic readers planning their next break may have already come across forums where locals and tourists battle it out over the best place to camp on the Isle of Wight. Instead of spilling yet more (virtual) ink over the Isle of Wight’s prime holiday spots, we’d like to draw your attention to the island’s size – even at its widest point, the Isle of Wight is only 25 by 15 miles.
Combine these compact proportions with the island’s good roads, its network of bike paths and the fact that it even has its own railway line and you’ll quickly appreciate how easy it is to get around the place. And since getting from A to B won’t take much time at all, it’s probably best to just pick a spot where you like the lay of the land.
This is just one of many reasons why the Isle of Wight is such a great place to be, whether you’re an active weekender keen on seeing as much as you can on your trip or a family looking for breaks free of car-time fatigue.
More of the best attractions on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has a wide range of things to do, from homely family-run attractions to world-class outdoor events. Popular options include:
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The Needles Landmark Attraction, Totland
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Tapnell Farm Park, Yarmouth
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Carisbrooke Castle, Newport
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Dinosaur Isle, Sandown
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The Isle of Wight Bus Museum, Ryde
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Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Wroxall
Unexplored Isle of Wight
Wild island beauty
Head out for a forest walk on the Isle of Wight and, with a bit of luck, you’ll spot a raffish-looking red squirrel or two. The island is home to a thriving population of Britain’s indigenous bushy-tailed rodents, but it also has acres of chalk downlands where wildflowers bloom and rare butterflies flutter in the sun…
Fancy seeing Britain’s biggest bird of prey? Because of all the space given over to nature, the Isle of Wight was judged the best place to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle to England back in 2019 (bring a good pair of binoculars if you want to be in with a chance of spotting one).
Garlic and gastronomy
Not one to shy away from strong flavours? The multi award-winning Isle of Wight Garlic Farm near Sandown is a must-see for culinary types, who will find tasty breads, dips, ice cream and cocktails made with the stuff.
Could you (or your wife, sister, friend or daughter) be crowned the next Garlic Queen? The only way to find out is to come to the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, where in August each year expert judges deliberate over the very best bulbs in show.
The quietest beaches on the Isle of Wight
Away from its very popular resorts, the Isle of Wight has plenty of quieter coves and bays to explore. To make things simple, we’ve listed some of our favourites below:
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Chilton Chine near Brighstone, Newport – a rugged beach on the south coast
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Bembridge beach – a pebbly spot on the island’s easternmost edge
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Yaverland beach near Sandown – a long stretch of sand away from the crowds
Here’s how
How to travel to the Isle of Wight
For the quickest crossing, hop aboard the hovercraft in Portsmouth – you’ll be in Ryde in just 10 minutes.
Frequent daily ferry services also run from Portsmouth and Southampton to Fishbourne near Ryde or Cowes; journey times are typically around 45 minutes.
If you’re looking to take the scenic route, head to Lymington Harbour and book the ferry to Yarmouth for an easy way to combine Isle of Wight camping with a trip to the spectacular New Forest National Park.
Find the Isle of Wight site that best suits your needs
Got something specific in mind? Perhaps Isle of Wight campsites with a pool or a dog-friendly island getaway? Experiment with some of our filters to mix and match themes, features and facilities and find the best Isle of Wight site for you. Popular options include:
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Find kid-friendly Isle of Wight spots with a play area
Not sold by the island life? Check out other sites in South East England, where there are plenty more places to stay near the sea.
