Famous for being the place where Queen Victoria spent her holidays, the Isle of Wight is a little English jewel in the English Channel.
In this tranquil place, you can enjoy time strolling along sandy beaches, picnicking in the countryside or visiting castles and old tea rooms. Here you will find vast and wild landscapes, allowing you to come into close contact with nature. Definitely, a different destination than a beach holiday.
Here is some information and advice on theIsle of Wight, where it is, when to go and what to see.
Travel information: useful info
Inhabitants: 140,984
Capital: Newport
Languages: English
Local currency: pound sterling (€1.00 = £0.91)
Climate: oceanic characterised by constant rainfall all year round (with peaks between October and January) and temperatures varying between 4/10° in winter and 10/20° in summer
Vaccinations: no vaccinations required
Entry requirements: belonging to the British Kingdom, a valid identity card is sufficient for European citizens to visit the Isle of Wight
Distance from Italy: 1,382 km (2 hours by plane, plus 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus/car and 30 minutes by ferry)
Location
The Isle of Wight is a county in England located in the English Channel, south of Southampton.
Its area of 381 square kilometres is 6.5 km from the coast of Hampshire and half of its territory has been awarded the certificate ofArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty, i.e. recognition as an'area of outstanding natural beauty' and thus a protected natural area classification.
How to get there from London
The island is less than 3 hours from London and can be reached by ferries from the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. Below are the different travel options:
from London Waterloo station there is a train to Portsmouth Harbour (journey time 1 hour 36 minutes, ticket cost £16.00 to £40.00, approximately €18.00 to €45.00);
from Portsmouth, from'The Hard Interchange', take the 8, X4, 16 or 203 bus to Southsea, Clarence Pier (journey time 8 minutes, ticket cost £1.00, approx €1.13);
from Southsea, Clarence Pier take the fast ferry to Ryde on the east side of the island (journey time 10 minutes, ticket cost £18.00, approx €21.00) - 1 day Isle of Wight tour from LondonAlternatively, from London Waterloo take the train to Southampton Central (journey time 1 hour 16 minutes, ticket cost £16.00 to £45.00, approx €19.00 to €50.00);
from Southampton City Centre, at Central Station, take bus 3/QuayConnect or U1C to Town Quay, Platform Tavern (journey time 14 minutes, ticket cost £2.00, approx €2.26);
then take the ferry to Cowes, in the centre of the Island (journey time 25 minutes, ticket cost £7.00 to £15.00, approx €9.00 to €18.00) - 3 day tour of the Isle of Wight and South CoastFinally, from London Victoria Coach Station by bus to Portsmouth The Hard (journey time 2 hours 10 minutes, ticket cost £13.00, approx €15.00);
from Portsmouth The Hard take another 8, X4 or 16 bus to Southsea Clarence Pier (journey time 8 minutes, ticket cost £2.00, approx €2.26);
then take the fast ferry to the island (journey time 10 minutes, ticket cost £18.00, approximately €21.00)
When to go? Info on climate and best time
Month | Average temperatures (min/max) | Precipitation (days/mm) |
|---|---|---|
January | 5 / 9° | 17 days / 38 mm |
February | 5 / 8° | 14 days / 32 mm |
March | 6 / 10° | 13 days / 27 mm |
April | 7 / 12 ° | 13 days / 20 mm |
May | 10 / 15° | 13 days / 23 mm |
June | 13 / 17 ° | 12 days / 23 mm |
July | 15 / 20 ° | 14 days / 28 mm |
August | 16 / 20 ° | 13 days / 28 mm |
September | 15 / 18 ° | 11 days / 22 mm |
October | 12 / 16 ° | 16 days / 40 mm |
November | 8 / 12 ° | 19 days / 55 mm |
December | 6 / 10° | 17 days / 48 mm |
Climate: oceanic with constant rainfall throughout the year and more abundant in the months of October to January. Temperatures are never too cold as the island enjoys the influence of the sea: December, January, February and March are the coldest months with lows of 5° and highs of 10°, the hottest months are July and August
Best time: May to late September, June for those who want to attend the Isle of Wight Music Festival
Period toavoid: October to February, as this is the wettest period
Tips: always pack a heavy jumper, a rain jacket, an umbrella and comfortable walking and waterproof shoes
10 things to see: beaches and places of interest
Osborne House, Queen Victoria's summer residence, with beautiful gardens and rooms furnished with many original objects.
Carisbrooke Castle where King Charles I was imprisoned; as well as being a beautiful medieval residence it now houses a museum.
Quarr Abbey, a beautiful Benedictine monastery built next to a Cistercian abbey which was demolished in 1953 following the dissolution of the monasteries.
The Needkes, in the west of the island, three limestone cliffs towering above sea level where millions of seagulls roost.
Cowes, a town in the northern patre of the island where a festival dedicated to the sea and sailing takes place every August.
Sandown is a town on the south coast of the Wight where there are beautiful beaches including Yaverland Beach.
Shanklin is a place where in addition to a beautiful golden sandy beach is Shanklin Chine, a sheer cliff overlooking the ocean with an extraordinary panorama.
Bembridge, a small village famous for jazz concerts, guided tours, kayak, boat and canoe trips from the harbour. Tours to the natural bays of Lane End, Ledge and Bembridge Beach depart from here.
Ventnor, a Victorian-era health resort, is home to one of the island's most beautiful beaches: Steephill Cove Beach. It is also home to Ventnor Park with its Botanical Gardens where numerous species of flowers abound.
Thevillage of Freshwater is one of the most picturesque places on the island as it overlooks high limestone headlands. Freshwater Bay beach is popular with tourists for its sandy shoreline but interspersed with steep cliffs.
What to do in the Isle of Wight: excursions and tours
The Isle of Wight Festival
Photo by Liz Murray. Every year theIsle of Wight hosts the Isle of Wight Festival, a rock music festival.
The first three editions, featuring singers and musicians such as Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker and Jefferson Airplane, were held in 1968, 1969 and 1970 respectively. Subsequently, the event was suspended for many years and only since 2002 has the festival been revived and is held every year in June. During the four-day festival, usually in mid-June, you can enjoy various rock, pop and indie music concerts.
As for the entrance ticket to the festival, you can decide whether to buy a one-day ticket or one that includes entrance during all 4 days of music. Prices change depending on the duration and the day you intend to enter, you can find all the information on the official website.
Dates: 4 days in mid-June, exact dates change every year
Location: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, England - Get directions
Genre: rock and pop
Official website: https://isleofwightfestival.com/
How much does an Isle of Wight holiday cost? Prices, offers and advice
Although not far from London, the Isle of Wight has prices more similar to those found in the English countryside than in the British capital.
For sleeping, there are several B&Bs and small hotels to choose from, some with modest prices.
To eat, on the other hand, you will find several pubs on the island that have menus that are not too expensive and where you can taste typical English dishes, accompanying them with a good beer.
One of the expenses that will weigh most heavily on your budget will be transport from London to the island, as seen in the section 'Getting there from London'.
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €60.00 per room - see offers
Cheap flights: flights to London from €65.00 - look at the offers
