Towns

A historic market town on the Isle of Wight

Just a few miles from the bustling town of Ryde, Brading is a charming historic market town with a rich heritage and well-preserved architecture, much of it dating back to the 19th century. Once a busy port, Brading retains a sense of its maritime past while offering a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for visitors. At the heart of the town is the Norman Church of St Mary’s, a picturesque landmark well worth exploring. History enthusiasts will also be intrigued by the iron bullring at the top end of town, a reminder of Brading’s more grisly past when bulls were once tied and baited by dogs. One of Brading’s most notable attractions is Brading Roman Villa, an award-winning visitor site that brings Roman Britain to life. Marvel at the beautifully preserved mosaic floors and explore an extensive collection of artefacts that offer a fascinating glimpse into life nearly two millennia ago. The villa also features a quaint tea room, perfect for a light lunch or refreshments during your visit. For nature lovers, Brading Marshes, the Isle of Wight’s first RSPB nature reserve, stretches from the village to Bembridge Harbour. This wildlife haven is home to species such as little egrets, green woodpeckers, marsh harriers, butterflies, and the Island’s iconic red squirrels, offering peaceful walks and stunning scenery for visitors of all ages. Brading also has a selection of pubs, restaurants and traditional fish and chip shops, making it easy to enjoy local food while exploring the town.

Known as the mecca of the sailing world, Cowes has something to offer visitors all year round. Home to Cowes Week, the world’s oldest and largest sailing regatta. There are plenty of things to do both on and off the water. The town itself boasts a variety of boutique shops and independent eateries. As well as plenty of holiday accommodation from self-catering cottages to larger hotels along the seafront. As the sun goes down, Cowes comes alive, particularly through the summer months. This is when there are seemingly endless regattas and events taking place both along the street, down on the marina and up at Northwood House. Many of the pubs have live music at weekends and during the week through the summer.

Home to Osborne, Queen Victoria’s beautiful Italianate holiday home. After exploring the many rooms, stunning grounds and pretty private beach, why not enjoy a stroll down to the seafront? It is a special view from East Cowes as it looks across the Solent to Cowes, plus children will enjoy the large paddling pool and play park while you enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake at the beachfront cafe. The town itself is quite compact with a smattering of shops and cafes, plus a couple of very popular takeaways.

The Island’s county town centres around two historic squares. In Newport, you will find high street and independent shops, coupled with a range of pubs, restaurants and cafes. Visit the Quay Arts Centre for a look at work from local artists and grab a bite to eat in their quaint cafe too. Stroll along the riverside towards Seaclose Park, the site of the Isle of Wight Festival. This live music festival is the Island’s biggest event, which takes place every June, attracting up to 90,000 visitors (great for local businesses!) A short drive just outside of Newport town is one of the Island’s most popular attractions, Carisbrooke Castle, where King Charles I was imprisoned from 1647-50. For those who want to explore on foot, you can walk (or cycle) the Newport to Cowes cycle track. Stop at either end of the track for refreshments before heading back.

Referred to as the 'Gateway to the Island' thanks to the Hovercraft and Wightlink catamaran linking the mainland and the Isle of Wight. The most notable and best thing about Ryde is the beautiful miles of unspoilt golden sands. Lined with beach cafes, ice cream pit-stops, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment makes this a great holiday destination.  Union Street rises up from the Esplanade and is home to many eateries, boutiques and quirky shops. Also, providing a great view of the Victorian pier once you have reached the top. Some of the Island’s biggest events take place in Ryde. These include the famous International Scooter Rally on the August Bank holiday weekend. During this weekend, you can’t move for scooters, and the smell of two-stroke fills the air. Known as 'the town on the beach', Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight. The pier in Ryde is said to be the oldest in the UK, and the town is also home to Britain’s oldest carnival. The pier goes out into the Solent for almost half a mile to meet Wightlink’s Fast Cat passenger service. The Island Line train service also runs along the pier to meet the Fast Cat before travelling down the Isle of Wight’s south east coast via Brading, Sandown and terminating at Shanklin. Based near the pier and also Ryde Esplanade bus station, is the HoverTravel hovercraft. The world’s only commercial hovercraft service 'flies' to the mainland in less than 10 minutes, making it the quickest way to get to the Isle of Wight. Ryde has miles of sandy beach, which at low tide creates a vast playground for all manner of seaside fun. The town and seafront are packed with a variety of pubs, restaurants and shops. Six miles of beaches connect Ryde to the villages of Bembridge and Seaview to the east, which makes for a pleasant walk or cycle ride.

The quintessential bucket and spade seaside resort, Sandown has got a lot going for it. Here you will find stunning golden sandy beaches, beachside eateries and loads of attractions to keep the family entertained. Home to the Wild Heart Animal Sanctuary, Dinosaur Isle, as well as Sandown Pier, to name a few. Yaverland Beach is said to be one of the best on the Island. Here you will see, and be able to take part in, a variety of watersports which take place in the warmer months. Choose from activities such as jet skiing to paddleboarding. For those who want to take in the breathtaking views, take a walk up Culver Down, then why not enjoy a pint in the pub at the top - you’ll have earned it! The wide sandy beach at Sandown is one of the finest in the UK. Framed by the bright white cliffs of Culver Down to the north and the red cliffs of Luccombe to the far south. This traditional seafront includes an amusement pier, with adventure golf, bowling, arcade games, bumper cars, and so much more! Getting to Sandown could not be easier, it’s accessible by car, bus or the Islandline train station, which connects the town to Ryde. The Esplanade is perfect for strolling and stretches as far as its sister resort of Shanklin. The High Street and Esplanade have an array of gift shops, cafes, bars and restaurants - you’ll be spoilt for choice. You might want to enjoy Los Altos Park, a large recreation ground with vast amounts of green space. This park is perfect for a picnic and a game of family football. Walkers will love the cliff walk from Sandown towards Lake and Shanklin. This starts in the Old Battery gardens, which have amazing panoramic views over Sandown Bay. As well as a refurbished children's play area. There is also a dedicated cycle path that starts at Sandown. The cycle path then extends all the way to Cowes via Newport for a safe family cycle ride. Visit the local website for Sandown and the bay area, including Lake, Yaverland and Brading, for up-to-date information and news about visiting Sandown on the Isle of Wight.

A charming, traditional seaside town, Shanklin is a destination that has something for everyone. The golden sandy beach lends itself to lazy family days playing in the sea or relaxing on the sand with a book. For those who are looking for ‘something to do’, head to the traditional amusement arcades, play a round of mini-golf or have a go at kayaking.  To refuel, there are many independent, local cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from.  Venture into the ‘Old Village’ for chocolate-box thatched tea rooms serving tasty scones, cakes and retro sweet shops. You'll also find the famous Shanklin Chine, a gorge with rare plants and a pretty 45-foot waterfall. In the heart of Shanklin, you will find Shanklin Theatre, where you can catch a show or a concert as part of your holiday entertainment. Part of the town of Shanklin is still known as the Old Village and consists mainly of stone-built cottages and houses. Many still have thatched roofs, which give the Old Village a picture-book charm. It sits alongside the beautiful Rylstone Gardens and the Island’s most historic attraction, Shanklin Chine. Both these attractions have been on visitors' must-see places to visit on the Isle of Wight since Victorian times. You can enjoy tearooms, pubs, gift shops and cafes before taking a walk down to the Esplanade or along the headland towards Luccombe. Save your legs when moving from the Old Village to the esplanade by taking a trip down the Cliff Lift. The sister resort to Sandown, these two seaside towns share the same sandy beach with the red cliffs of Luccombe. These create a dramatic backdrop at the southernmost point of Sandown Bay.

The mini Mediterranean, Ventnor, boasts more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the UK. Ventnor was once the height of fashion as a health resort during Queen Victoria’s reign. Here you will find a quirky town that rises up the cliffs. Expect to find many artisan cafes, independent eateries and boutique shops that all add to the distinctly arty vibe. The beach at Ventnor Bay offers some of the best views across the English Channel. Ventnor Harbour and the bandstand development are very prominent on the seafront and offer a great viewing platform to look out to sea. You'll also find Ventnor Haven Fishery selling the best local crab and lobster. The beach at Ventnor is sought out all year round and benefits from its secluded position. Due to the beach nestling under St Martin’s Down, one of the Island’s highest hills. This creates its famous micro-climate. A wonderful natural suntrap, which appealed to the Victorian visitors who flocked to Ventnor as a health resort. Ventnor Botanic Garden stands on the site of an old Victorian TB hospital, which was built there for this very reason (now the home of many a ghost story). It's 22 acres of sub-tropical gardens are the perfect place to relax and while away a couple of hours. The beach, which is a mix of sand and shingle, is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. At the bottom of Shore Hill, as it joins with the esplanade, you will find Ventnor Haven Fishery. The fishermen work the waters and small harbour and land their catch. These catches support many local restaurants, including their fishery, which also serves the most delicious crab on chips (which has quickly become the Isle of Wight’s local dish). Pubs such as the famous Spyglass Inn at the end of the esplanade or more recent additions like The Smoking Lobster are a perfect place to while away a few hours. With plenty of other cafes and bars dotted along the seafront, you will feel like you are dining in the Med. Heading away from the esplanade and up into the main town, which is built on a series of winding zig-zag terraces. Here you will see more charming Victorian architecture as well as numerous independent shops. These include some very popular antique and bric-a-brac emporiums.

Located on the north-west of the Island, Yarmouth is a historic port town complete with a 16th-century castle. It’s one of the prettier routes to travel to the Isle of Wight, as visitors have to travel through the New Forest before reaching the car ferry in Lymington. In the town of Yarmouth itself, you will find a range of boutique shops and eateries that are very popular, especially during the summer months. Take a wander along the Grade II listed pier for some outstanding views across the Solent, where you will find local fishermen casting their lines off the end. The mouth of the River Yar starts in Yarmouth and provides some beautiful walks and cycle routes through the stunning countryside. With its excellent travel links, Yarmouth is the perfect base for your holiday on the West Wight.