The Isle of Wight may be one of the best kept secrets in the U.K.! Sure, many English people know about it, but outside of the U.K., most people haven’t visited this island destination. Tourism here remains very domestic focused, so if you’re coming from outside the U.K. you have a very unique opportunity to discover all the Isle of Wight has to offer before everyone else does. Ready to start planning your trip? Keep reading for the best things to do on the Isle of Wight during your trip!
This is a four day itinerary for the best things to do on the Isle of Wight, however, it’s easily customizable if you’ll be staying for longer, or even for shorter.
Day 1 – Arrive and Explore!
Take an Early Ferry to the Island
If you’re traveling from abroad, you’ll likely land in London and make the drive to a ferry terminal to head over to the Isle of Wight. This drive, from London Heathrow, is usually about an hour and fifteen minutes, but it can be longer (of course) during rush hour.
You’re going to want a car while on the Isle of Wight, so be sure to rent one at the airport and book a car ferry over to the island. The ferry you take will depend on where you’re staying on the island – more on where to base yourself later.
Car ferries, that also carry foot passengers, travel from Lymington (mainland) to Yarmouth (IOW), Portsmouth (mainland) to Fishbourne (IOW), and Southampton (mainland) to East Cowes (IOW).
There are tons of ferry crossings every day. I recommend booking as far in advance as you can to get the best prices. You can book with Red Funnel or WightLink.
Check Into Your Accommodations
There are lots of great places to stay on the Isle of Wight, ranging from cute bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels.
When thinking about where to stay on the island, it’s important to consider what each town has to offer. A few of the most popular towns for travelers to stay in include Cowes, Shanklin and Yarmouth. Of course, since the island is so small, you can stay anywhere on it and easily be able to access everything you want to see.
Something to keep in mind, though, is whether you want a town with a lot going on – or if you prefer a more rural environment.
Cowes
When I travel to the Isle of Wight, I’ve always stayed in Cowes. While there’s no beach, there’s a beautiful waterfront promenade, a great shopping street and tons of restaurants. Beaches are an easy drive away.
The foot passenger ferry drops off right on the main shopping street. The car ferry, which is the one you’ll likely take, drops off in East Cowes, which is a 25ish minute drive away.
Wonderful accommodations in Cowes:
Shanklin
Shanklin feels like a vacation town! It’s right on the beach, there’s tons of shops and restaurants and there’s also an adorable downtown area to explore.
In Shanklin, you’ll find a great selection of accommodations and really anything you need for a perfect long weekend on the Isle of Wight.
From the ferry port, you’ll need to drive to Shanklin, but it’s an easy drive.
Great accommodations in Shanklin:
Yarmouth
Yarmouth feels like stepping back in time. This adorable little village is a favorite of many locals. While there isn’t as much to do in Yarmouth as there is in Shanklin or Cowes, there are still several shops and restaurants to check out as well as the famous Yarmouth Castle.
If you’re looking for a quaint place to stay away from the hustle and bustle, while still having a cute downtown to explore, Yarmouth is for you.
Where to stay in Yarmouth:
Explore Your Home Base
Once you’re all checked into your hotel, you’ll likely want to use your first afternoon on the island to explore the town you’re staying in! Wandering around, grabbing lunch and taking in the sites is the perfect introduction to the Isle of Wight.
If you’re in Shanklin, grab lunch on the beach and spend some time soaking in the sun.
For those in Cowes, pick any restaurant along the High Street and then enjoy the shops and beautiful waterfront area.
In Yarmouth, enjoy lunch with a seaview before popping into the collection of shops in the town center.
Restaurants in Shanklin:
- The Steamer Inn
- Right on the water, great for lunch or dinner.
- The Crab
- Pub food in the Old Village.
- The Plough & Barleycorn
- Another great pub option. Good outdoor seating.
- Pendletons
- They focus on local, fresh ingredients.
Restaurants in Cowes:
- The Coast
- Great for a meal any time of day.
- The Garden
- All day dining with indoor and outdoor seating.
- Corries Cabin
- Casual fish and chips.
- Dine-in or take-out.
- The Harbor Kitchen
- All day dining.
- The Red Duster
- Cute & cozy with a good menu selection.
Restaurants in Yarmouth:
- The Terrace
- Beautiful water views.
- The Blue Crab
- Fish & chips.
- Dine in or take-out.
- On The Rocks
- Steak and seafood restaurant where all meals are served on hot volcanic rock plates.
Day 2 – Lots of Sights to See
Go Back in Time at Carisbrooke Castle
Start your day off in the center of the island at Carisbrooke Castle. This medieval castle dates back to around 1,000 AD and has had a variety of uses since its construction.
Originally, the castle was built to protect against Viking raids. Later, it was sold to King Edward I and remained a royal asset for centuries. King Charles I was even imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle after the Civil War, before his execution in 1649.
All of this history makes Carisbrooke Castle a fascinating place to visit. You can walk along the fortress walls, tour the buildings and visit the on-site museum.
The best part, in my opinion, is visiting the “working” donkeys. Historically, donkeys were used to draw water from the on-site well. Now, donkeys are used for demonstrations on how this 1,000+ year old well worked. Don’t worry, each donkey can only work for a few minutes each day. And the best part is, if they don’t “feel like working,” they just head back to their stables to rest and relax.
If you haven’t had breakfast before you visit Carisbrooke castle, or would like to grab a small snack, there’s a teahouse on site with good grab and go options. If the weather is nice, sitting outside and enjoying a coffee is a great option.
Purchase tickets in advance here.
Enjoy the Stunning Osborne House
Today is a day of touring historic buildings and grounds! Next on the list, you’ll drive 15-20 minutes to East Cowes to tour the stunning Osborne House. This is definitely going to be one of the highlights of your trip and is certainly one of the best things to do on the Isle of Wight!
Osborne House is a former Royal Residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and is truly breathtaking. The residence itself is stunning as are the gardens and impressive grounds. Something I love about Osborne House is that there is so much to see.
Start with a tour of the residence to see what life was like for the royal family during their summer trips to the Isle of Wight before wandering through the immaculate gardens. From there, head down to the waterfront to see Queen Victoria’s bathing machine and then make your way to the Swiss Cottage, where the royal children played and spent time.
Since you’ll be visiting during lunch time, I recommend dining at The Terrace Restaurant right in the gardens. Lunch is served from 12pm-3 and tea service is available from 3-4:30.
Make sure to budget several hours for your visit to Osborne House. There is so much to see!
Book your tickets in advance here.
Spend the Evening in Cowes
After a wonderful afternoon at Osborne House, I recommend heading over to Cowes to explore the High Street, have dinner and watch the sunset from the waterfront promenade.
The High Street has a great selection of shops to check out and there’s also a variety of great restaurants.
A few of my favorites include:
- The Coast
- Great for a meal any time of day
- The Garden
- All day dining with indoor and outdoor seating
- Corries Cabin
- Casual fish and chips
- Dine-in or take-out
- The Harbor Kitchen
- All day dining
Day 3 – A Beach Day & Rescued Donkeys
For your second day on the Isle of Wight, a beach day is the perfect option. Shanklin has one of my favorite beaches on the island. I love that you can rent umbrellas and chairs and that there’s a great selection of restaurants right on the waterfront.
You can also walk up to the historic village and enjoy the shops and restaurants there as well.
Enjoy the Beach
Start your morning off on the beach! Arrive early and grab a beach chair for a few hours of relaxation. Then, wander down the boardwalk, check out the shops and take in the sea views.
Have Lunch or Tea at the Old Thatch Tea Shop
The Old Thatch Tea Shop is such a cute place to visit when you’re in Shanklin. The little tea shop has great scones, as well as more substantial options, and it’s a lovely place for a brunch, lunch or tea.
They have indoor and outdoor seating and both are very charming.
BONUS: Walk Through the Shanklin Chine
To get to the Old Thatch Tea Shop from Shanklin Beach, you can drive (parking can be a little difficult), walk, take the Cliff Lift or walk through the Shanklin Chine.
The Cliff Lift was originally built in the 1890s and, in 30 seconds, brings travelers from the beach to the cliff top. From there, it’s a short 10-15 minute walk into town.
If you’re walking between Shanklin beach and the town, the fastest route is through the Shanklin Chine, however, you do need to pay to enter. You can enter from Shanklin Old Town, or down by the beach. The walk down is easier than the walk up (duh), but it still is the fastest way to walk up or down between the two sections of town.
Tickets to Shanklin Chine are a little pricey, however, they’re valid for seven days and you can use them as many times as you like, day or night. At night the chine (another word for ravine) lights up and is pretty cool to see.
Visit Rescued Donkeys
After lunch, take the quick 5 minute drive to the Donkey Sanctuary. This is one of the best free things to do on the Isle of Wight!
Here, you can walk around the farm, visit with the rescued donkeys and check out the gift shop and small cafe. This might seem like an activity that’s only for kids, but trust me, visitors of all ages will love it.
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary provides a safe, loving home for donkeys who were abandoned or in need of care across Europe and the U.K. There are over 100 donkeys at the sanctuary and you can read their stories and even pet them.
The Donkey Sanctuary is open 7 days a week and relies entirely on donations from visitors.
Check out the Ruins of Appledurcombe House
If you finish up at the Donkey Sanctuary and are up for another activity, just five minutes away are the ruins of Appledurcombe House.
Appledurcombe House was an 18th century Baroque mansion, although now all that remains are the ruins. While the facade of the mansion remains mostly intact, the interior is in varying states of ruin.
This is another free thing to do on the Isle of Wight and one that’s definitely worth stopping by!
Grab Dinner in Godshill
Godshill is a small, charming village about 10 minutes from Appledurcombe House. Here you’ll find thatched roof cottages, a few pubs and restaurants and the Godshill Model Village.
The Godshill Model Village is a small, scale model of Godshill and Shanklin complete with cottages, pubs, streets and other buildings. It’s very cool to see! The model village closes at 4pm, so if you don’t have time to visit on your second day on the Isle of Wight, you can always add it in when you have free time during your trip.
After taking the quick walk through Godshill, stop for dinner at one of the pubs. Both Griffin and The Taverners are great options.
Day 4 – Charming Yarmouth and the Iconic Needles
For your final day on the Isle of Wight, you’ll be visiting the charming town of Yarmouth as well as the iconic Needles!
Explore Yarmouth & Visit Yarmouth Castle
To start your day in Yarmouth, it’s fun to grab a coffee and walk through the historic village. There are a handful of shops to check out and the small streets are very charming.
Yarmouth is also home to Yarmouth Castle, which is definitely worth a visit. This castle was built in 1547 to protect from French attacks and is now open for tours. It’s ranked as one of the best picnic spots on the island, because of its beautiful water views, and it’s definitely a great place to sit and relax.
Have Lunch on the Waterfront
After enjoying Yarmouth village and castle, enjoy a nice lunch in town before heading to your next stop. Yarmouth has a collection of restaurants to choose from, ranging from casual to more upscale.
The Conservatory, located at The George Hotel, is a wonderful restaurant with stunning views of the Solent. This would be my top recommendation for a nice, leisurely lunch on your last day on the Isle of Wight.
If The Conservatory isn’t what you’re looking for, there’s other great options including:
- Gossip Cafe
- A casual cafe on the water with great views.
- The Blue Crab
- Known for their fish and chips.
- The Wheatsheaf Inn
- A great pub option.
Explore the Needles
The Needles are, for many, the most incredible natural wonder on the Isle of Wight. These rocks shoot over 30 meters (100 feet) out of the water on the coast of the island.
The Needles are located at Alum Bay, and in addition to the amazing views, there’s tons of activities for all ages. There’s a small amusement park, shops and, my personal favorite, the epic chairlift down to the beach.
The chairlift offers incredible views and it’s such a fun way to access a beach. I recommend taking the chairlift down, hanging out on the beach for a bit, before heading back up to check out the shops.
Check out my reel of the Needles chairlift here.
Enjoy a Final Dinner on the Island
After a full day of activities, it’s time for your last dinner on the island. If you’re looking for somewhere close to The Needles with great water views, The Hut is a consistent favorite. This is a pricier option, but the food is great and the views are even better. The Hut is less than 10 minutes by car.
The Waterfront is another fantastic option close by, but they do close relatively early for dinner.
Now you’re all ready for your trip! I hope you found this post with the best things to do on the Isle of Wight to be helpful. If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, please let us know in the comments.
Be sure to check out our other Isle of Wight guides to keep planning your trip:
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Enjoy your wonderful trip to the Isle of Wight!
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♡Kate
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