Things to do in Isle of Wight

Admire the opulent Royal Apartments and private family bedrooms within the mansion. See the twin desks where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert worked. Explore the magnificently decorated Durbar Room. The furniture and artifacts reveal intricate details about entertainment at Osborne, from state banquets to family meals. Currently, only the lower floor of Osborne House is open for visitors to view. See where the royal children played house and tended their own gardens down at the Swiss Cottage. There's a room dressed as it was on 11th July 1861, when the children prepared afternoon tea for their parents, not long before Prince Albert's tragic death.  Stroll in the pleasure gardens, alongside historic trees, and enjoy the Victorian Walled Garden much as the royal couple did. Take a trip down to the royal family's once jealously guarded private beach, with Victoria's restored bathing machine. Note: between the period of the 9th November-16th March, (excluding 27th December - 1st January and 15th February - 23rd February ) access to the house will be by guided tours only. There is no possibility to pre book a tour so visitors will be allocated to the next available tour upon arrival at site. Please note that only the Ground Floor House and grounds are open.

Carisbrooke Castle has stories to intrigue any visitor. This mighty medieval fortress was a prison for a tragic king and home of Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. Founded around 1100, the castle was key to the Isle of Wight's defense for over nine centuries. First, enjoy an overview of the people and events which have shaped the castle's history by watching an introductory film. Then, patrol the battlements and climb the steep steps up the massive castle mound for unrivalled views from the Norman keep. Explore the powerful medieval gatehouse and the ruins of Carey's Mansion. Discover the stronghold's original domestic buildings, adapted by later residents. See the room from which Charles I attempted to escape - but got stuck in the window bars. Enjoy the Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden, with its fountain and plantings in the rich colors of the royal arms. Don't forget to greet the Carisbrooke donkeys on their daily 6-minute stint of treading the water wheel - demonstrating how it was used for centuries to draw up water from the castle well. Finally admire the statue of the war horse Warrior, loaned to English Heritage as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War.

Board your hovercraft for an adrenaline-filled day on the Isle of Wight. When the hovercraft reaches the island, you'll land in a prime sea front position along Ryde's beautiful and inviting beaches. Hop off and enjoy what Ryde and the Isle of Wight have to offer, including the beaches, boutique shops, bars and restaurants, and travel links to elsewhere across the island. After a day of fun on the island, enjoy a same-day return journey back to the Southsea terminal. The journey across the Solent is approximately 10 minutes. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight on the World's only commercial passenger hovercraft service.

Meet in central Portsmouth and travel by modern executive coach to the Isle of Wight via the Wightlink Ferry. Get a great photo of Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower and its historic dockyard as you depart. Arrive in Fishbourne, Isle of Wight at noon. Take a scenic 20-30 minute drive to the charming village of Godshill. Upon arrival, discover its medieval church and see its 500-year-old thatched cottages, tea shops, and the Model Village. Explore the village with your guide and learn more about the local history. Continue to Alum Bay, famous for its multi-coloured sand cliffs and "the Needles". Choose between a chairlift ride (optional extra charge) or a walk down the steps to the picturesque beach. Lots of activities for the kids too! Enjoy the stunning views of this scenic location, with plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. After some time here, travel back to Fishbourne for a 6:20 PM ferry back to the mainland, returning to Portsmouth just after 7pm.

Meet in central Brighton and travel by executive modern coach to the nearby city of Portsmouth. Learn about Britain's naval history before traveling to the Isle of Wight via the Wightlink Ferry. Get a great photo of Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower and its historic dockyard as you depart. Arrive in Fishbourne, Isle of Wight at noon. Take a scenic 20-30 minute drive to the charming village of Godshill. Upon arrival, discover its medieval church and see its 500-year-old thatched cottages, tea shops, and the Model Village. Explore the village with your guide and learn more about local history. Continue to Alum Bay, famous for its multi-colored sand cliffs and "the Needles". Choose between a chairlift ride (optional extra charge) or a walk down the steps to the picturesque beach. Lots of activities for children and families too! Enjoy the views of this scenic location, with plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. After some time here, travel back from Fishbourne for a 6:20 PM ferry back to the mainland, followed by a drop-off in Brighton.

Depart London and travel by luxury coach to cross by ferry to the Isle of Wight, a popular holiday destination since Victorian times. Separated from the mainland of England by the Solent, the Isle of Wight is home to annual festivals such as Bestival, along with well-conserved wildlife and some of the richest cliffs and quarries for dinosaur fossils in Europe. Visit some of the island's beautiful villages, including Godshill, home to some lovely thatched cottages and a model village. Go to the seaside village of Shanklin, where attractions include 2 sandy beaches and the wooded coastal ravine of the Shanklin Chine. Benefit from plenty of free time to explore at your leisure. Spend the rest of the day exploring the island's many charms before you return to the mainland by ferry and drive back to London by coach.

Curious about foraging? This introduction into the world of 'Wild Food' will teach you how to identify multiple plants and fungi and give you some ideas on how to use them in the kitchen. Join lifelong forager and filmmaker Joseph on a walk through the countryside of the Isle of Wight as he introduces you to a plethora of edible species that are perfect for the beginner forager. This course will give you the confidence to learn how to identify plants in the wild and includes information on how to photograph plants and fungi in order to identify them at home The 2 mile walk starts at The Buddle Inn, Niton (accessible via the Southern Vectis Route 6) and should take around 1.5 hours. Be sure to bring suitable clothing to deal with the British weather (sturdy waterproof shoes and a raincoat) along with a bottle of water and a notebook/ phone for taking notes.

Enjoy a thrilling abseiling adventure from a height of 328 ft (100 meters). Marvel at the amazing view of Portsmouth Harbour, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight as you make your way down this famous landmark. Set a challenge for yourself or fundraise for charity if you like. Put on your helmet and get strapped in by your qualified instructor. Then, hold on to the rope and step out onto the platform to begin. Abseil down the tower for an exciting experience. Finally, touch down on the ground at the bottom of the tower and take a deep breath as you finish.

About: Enjoy a glass of English sparkling wine as you set sail on your beautiful, large, comfortable and modern yacht. After a few hours of sailing on the Solent you anchor off the Isle of Wight for a delicious freshly prepared two-course meal, served on deck, and the opportunity for a swim! Afterwards there is more sailing as you head back to Lymington – getting involved as much as you wish – or just sitting back and relaxing! This is a great day out on your own, as a couple, or with a group of friends and family, clients and colleagues.You will be on one of our popular shred charters with up to 10 guests on board. Private charters are also available. What better way is there to celebrate a special occasion – a birthday, anniversary, stag or hen do, or even a wedding with a difference? What We Do: You check in at Lymington Yacht Haven at 0900 for the Sail with Lunch or 1500 for the Sail with Dinner and then set sail on the Solent, with a glass of bubbly in hand! After a few hours sailing, we anchor off the Isle of Wight to serve a freshly prepared two-course meal on board. After the meal there is more sailing before we return to Lymington. I have attached our Day Sail brochure, which gives you more information. Our shared Sail with Lunch or Dinner offer is fantastic value as it includes English Sparkling Wine on arrival and your two course meal – as well as the sailing experience, professional skipper and crew, mooring fees and fuel. You are welcome to bring further refreshments or you can pre–order from our Wine List. Your Yacht: - Enjoy top-rated quality service on stunning luxury Jeanneau yachts from 40' to 50'. Your yacht is not only a joy to sail but exceptionally comfortable. The cockpit features twin steering wheels, so you can have a go at the helm, an open-air saloon with comfortable seating for entertaining around the cockpit table, and an additional dining and lounge area, with toilets, below deck for relaxing on board! ___________________________________ On Board Comforts: - You can either leave your skipper and crew to do all of the sailing or you can get involved, learning as you sail along. No experience or qualifications are required. - It’s all about the little touches with Escape Yachting. Your friendly crew, including a qualified professional skipper, will also act as your steward and chef. Who wants to be doing the cooking and washing up while they’re on a day out? You’ve earned the right to relax and spend time enjoying yourself while we take care of all that for you.

Day 1: Get your sunglasses and sun cream ready, you’re departing London and heading to the sunny, southern Isle of Wight. First, head to the ancient port-city of Portsmouth. This bustling spot blends modern marvels with centuries of sea-faring stories. You can grab a bite to eat here before your guide picks you up and takes you to the ferry at Gunwharf Terminal. It takes less than an hour and there’s plenty of onboard refreshments. Your first stop on the Isle of Wight is the important religious site of Quarr Abbey. The building here is beautiful and combines French, Byzantine, and Moorish designs. Then, you will get to meet some real local heroes. In the evening, you'll arrive at the unforgettably quaint village of Shanklin in time for an early dinner.  Day 2: Today, you’re going to discover the unmissable highlights of the Isle of Wight. After an enjoyable breakfast you will venture to the Yarborough Monument. This is the tallest monument on the island and celebrates the life of a wealthy earl from the 19th century. Continue to a photo-stop at the beautiful views of endless green fields at Brading Downs and then head to Osborne House - Queen Victoria's holiday destination! Explore the Italian-style building and discover pristine green gardens, ornate golden rooms, and historically fascinating artefacts. After witnessing that magnificent man-made marvel, it’s time to see the Isle of Wight’s most beautiful natural wonder, the Needles. These sharp white stacks that stick out of the ocean are beautiful to behold. You can hop on a boat to get close to them and venture to an old defensive battery that’s nearby. Your last stop today is at the cliffs of St. Catherine’s Down. As the sun starts to set, these epic cliffs and green valleys look stunning. You travel back to Shanklin in time for dinner. Day 3: In the morning, say goodbye to Shanklin and head on the ferry back to Portsmouth. Now that you’ve reacquainted yourself with the mainland, travel to one of England’s most history-soaked cities, Winchester. Visit the glorious cathedral, an ancient mill, cute cafes, and more than enough museums. After you’ve studied up on the history of England, it’s time to go have some fun. Visit the home of one of the world’s most popular gins, Bombay Sapphire. Once you’ve had enough of the tipple, it’s time to head back to London. Make a short stop at Runnymede before arriving in London in the evening.