Vanessa's Guidebook
Food scene
Has become a destination restaurant. Good food. Incredible location - right on the water. Perfect for a spot of people watching! And best of all, it's on our beach so you can walk there.
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The Hut
Colwell Chine RoadHas become a destination restaurant. Good food. Incredible location - right on the water. Perfect for a spot of people watching! And best of all, it's on our beach so you can walk there.
The Red Lion
Church PlaceLovely local pub with good food and a beautiful garden.
Very popular. Nice outdoor seating and a good view overlooking the ferry!
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The Terrace
Quay StreetVery popular. Nice outdoor seating and a good view overlooking the ferry!
We're not so keen on eating inside but in the summer it's perfect for lunch or early evening drinks. It has a beautiful garden with its own (small) private beach which our kids used to love.
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The George Hotel
Quay StreetWe're not so keen on eating inside but in the summer it's perfect for lunch or early evening drinks. It has a beautiful garden with its own (small) private beach which our kids used to love.
This is our favourite. A cosy winter pub with seasonal food.
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The Taverners
High StreetThis is our favourite. A cosy winter pub with seasonal food.
We found this pub by chance and have been coming here ever since. It's run by an Italian family and it has the best lasagna I've ever tasted. In the summer you can enjoy the sunny courtyard with a glass of rose and in winter book a table inside with a bottle of red.
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Bonchurch Inn
Bonchurch ShuteWe found this pub by chance and have been coming here ever since. It's run by an Italian family and it has the best lasagna I've ever tasted. In the summer you can enjoy the sunny courtyard with a glass of rose and in winter book a table inside with a bottle of red.
This is a great spot for breakfast or morning coffee. The kids can run around safely while you enjoy the peace and serenity. There is also a hire shop here where you can rent bikes for the day.
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Off The Rails
Station RoadThis is a great spot for breakfast or morning coffee. The kids can run around safely while you enjoy the peace and serenity. There is also a hire shop here where you can rent bikes for the day.
Salty's is the best fish restaurant on the island. You can either eat in the busy bar or book a table in the restaurant upstairs.
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Salty's
Quay StreetSalty's is the best fish restaurant on the island. You can either eat in the busy bar or book a table in the restaurant upstairs.
This is my children's favourite restaurant. You cook your own meat or fish on a hot rock and it is accompanied by as many chips and as much Greek salad as you can eat. Good value if the kids share a dish!
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On The Rocks
Bridge RoadThis is my children's favourite restaurant. You cook your own meat or fish on a hot rock and it is accompanied by as many chips and as much Greek salad as you can eat. Good value if the kids share a dish!
The best coffee on the island (in our opinion). I will often drive into Yarmouth just for coffee.
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PO41 Yarmouth Coffee House
Quay StreetThe best coffee on the island (in our opinion). I will often drive into Yarmouth just for coffee.
Must Visit
This is where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert lived with their nine children. You can look round the house and enjoy the extensive gardens and private beach.
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Osbourne House
This is where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert lived with their nine children. You can look round the house and enjoy the extensive gardens and private beach.
Sightseeing
Best known for being the place where Charles I was imprisoned. There's lots of space and fresh open air.
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Carisbrooke Castle
Castle HillBest known for being the place where Charles I was imprisoned. There's lots of space and fresh open air.
A charming, traditional steam railway that runs through rural Isle of Wight. My children used to love going and it's perfect if it's raining.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway - (Wootton, Station)
off Station RoadA charming, traditional steam railway that runs through rural Isle of Wight. My children used to love going and it's perfect if it's raining.
Beautiful gardens with plenty of space to explore and a lovely cafe with delicious cake.
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Mottistone Manor Garden
Beautiful gardens with plenty of space to explore and a lovely cafe with delicious cake.
An incredible collection of subtropical plants. You can walk through the gardens down to the sea and end up at Steep Hill Cove which is one of our favourite spots on the island.
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Ventnor Botaniska Trädgård
Undercliff DriveAn incredible collection of subtropical plants. You can walk through the gardens down to the sea and end up at Steep Hill Cove which is one of our favourite spots on the island.
Fun Activities
A very friendly, family-run riding stables. You can either book a lesson or a hack. The ponies are all well behaved and both activities are suitable for children.
Hill Farm Stables
Hill LaneA very friendly, family-run riding stables. You can either book a lesson or a hack. The ponies are all well behaved and both activities are suitable for children.
We've only done this once. It's really expensive but we did it for my daughter's 14th birthday and she loved it!
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Wight Karting
Brading RoadWe've only done this once. It's really expensive but we did it for my daughter's 14th birthday and she loved it!
Lots of very cute donkeys and you can adopt one!
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The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Lots of very cute donkeys and you can adopt one!
There is so much to do here. Small children love it. There are animals, trampolines, outdoor playgrounds, indoor play areas, rides, barns and tractors - and it's all very tasteful. There's a good restaurant here called The Cow (you may need to book) and an aqua park (which you need to book separately).
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Tapnell Farm
Newport RoadThere is so much to do here. Small children love it. There are animals, trampolines, outdoor playgrounds, indoor play areas, rides, barns and tractors - and it's all very tasteful. There's a good restaurant here called The Cow (you may need to book) and an aqua park (which you need to book separately).
You can spend a lovely morning or afternoon here looking round the mill, renting a pedalo and playing in the garden. There is also a cafe where you can have lunch or tea and cake.
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Calbourne Water Mill
Newport RoadYou can spend a lovely morning or afternoon here looking round the mill, renting a pedalo and playing in the garden. There is also a cafe where you can have lunch or tea and cake.
This a really fun but expensive day out. The country park is beautiful and there's lots of space. There are a few rides, lots of adventure playgrounds to explore and magical woods. There is also a falconry display.
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Robin Hill
Downend RoadThis a really fun but expensive day out. The country park is beautiful and there's lots of space. There are a few rides, lots of adventure playgrounds to explore and magical woods. There is also a falconry display.
The island's iconic theme park. I remember going here on school journey when I was 9 - and it's not that different now! It's got a nostalgic feel and younger children will love the rides.
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Blackgang Chine
The island's iconic theme park. I remember going here on school journey when I was 9 - and it's not that different now! It's got a nostalgic feel and younger children will love the rides.
Our favourite things to do
The drive alone is incredible. Make sure you come at low tide to enjoy a walk on the beautiful sandy beach. It's the best surfing beach on the island - however the waves are always pretty small so it's perfect for children.
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Compton Bay and Downs
The drive alone is incredible. Make sure you come at low tide to enjoy a walk on the beautiful sandy beach. It's the best surfing beach on the island - however the waves are always pretty small so it's perfect for children.
The walk from our house is stunning. It takes about an hour an a half to get there. You can either take the bus back or keep walking to complete the circuit. Walk along Colwell Beach to Totland Bay. Take the steps up into the village and then walk up the road until you see a footpath sign to Heddon Warren. Follow the footpath to the top of the warren and then down towards a large grassy plain. From there take a footpath on the left down towards the Needles. At the gate turn right and then walk through the woods - steps on the left take you up to the theme park or continue walking down to Alum Bay.
There's plenty to do once you're there. My children used to love the chairlift but there's also a small theme park and an activity centre where you can bottle different coloured sand from the beach. Beware the theme park can get very busy and expensive.
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The Needles Landmark-sevärdhet
Alum Bay New RoadThe walk from our house is stunning. It takes about an hour an a half to get there. You can either take the bus back or keep walking to complete the circuit. Walk along Colwell Beach to Totland Bay. Take the steps up into the village and then walk up the road until you see a footpath sign to Heddon Warren. Follow the footpath to the top of the warren and then down towards a large grassy plain. From there take a footpath on the left down towards the Needles. At the gate turn right and then walk through the woods - steps on the left take you up to the theme park or continue walking down to Alum Bay.
There's plenty to do once you're there. My children used to love the chairlift but there's also a small theme park and an activity centre where you can bottle different coloured sand from the beach. Beware the theme park can get very busy and expensive.
This is one of our favourite spots on the island and well worth a visit. It's super cute and they have the best crab pasties from the Crab Pasty Shed (but you need cash because they don't take cards) and they are shut on Tuesdays.
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Steephill Cove Chalet
Steephill RoadThis is one of our favourite spots on the island and well worth a visit. It's super cute and they have the best crab pasties from the Crab Pasty Shed (but you need cash because they don't take cards) and they are shut on Tuesdays.
Hunting for dinosaur fossils is lots of fun and Island Gems runs an excellent trip. The guides are really knowledgable and friendly.
Island Gems
High StreetHunting for dinosaur fossils is lots of fun and Island Gems runs an excellent trip. The guides are really knowledgable and friendly.
Newtown is a national nature reserve managed by the National Trust. There are some beautiful walks including bluebell woods and marshlands with bird hides. Park in the carpark by the Town Hall.
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Newtown
Newtown is a national nature reserve managed by the National Trust. There are some beautiful walks including bluebell woods and marshlands with bird hides. Park in the carpark by the Town Hall.
Dramatic and beautiful landmark. Walk up through the chalk quarry onto the cliffs but be careful with small children.
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Tennyson Trail
Dramatic and beautiful landmark. Walk up through the chalk quarry onto the cliffs but be careful with small children.