Isle of Wight Beaches

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Being on the south coast of England, the Isle of Wight enjoys some of the best weather in Britain. Although sunbathing weather can never be guaranteed in the UK, the island beaches are visited all year round. Whether it be a walk in the winter sunshine, a sandcastle competition and rock pooling during Springtime, or swimming and chilling out on a hot summers day... the island's clean and beautiful beaches are always welcoming.

For for more beach pictures, take a look at the photo gallery. You can find out more about each area on our towns and villages pages too.

 

 Bembridge Beaches 

 

Bembridge has several quiet, small, sand and shingle beaches dotted around. Bembridge harbour is popular for sailing and watersports. However, it is not one of the main beach spots.

Bonchurch Beach

Bonchurch beach is a pretty little beach, accessible by a short walk from the nearby car park, or by walking down from Bonchurch Old Church. Quiet and peaceful, the beach is mainly shingle, although there is plenty of soft sand at low tide. Great for rockpooling (at low tide) picnics and paddling. The beach does tend to attract seaweed sometimes.

Colwell Bay

Colwell bay is near to Totland and Freshwater and is popular with families. There are a couple of shops and beach cafes. There is a sand and shingle beach at lower tide, plus a promenade. Great view across The Solent to Hurst Castle. Parking available along the road.

Compton Bay

Compton Bay long is a sandy beach along the south coast of the island, on Military Road. Extremely popular for swimming and surfing. There are basic beach amenities and refreshments / a little shop. Parking available. At low tide, you can go fossil hunting!

Cowes and Gurnard Beaches

Cowes and Gurnard beaches give fantastic views across The Solent and are perfect for sunbathing, picnics or relaxing in a deck chair to read the paper! Gurnard is popular for watersports. Be careful if swimming at Cowes Egypt Esplanade as the current can be very strong. Both promanades are lined with car parking, but are attractively maintained with pretty grassy areas and flower beds. 

East Cowes Beach

Popular with locals particularly, East Cowes beach is mainly shingle and accessible at low tide. There is a cafe and a children's play area. The woodland backing onto the esplanade also make a fun area to explore. Parking is available.

Freshwater Bay

A sand and shingle beach with refreshments and toilets. This is a very popular and pretty little bay, a short walk from Tennyson Down. Parking is available.

Ryde Beach

Ryde beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island, due to it's huge expanse of soft, golden sand, with plenty of beach attractions, amenities,  shops, cafes and lots of parking. Free parking at Appley. Fabulous views across The Solent to the Spinnaker Tower.

Sandown Beach

Popular with families, due to being a large, long sand and shingle beach with many activities including crazy golf, a mini fair ground and a pier. Plenty of shops and cafes. Parking available.

Seagrove and Springvale Beaches

Located between Seaview and St. Helen's, these beaches are sand and shingle. Low tide reveals a larger expanse of beach, perfect for exploring. Great views accross the Solent. Parking available.

Shanklin Beach

Shanklin beach is another popular beach, with plenty of amenities and activities for the family on the esplanade. The sand and shingle beach does get a little narrow at high tide, but is very large at low tide! Parking available.

St. Helen's Beach

St. Helen's beach (also known as The Duver) is a very attractive sandy beach, with beautiful views towards Bembridge. Parking available, but you may need to park further up the road when busy. Picnic area and cafe.

Totland Bay

Totland is an attractive bay, quite protected and sand/shingle. Limited parking available but you can park along the road and have a little wander. Beach amenities and The Waterside pub available. A lovely beach.

Ventnor Beach

Arguably the most attractive little bay of the island, this mainly sandy beach (shingle when tide brings it in!) is very popular with locals and visitors alike. Plenty of parking. Tasteful bars, cafes and shops line the esplanade. Pretty, relaxing, suitable for all. Great swimming but tred carefully - there are some rocks revealed at low tide.

Steephill Cove

A unique, picture postcard bay. Amenities,cafe, little shops and a small restaurant. This cove is only available by foot, making it quite charming. Walk from Ventnor along the coast, or down from near the Ventnor Botanical Gardens.

Top Experiences and Tours in Isle of Wight

If youŹ»re booking your trip to Isle of Wight last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours and experiences!

Isle of Wight: Osborne Admission Ticket

Isle of Wight: Osborne Admission Ticket

Highlights

  • Step into the sumptuous state rooms of Queen Victoria
  • Peek into the private world of Victoria and Albert and their nine children
  • See the stunning gardens and grounds filled with breathtaking views
  • Enjoy the magnificent views out to sea from Queen Victoria's alcove

Description

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.Ā  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.

Includes

Entrance fee to the House and Estate

Important Information

  • The last entry time to the site is 2 hours before the closing time. Please make sure to reach the ticket office to exchange the voucher for your ticket at least 2 hours before the closing time The Family Ticket is valid for a family with 2 adults and up to 3 children aged 5 to 17. On closed dates this site may still be open, please check English Heritage directly for more information The Family Admission Ticket allows entry for 2 adults only and up to 3 children aged 5 to 17. 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.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Portsmouth: Hovercraft Flight to the Isle of Wight

Portsmouth: Hovercraft Flight to the Isle of Wight

Highlights

  • Enjoy a trip of the world's only hovercraft service
  • Discover the Isle of Wight
  • Take in an experience like no other

Description

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.

Includes

Round-trip hovercraft journey to the Isle of Wight

Important Information

  • Please book the hovercraft at least 48 hours in advance
  • Please enter your preferred outbound and return times when booking; you will then be sent a booked ticket which you will need to bring with you for travel
  • The timings on the local partner's tickets are flexible and subject to availability

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower Ticket

Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower Ticket

Highlights

  • Venture across the thrilling glass Sky Walk at 100 meters above sea level
  • Breathe in the view from the open air Sky Garden at 110 meters
  • Explore stunning panoramic views with touch screen view interpretation
  • Return to the Tower as many times as you like on the day of your visit

Description

Experience the south coastā€™s most spectacular view. Spinnaker Tower stands at 170 meters tall, offering breath-taking 23-mile views over Portsmouth Harbour, the city, the Solent, the South Downs and the Isle of Wight. The iconic landmark boasts a high-speed lift and three sky-high viewing decks. Venture across the thrilling glass ā€˜Sky Walkā€™ at 100 meters above sea level; discover stories behind the surrounding sites with informative touchscreen displays; try vertigo-inducing virtual reality, breath in the view from the open air ā€˜Sky Gardenā€™; relax in The Clouds with a coffee, a glass of bubbly or a decadent High Tea; and enjoy delicious meals made with locally sourced ingredients in the Waterfront Cafe.

Includes

Attraction entrance

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Museum of Ryde: Ticket to 250 Years of Ryde's History

Museum of Ryde: Ticket to 250 Years of Ryde's History

Highlights

  • Step back in time as you explore 250 years' worth of Ryde's history
  • See the world's largest collection of Donald McGill items, and buy banned cards
  • Discover the history of Ryde Pier, the first public pier in the country
  • See the remains of two WWII USAF P41-D Mustangs which crashed in The Solent
  • Peer into our unique Ice Well, and learn about 'Turtle Soup for 15/- a quart'!

Description

Discover the history of Ryde and its people at the underground Museum of Ryde. Then, explore the world-famous Donald McGill 'Saucy Seaside' Postcard Museum. Browse hundreds of items, thousands of pictures, and loads of saucy postcards. Search the museum's photo archives of over 10,000 pictures of Ryde and district from the 1860s to today. The Commercial Room houses a large collection of bottles, flagons and other items from local breweries, chemists and dairies. Browse information and photos from the last 150 years of shopping in Ryde, and see items including a clockwork spit jack, medical bits, servantsā€™ bells, shop signage, and old posters. See education as it used to be in the School Room! View old school photos, and a video showing holiday cine films from last century. Opposite, discover the history of Ryde Pier (the first pier in the country) and its growth, with later tram and train piers. Alongside, see details of many of the early local photographers, one of whom had Queen Victoria and her family amongst his clients. In the Flight Path, learn about the long-gone Ryde Airport and the still-operating locally-built Hovercraft; a film shows its development. The Rotunda area contains the Military Rooms, featuring items from the Isle of Wight Rifles and both World Wars, as well as the remains of two WWII USAF P41-D Mustangs that crashed in The Solent. Also on show are the early beginnings of the Isle of Wight Festival, memories of Oscar-winning film director Anthony Minghella, and 140 years of Ryde Carnival. The Household Room displays old everyday objects (some still used by visitors!), Police and Fire Brigade items, and the ā€˜Great Fires of Rydeā€™ video. The Tony Packer Room houses our unique Ice Well (built to hold ice brought from Norway and North America) and a recently-uncovered bread oven, as well as various artefacts from St Thomasā€™s Church, and our archive of local interest files, maps and charts. In the Transport and Sport Room, see details of the first buses on the island and other local transport, read about the various sportsmen and women from Ryde, and view items and pictures from the long-gone hospitals in the area. And also ... Have a laugh in the Donald McGill ā€˜Saucy Seasideā€™ Postcard Museum. This privately-owned exhibition, which opened nearby in 2010, moved to the Museum of Ryde in 2014. Itā€™s the worldā€™s largest collection of Donald McGill items, and celebrates the best-known postcard artist of all time. McGill, who was born in 1875 and trained as a draughtsman, turned to drawing comic pictures in 1904, and up to 1962 produced more than 12,000 designs, many with Benny Hill-type humour. Some of the cards were deemed to be obscene in various trials in the 1950s, and 3,000 were destroyed in Ryde alone. Be amazed at just what was so shocking only 70 years ago, then buy, and send, reprints of those cards. You could easily spend hours here exploring everything! Keep your ticket for free returns within a fortnight.

Includes

Searchable slideshow of over 10,000 pictures Old school photographs and artefacts Collection of bottles and flagons from local breweries, chemists, and dairies Film about the development of the Hovercraft Hands' carved for the 2011 Island Games Military Rooms with Isle of Wight Rifles display Ancient everyday objects in the Household Room Unique Ice Well and bread oven Ordnance Survey 1866 wall map of Ryde Collection of Ryde crested china souvenirs Films of Ryde Carnival, the oldest in the UK Early beginnings of the Isle of Wight Festival, with Bob Dylan The Victorian can opener, invented in the Museum building Details of the first buses on the island and local transport History of Ryde Pier, the oldest in the UK Donald McGill 'Saucy Seaside' Postcard Museum Original Donald McGill artwork on display Obsceneā€™ banned cards reprinted, and available to buy Museum of Ryde and Donald McGill souvenirs for sale Books by local authors for sale Stairlift for visitors with mobility issues

Important Information

  • You can return free within the next fortnight if you don't see everything, or just wish to look round again. Please keep your ticket. Our volunteers can undertake light research if you have queries about people or places. Some cards in the Donald McGill Museum were deemed obscene in the 1950s, although, of course, it's ALL in the mind! ā€œTo the pure, all things are pureā€ - Titus 1:15

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower Abseiling Experience

Portsmouth: Spinnaker Tower Abseiling Experience

Highlights

  • Overcome your fear of heights with an exciting abseiling descent in Portsmouth
  • Put on your safety gear and walk out onto the platform which is 100 meters high
  • Admire the unforgettable views of the harbor, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight
  • Hold on tight, strap yourself in and feel the cool sea breeze on your way down
  • Land smoothly back on the ground at the end to cap off an exhilirating adventure

Description

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.

Includes

Onsite training Safety equipment. Full abseiling descent on the Spinnaker Tower

Important Information

  • Each climber must be at least 14 years of age, and participants under 18 must have a guardian present to give written consent The maximum weight that the harness can support is 266 pounds (120 kg) Proof of age may be required Anyone who is intoxicated will not be permitted to participate This activity is conducted in most weather conditions, however, it will be canceled in the event of dangerous weather Please wear appropriate shoes with flat soles

Easy cancellation

This activity is non-refundable
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