About the Isle of Wight

Short break destination

The Isle of Wight has been a popular holiday and short break destination in the UK since the 18th Century. The Island became one of Europe’s most fashionable resorts after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert chose the Isle of Wight as their family’s home in the 1800s. They built Osborne House, which people visiting the Island can visit throughout the year.

about the isle of wight - couple riding a bike on the Island

Travelling

Based on the south coast of the UK, the Isle of Wight is England’s largest island. Getting to the Isle of Wight could not be easier with just a short journey across the Solent. It’s true to say that “no island comes this close” with ports in Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington in the new Forest.

There are regular services every day to the Isle of Wight which range from taking just nine minutes via HoverTravel (the world’s only commercial hovercraft service) to large vehicle ferries, for a relaxing hours journey, operated by Wightlink and Red Funnel.

Travelling

Based on the south coast of the UK, the Isle of Wight is England’s largest island. Getting to the Isle of Wight could not be easier with just a short journey across the Solent. It’s true to say that “no island comes this close” with ports in Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington in the new Forest.

There are regular services every day to the Isle of Wight which range from taking just nine minutes via HoverTravel (the world’s only commercial hovercraft service) to large vehicle ferries, for a relaxing hours journey, operated by Wightlink and Red Funnel.

Size of the Island

The Isle of Wight is approximately 23 miles long from the most easterly point near Bembridge to the famous landmark of the Needles stacks and lighthouse which sits on its western tip. The internationally renowned sailing town of Cowes sits at the northern point of the diamond-shaped island and the most southerly point is marked by another lighthouse 13 miles away at St Catherine’s, a familiar name for anyone who listens regularly to the BBC’s Shipping Forecast.

The total area of the Isle of Wight is approximately 147 square miles and almost half has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

With 57 miles of coastline to explore, you are never more than a few miles from the sea wherever you are on the Island. Each coast is different in character and ranges from river estuaries to soaring cliffs, with secluded coves perfect for rock-pooling and beautiful beaches for swimming and sunbathing in the summer months.

The Isle of Wight and its residents have a strong and renowned tradition of working with our environment. Across the Island you will find various projects and working groups promoting environment education and awareness. Alongside a very engaged community committed to improving our healthy lifestyle and diet while working within our environment, the Isle of Wight was awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

Many companies across the Island are working hard to develop innovative environmental solutions and investing time and money into being as green as possible to help combat the effects of climate change on our environment.

The Isle of Wight and its residents have a strong and renowned tradition of working with our environment. Across the Island you will find various projects and working groups promoting environment education and awareness. Alongside a very engaged community committed to improving our healthy lifestyle and diet while working within our environment, the Isle of Wight was awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

Many companies across the Island are working hard to develop innovative environmental solutions and investing time and money into being as green as possible to help combat the effects of climate change on our environment.

We work closely with the Isle of Wight’s tourism management organisation (DMO) which is called Visit Isle of Wight Ltd. Some of the images used on our website have been commissioned specially by Visit Isle of Wight to help promote the Island and show off its unique combination of countryside and coast, beaches, rivers and estuaries, towns and villages.

We recommend that you take a look at the Visit Isle of Wight website as well as follow its excellent Facebook, Twitter and Flickr sites. Links to all these pages can be found by visiting its official Isle of Wight DMO website.

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