Isle of Wight travel guide: Where to eat, drink, walk and stay on England’s biggest island
Isle of Wight travel guide: Where to eat, drink, walk and stay on England’s biggest island
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The star of the Solent is too often labelled as an outdated seaside spot but it has a timeless heritage, a hankering for the Great Outdoors and a seafood scene that sparkles, says Natalie Wilson. If you set sail from England’s southern shore to the quietly cool Isle of Wight, you’ll find a destination that values the simple pleasures: food, fresh air and good old-fashioned fun. The Hampshire isle, once the home of dinosaurs and now a haven for the illusive red squirrel, marches to a gentler beat than the mainland, with over half of its countryside now recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
![[The Cowes Week sailing regatta draws a nautical-loving crowd]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/11/01/16/newFile-7.jpg)
Beyond pocket-sized villages like Godshill that epitomise “chocolate-box”, a population of almost 142,000 call The Needles’ famed land of military forts and royal residences home. Classic beach days full of salt and sand meet the reinvented style of seafront restaurants and luxe hotels on the island that’s going from musty to modern.
![[The Royal is one of the island’s oldest hotels]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/11/01/17/116778364.png)
Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning an Isle of Wight holiday. Read more: These are the best places to stay on top UK walking routes. While weather-dependent ferry crossings may not make it the easiest locale to access on a drab winter day, the Isle of Wight is rich with seasonal delights from March to November.
![[Osborne House, the former residence of Queen Victoria, gives an intimate insight into the royal’s life]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/03/01/11/iStock-1341738258.jpg)
Notable as the southern shore that basks in some of the UK’s sunniest days, springs are green and autumns orange before big-name headline acts descend to serenade the island and kickstart the al fresco activities at the Isle of Wight Festival in June.
![[A reliable surf swells on Compton Bay – particularly during the wetsuit-wearing winter months]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/10/26/11/iStock-1144208176.jpg)
