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Just 6 miles off the coast of the south of England, the Isle of Wight is certainly off the beaten track of Europe’s backing trail, but that’s not to say it’s not worth a visit. Things are changing and the Isle of Wight is growing in stature, with awesome beaches and great watersports activities – older and younger people are flocking here too so consider an Isle of Wight breaks,  whack it onto your UK itinerary and you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. Lets have a look at things to do in the Isle of Wight:

How to get to the Isle of Wight:

Ferries form Southampton and Portsmouth run all day and costs around $15 per foot passenger. If you want to bring a car, prices run around $100.

5 Things to See and Do in the Isle of Wight:

1) The Needles: The Isle of Wight’s most iconic site, and an absolute must-see for any visit here. It’s a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk found at the western tip of the island, with a lighthouse sitting at the end of the trio. It’s regarded as one of the wonders of England, maintained by the National Trust and was formerly used by the British military to defend themselves against enemies. Pretty cool!

2) Carisbrooke Castle: Found bang in the centre of the island, Carisbrooke is included in every trip to the Isle of Wight for good reason. This place  hasover 800 years of history but dress warm in winter, the place is very exposed! Charles I was held captive here and you can rent a set of bowls and play where he used to play too, cool way to spend the afternoon.

3) Alum Bay: Just around the corner from The Needles, the bay is famous throughout the island. The view is amazing, and there’s a chair lift to access the bay itself, so bring your swimmers! There’s a pontoon for boat trips and a kitschy amusement park feeling more like purgatory than Disney world, well worth a look!

4) Osborne House: Osborne House was the family home of England’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Most of the well-preserved house and grounds are open to visitors year-roundThe best way to explore the grounds is on one of the horse and carriage rides. The entrance fee is quite pricey at $15 per person though.

5) Dinosaur Hunting: This isn’t my cup of tea but it’s pretty famous so  it’s worth a mention. National Geographic Magazine listed the Isle of Wight (known as ‘Dinosaur island’ as the 4th best location for dinosaur fossils in the world. Fossil walks can be booked from Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown or the Fossil Shop at Blackgang Chine.