Heathrow Airport 2 hr 43
Shanklin Beach (11 min) Scenic recreational beach offering cabanas & boat rentals, with a nearby esplanade of amusements. Ventnor Botanic Garden (17 min) An unusually warm climate for Britain allows sub tropical planting in these naturalistic gardens. Isle of Wight Steam Railway (20 min) Outfit preserving railway history via exhibits, train stations & rides on steam-powered locomotives. Spinnaker Tower (1 hr 11) Landmark tower with an on-site cafe and a glass-floored platform overlooking Portsmouth harbour. Amazon World Zoo (10 min) Conservation-minded venue with over 200 species including tropical birds and meerkats. The Garlic Farm (14 min) Home-grown garlic, plus garlic-inspired products and fare in a specialist farm shop with restaurant. Mary Rose Museum (1 hr 17) Museum for 16th-century Tudor warship, & King Henry VIII's favourite, built in 1510 & sunk in 1545. Dinosaur Isle (9 min) Animatronic dinosaurs and 1000 of the island's best fossils in a pterodactyl-shaped building. Carisbrooke Castle (23 min) Fine medieval castle and museum, where Charles I was imprisoned by Cromwell's Roundheads. Shanklin Chine (15 min) Leafy, wooded ravine with waterfalls and abundant wildlife, plus arts heritage centre. Osborne (27 min) Italian-inspired mansion amid lush gardens and filled with Victoria and Albert's former possessions. Blackgang Chine (23 min) Cowboys, pirates, dinosaurs and fairies in themed spaces, along with roller-coasters and rides. Robin Hill (18 min) Family rides, tractor train, nature trails, falconry and events, plus a woodland tree house. Isle of Wight Zoo (10 min) Home of ITV's 'Tiger Island', with exotic animals, informative talks and 'meet the animals'. Brading Roman Villa (11 min) Excavated Roman courtyard villa with well-preserved mosaics and displays of finds from the site. |