Heathrow Airport 2 hr 37
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (1 hr 32) 250-plus vehicles and World of Top Gear, plus each ticket gives access to Abbey and Palace House. Amazon World Zoo (19 min) Conservation-minded venue with over 200 species including tropical birds and meerkats. Spinnaker Tower (1 hr 23) Landmark tower with an on-site cafe and a glass-floored platform overlooking Portsmouth harbour. Carisbrooke Castle (13 min) Fine medieval castle and museum, where Charles I was imprisoned by Cromwell's Roundheads. Osborne (17 min) Italian-inspired mansion amid lush gardens and filled with Victoria and Albert's former possessions. Shanklin Chine (29 min) Leafy, wooded ravine with waterfalls and abundant wildlife, plus arts heritage centre. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (1 hr 38) Expansive woodland gardens with abundant rhododendrons and azaleas, plus steam train rides. The Needles (35 min) Picturesque set of chalk landforms with a lighthouse, chairlift, boat tours & other amenities. Robin Hill (16 min) Family rides, tractor train, nature trails, falconry and events, plus a woodland tree house. Mary Rose Museum (1 hr 28) Museum for 16th-century Tudor warship, & King Henry VIII's favourite, built in 1510 & sunk in 1545. Alum Bay (35 min) Tourist attraction named for its multi-colored sand cliffs & views of the Needles rock formation. Isle of Wight Zoo (25 min) Home of ITV's 'Tiger Island', with exotic animals, informative talks and 'meet the animals'. Blackgang Chine (27 min) Cowboys, pirates, dinosaurs and fairies in themed spaces, along with roller-coasters and rides. Palace House (1 hr 31) Private 13th-century country manor with Victorian interiors, offering tours, exhibits & a gallery. Isle of Wight Steam Railway (16 min) Outfit preserving railway history via exhibits, train stations & rides on steam-powered locomotives. |