Isle of Wight (England)

Advantages: A place for everyone - young and old!
Disadvantages: You won't want to go home.

...ideal topic would be the Isle of Wight, which coincidentally is where I live. It’s also has a huge tourist industry, and with the onset of the summer holidays fast approaching, I hope to provide readers with enough information, good and bad, so that they can make an informed choice when deciding where to book their holiday or short break. So where do I start? It is a huge undertaking and I know that I will never be able to do it justice. I apologise ...
...to help you. The Isle of Wight is a county situated on the south coast of the UK. It has a population of 124,600 (1991) and is 380 sq. km. It can be reached via Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington on car ferries, a catamaran, a hydrofoil and a hovercraft. You can also fly here if you have the cash; you will land in either Bembridge or Sandown airports (well, a tiny landing strip with a portakabin café!). Saying that you will have to get a second ... Read review

Advantages: Wide variety of attractions on one compact island
Disadvantages: Expensive ferry crossing

...But this is the Isle of Wight and the thorough ongoing charm of the place is that things just don't change here. Have you ever wanted to slip back in time fifty or so years and enjoy the English countryside as it was then? If so, this is the place for you. Walking, cycling or motoring, the place is a joy to behold. Every view is a picture postcard. Just don't try and go anywhere by bus. They are infrequent and very expensive. If you really want to ...
...a century the Museum of Isle of Wight Geology, above Sandown Library, had housed the island's geology and fossil collections. On August 10th 2001 this changed with the opening of Dinosaur Isle, a purpose built attraction replacing the old museum, which now provides the space and facilities to properly display and conserve the rich geological collections. On show is everything from fossils to full sized fleshed dinosaurs. I haven't visited yet, but ... Read review

Advantages: beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: little to do in January

...(Wight City), golf links, Dinosaur Isle (a visitor attraction for children according to Lynnetilbrook in her comment), and during the summer trampolines and other attractions for the children on the beach, which was very clean. 6. Cowes – famous for the yachting weeks in August, you really need good weather to enjoy a walk on the promenade or looking at the shops. There are some wonderful cafes here – last May I visited one where I got an omelette ...
...for the connection to the Isle of Wight steam railway which was having Santa Specials on weekends only, including New Year's day!) We saw the railway but not the steam train on this occasion. Poppins restaurant and the Wetherspoons pub were the only cafes that we noticed were open. We went in the former and for five drinks it only cost £8 and mine was a large mug of hot chocolate with cream and a flake! This alone cost £1.65. 8. Newport - this is ... Read review

Advantages: Idylic
Disadvantages: Looks too much like the carribbean

...a good base for the Isle of white and Bournemouth the New Forest. Lymington Pier rail station is within the terminal of Red funnel. http://www.redfunnel.co.uk Tickets cost around 30 pounds for car driver and three passengers; lymington is a much quieter and relaxed port to visit the island from, If you are staying on the isle of white more than a day then it's a good idea not tell them you are going for a long stay, just pay the one way trip price. ...
...to the Island. The Isle of white is our destination; Journey on through the Solent heading out to sea towards Yarmouth and see the famous Hurst castle that almost touches the isle of white, 13 miles to be precise. From distance it makes you just want to lepe over to the island. Oh yes lepe, another famous land mark en-route across the Solent. Lepe Beach is situated southeast of the New Forest and is the closest mainland coast to the Isle of Wight. ... Read review

Advantages: lots to do when you get here, plenty of places to stay to suit all budgets
Disadvantages: expensive to get to, car parks expensive

I have now lived on the island over 4 years and would like to share with you some of the highs and lows of the island so that you can make an informed decision if it is a place for you to visit. There are many methods of getting on the island. Firstly there is the Red Jet service (run by Red Funnel) from Southampton to Cowes. This service is for foot passengers only and takes about 30 minutes. Secondly there is the Red Funnel Car ferrry from Southampton ...
...etc but also foot passengers too. This service takes about 1 hour. Thirdly there is the Wightlink Car Ferry services which there are two: Portsmouth to Fishbourne ( which is near Ryde, north eastern of the island) and Lymington to Yarmouth (south west of the island). These crossings take about 45 minutes and are for cars, lorries etc but also foot passengers. Fourthly there is Fast Cat service which runs from Portsmouth Harbour Train Station to Ryde ... Read review

Advantages: Lots to do
Disadvantages: Some steep areas

...The Isle of wight is one of my most favourite places in Great Britain and within the Island, Shanklin is one of the nicest towns to visit. It is made up of diffrent contrasting areas. There is the 'Old Shanklin', which has picturesque thatched cottages and gift shops selling lots of unusual gifts. The newer part of Shanklin consists of a main street with modern day shops and shopping opportunities. The beach is on a lower level than the town area and this can be accessed by either a slopped walkway, steps or a lift. The beach is clean and during the summer months, there are activities such as beach trampolining to keep children amused. There are several amusement arcades along the sea front. Shanklin chine is well worth a visit and can either be accessed from the lower beach section of Shanklin, or from the old town. The chine either... Read review

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Advantages: Intresting animals
Disadvantages: Rainy weather, no proper indoor eating place

...Yaverland's Seafront, Near Sandown, Isle of Wight, UK Telephone: 01983 403883/405562 Fax: 01983 401684 Email:jack.corney@iow-zoo.freeserve.co.uk The Tiger and cat sanctuary at Sandown is good to visit. It is the Island's only seaside Zoo. It is located on the Eastern side of the Island, overlooking Sandown Bay's beautiful seafront, with secure, sandy beaches and walks. Sandown is markedly sign posted from all the main town & ferry terminals. For people travelling without their own transport, there is a bus facility throughout the majority of the Island to Sandown town centre. There is also a rail service from Ryde Pier Head to Sandown Station. The Zoo is a short way from the town centre, along the waterfront, towards the White Cliff end of the Bay. There is a Train which has a regular service, bringing visitors from Sandown to the Zoo... Read review

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Advantages: the beaches and the town
Disadvantages: can be slightly messy on the beaches

...I have been to the isle of Wight so many times my uncle lived there at one point so I used to go nearly every weekend, its a wonderful place people a friendly and the shops are amazing the houses are huge and really nice the hotels are nice and well kept. Sandown is one of the best beaches on the island it has loads of shops on the fronts like cafes, toy shops, beach shops and cheep shops. there are loads of information offices so it makes it easier for you to find your way round, you have banks that are near by and you have also got a town. the town is very nice and has plenty of great shops in actual fact its just like your own town with your normal shops there is a Summerfield's with every food you need, a Woolworth's which has got everything in, wooden shops, picture shops, flower shops, glass shops a much , much more. The pubs sell... Read review

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