Where to Go in Isle of Wight, South East: Top 7 Attractions & Local Favorites

Hayley J Bacon VISIT DATE: WED 30/07/2025 VISIT TIME: 12:00 - 18:00 VISIT TYPE: Family Visited on Wednesday 30 July with my 6-year old daughter, my mother, my aunt and my grandmother. Osborne is an incredible place to visit and definitely requires a full day to explore as the site is so large. There is a lot of walking involved, but less mobile visitors, or those who tire easily can take advantage of the mini-bus which goes from place to place, or sit and enjoy the views from the cafe on the terrace. The house itself contains a fine collection of art and sculptures, giving a good insight into the tastes of Victoria and Albert, as well as the fashions of the day, with fine views from the windows of the formal gardens and grounds. On the outside, there are plenty of lovely areas to walk and it is always nice to turn and look back to the house, which looks lovely from all angles. Within the grounds you will find Swiss Cottage, the best play house ever built for children, with its fully functional kitchen and gardens. Next to this is a museum built to house the collection of items gifted or collected by the royal children and you’ll also find the play area tucked behind. Carry on towards the sea and you can enjoy time on the estate’s private beach and yes, if you’ve brought your swim wear, you can swim! Sadly, no bathing cabinet for us members of the proletariat, but it’s still quite nice to be able to say you’ve swum off Queen Victoria’s private beach, which we did! This is a truly remarkable place to visit, well worth the entry fee and expertly managed by English Heritage. It is worth getting membership if you’re staying on the Isle as there are a few EH sites nearby. As we visited during the summer holidays we were lucky enough to catch a traditional Punch & Judy show at the beach and take part in games on the lawn. EH often do special events during school holidays so check their website for details.

Issac After comparing different routes, I found that Red Funnel offers the best value for a return trip for my trip. Driving onto the ferry is very straightforward, with staff on hand to guide you. Once on board, you can relax either inside or on deck. Staying in your car isn’t allowed for safety. About 10 minutes before arrival, passengers are asked to return to their vehicles. The journey takes around an hour, which is plenty of time to have a meal, enjoy the view, or even get some homework done :D. A really pleasant experience overall.

S J Greta history

Jason Nicholls Such a beautiful & unique place. Safe, friendly people, nice loos, wonderful views. On sunny days you could be on the Italian Riviera.

Harrison D Brilliant place! So historical. Lovely accommodating ladies, who made me feel so very welcome and talked us through this history of east Cowes

phil jennings A dirty great big propellor. It definitely didn’t come off of a plane.