Isle of Wight Guru
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  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight Ferry Travel
    • Isle Of Wight Ferry Beginners Guide
    • 7 Isle Of Wight Holidays Including Ferry Travel
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal
    • Wightlink’s Multilink deal for regular travel
    • Wightlink Foot Passenger Fares - Money Saving Tips
    • Cheap Red Funnel Foot Passenger Fares
    • Cheap Isle of Wight Ferry Travel For Caravans
    • London to Isle of Wight – Quickest + Cheapest Route
    • Saving money on the Hovertravel Hovercraft
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 Of The Best Isle of Wight Caravan Holiday Parks
      • Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight Holiday Parks (formerly Park Resorts)
      • Which Isle Of Wight Holiday Park Should I Stay In?
      • Last Minute Deals And Discounts At Holiday Parks
      • Is There A Haven Holiday Park On The Isle Of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park Reviews and Facilities
      • Lower Hyde And Landguard Holiday Park Review
      • Nodes Point Holiday Park Review
      • 6 Tricks To Save Money At Isle Of Wight Caravan Holiday Parks
    • Accommodation advice >
      • Where’s The Best Place To Stay For...?
      • What Time Of Year Should I Visit The Isle Of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight Town Should I Stay In?
      • Where Is The Cheapest Place To Stay?
      • Is Christmas A Good Time To Visit The Isle of Wight?
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Luxury Hotels
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 Best Isle of Wight Coach Tour Holidays And Trips
      • Isle of Wight Hotels With A Sea View
      • 5 Ventnor Hotels And Guest Houses
      • 5 Best Ryde Hotels
    • Spa Breaks & Romantic >
      • 3 Best Isle Of Wight Spa Break Hotels And Spa Days
      • Romantic Isle Of Wight Holidays For Couples
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle Of Wight Camping And Touring Parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
      • Cheap Camping, Touring + Motorhome Holidays
    • Best in Cowes, Newport, Sandown, Shanklin >
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Cowes
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Newport
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Sandown
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Shanklin
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • Holiday Cottages With A Sea View
      • Brambles Chine And Linstone Chine Self Catering
      • 5 Best National Trust Isle of Wight Holiday Cottages
      • Bayclose - Our Holiday Apartment In Freshwater Bay
    • Lodges, Hot Tub & Swimming Pool Holidays >
      • 8 Best Isle Of Wight Holiday Lodges
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Hot Tub Holidays
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Holidays With Swimming Pools
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 Quirky Places To Stay On The Isle Of Wight
      • 9 Best Isle of Wight Airbnb Holiday Homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 Best Places To Stay For Large Groups
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Manor Houses For Hire
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Attractions for adults & stag dos >
      • Activities For Adults On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For An Isle Of Wight Stag Do
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, toddlers >
      • Activities For Toddlers On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For Children And Families On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For Teenagers On The Isle Of Wight
      • 6 Best Isle of Wight Playgrounds
      • Surviving An Isle Of Wight Holiday With A Toddler
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 Things To Do In Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 Things To Do In Cowes And East Cowes
      • 12 Things To Do In Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 Things To Do In Ryde
      • 15 Things To Do In Shanklin And Sandown
      • 15 Things To Do In Ventnor And South Wight
      • 20 Things To Do In Yarmouth And West Wight
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major Festivals And Carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2025 Lineup And Tickets
      • 10 Unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival Moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Isle of Wight Carnivals
      • Cowes Week - Attractions And Accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
      • Discounts To Isle Of Wight Attractions
      • Itinerary For A Budget Isle of Wight Holiday
      • 10 Ways To Save Money On Isle Of Wight Holidays
    • Guides To Popular Attractions >
      • Blackgang Chine
      • The Needles and Alum Bay
      • Robin Hill
      • Osborne House
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 Quirky Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Things You Can't Do On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Things You Can Only Visit On The Isle Of Wight
      • Isle Of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 Reasons To Visit The Isle Of Wight
      • 5 Isle Of Wight Attractions You Haven't Visited
      • 8 Wonders of the Isle of Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy Day Activities On The Isle Of Wight
      • Itinerary For A Rainy Isle Of Wight Holiday
      • Winter Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens, dinosaurs >
      • Isle of Wight Zoos And Animal Attractions
      • Historic Attractions On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens And Parks
      • 5 Isle of Wight Dinosaur Attractions
      • 100 Isle of Wight Disasters, Discoveries and Weird News
  • Day trips
    • Day Trips From Portsmouth To The Isle of Wight
    • Day Trips From Southampton To The Isle of Wight
    • Day Trips From Lymington To The Isle of Wight
  • Beaches, tides, watersports & weather
    • Which Is The Best Isle Of Wight Beach For...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle Of Wight Tide Times
    • Isle of Wight Weather Forecast
    • Isle Of Wight Surf Forecast
    • Isle of Wight Watersports
    • The Beach Holiday Checklist - 5 Accessories
    • Mobile Version Of Isle Of Wight Best Beaches
  • Walking, Cycling & Golf Holidays
    • Walking >
      • Walking The Isle of Wight Coastal Path
      • 10 Best Isle of Wight Walks (Circular, 3-9 miles)
      • 10 Isle of Wight Short Walks For Children (1 Mile)
      • 10 Best Benches With A View
      • Isle of Wight Themed Walks
      • Isle of Wight Treasure Trails and Treasure Hunts
    • Cycling >
      • Cycling Holidays On The Isle of Wight
      • Red Squirrel Trail (Family Cycle Track)
      • Tennyson Trail (Mountain Bike and Walking Route)
    • 4 Best Isle of Wight Golf Courses
  • Public transport & driving
    • Public Transport
    • Isle Of Wight Car Hire
    • Wighty 90 Driving Route
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle Of Wight Car Journey Games
      • 15 Best Isle Of Wight Car Park Viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy Car Journey Game
  • Dog friendly
    • Dog Friendly Isle of Wight Accommodation
    • Dog Friendly Isle Of Wight Holidays
  • Disabled Holidays
    • Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation
    • Accessible Ferry Travel, Beaches and Days Out
  • Food & drink
    • Eating Out On A Budget
    • Pubs And Restaurants With A Sea View
    • Family Friendly Pubs With Playgrounds
    • Isle Of Wight Supermarkets
    • Isle of Wight Food and Drink Tour
    • Isle of Wight Beach Cafes With A Sea View
    • Posh Restaurants on the Isle of Wight
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which Mobile Phone Network Has The Best Signal On The Isle Of Wight?
      • Cheap Parcel Delivery And Sending Mail To The Isle Of Wight
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  • Home
  • Why You Should Visit The Isle Of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight Ferry Travel
    • Isle Of Wight Ferry Beginners Guide
    • 7 Isle Of Wight Holidays Including Ferry Travel
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal
    • Wightlink’s Multilink deal for regular travel
    • Wightlink Foot Passenger Fares - Money Saving Tips
    • Cheap Red Funnel Foot Passenger Fares
    • Cheap Isle of Wight Ferry Travel For Caravans
    • London to Isle of Wight – Quickest + Cheapest Route
    • Saving money on the Hovertravel Hovercraft
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 Of The Best Isle of Wight Caravan Holiday Parks
      • Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight Holiday Parks (formerly Park Resorts)
      • Which Isle Of Wight Holiday Park Should I Stay In?
      • Last Minute Deals And Discounts At Holiday Parks
      • Is There A Haven Holiday Park On The Isle Of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park Reviews and Facilities
      • Lower Hyde And Landguard Holiday Park Review
      • Nodes Point Holiday Park Review
      • 6 Tricks To Save Money At Isle Of Wight Caravan Holiday Parks
    • Accommodation advice >
      • Where’s The Best Place To Stay For...?
      • What Time Of Year Should I Visit The Isle Of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight Town Should I Stay In?
      • Where Is The Cheapest Place To Stay?
      • Is Christmas A Good Time To Visit The Isle of Wight?
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Luxury Hotels
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 Best Isle of Wight Coach Tour Holidays And Trips
      • Isle of Wight Hotels With A Sea View
      • 5 Ventnor Hotels And Guest Houses
      • 5 Best Ryde Hotels
    • Spa Breaks & Romantic >
      • 3 Best Isle Of Wight Spa Break Hotels And Spa Days
      • Romantic Isle Of Wight Holidays For Couples
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle Of Wight Camping And Touring Parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
      • Cheap Camping, Touring + Motorhome Holidays
    • Best in Cowes, Newport, Sandown, Shanklin >
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Cowes
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Newport
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Sandown
      • 10 Best Places To Stay In Shanklin
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • Holiday Cottages With A Sea View
      • Brambles Chine And Linstone Chine Self Catering
      • 5 Best National Trust Isle of Wight Holiday Cottages
      • Bayclose - Our Holiday Apartment In Freshwater Bay
    • Lodges, Hot Tub & Swimming Pool Holidays >
      • 8 Best Isle Of Wight Holiday Lodges
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Hot Tub Holidays
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Holidays With Swimming Pools
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 Quirky Places To Stay On The Isle Of Wight
      • 9 Best Isle of Wight Airbnb Holiday Homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 Best Places To Stay For Large Groups
      • 10 Best Isle Of Wight Manor Houses For Hire
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Attractions for adults & stag dos >
      • Activities For Adults On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For An Isle Of Wight Stag Do
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, toddlers >
      • Activities For Toddlers On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For Children And Families On The Isle Of Wight
      • Activities For Teenagers On The Isle Of Wight
      • 6 Best Isle of Wight Playgrounds
      • Surviving An Isle Of Wight Holiday With A Toddler
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 Things To Do In Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 Things To Do In Cowes And East Cowes
      • 12 Things To Do In Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 Things To Do In Ryde
      • 15 Things To Do In Shanklin And Sandown
      • 15 Things To Do In Ventnor And South Wight
      • 20 Things To Do In Yarmouth And West Wight
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major Festivals And Carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2025 Lineup And Tickets
      • 10 Unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival Moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Isle of Wight Carnivals
      • Cowes Week - Attractions And Accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
      • Discounts To Isle Of Wight Attractions
      • Itinerary For A Budget Isle of Wight Holiday
      • 10 Ways To Save Money On Isle Of Wight Holidays
    • Guides To Popular Attractions >
      • Blackgang Chine
      • The Needles and Alum Bay
      • Robin Hill
      • Osborne House
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 Quirky Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Things You Can't Do On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Things You Can Only Visit On The Isle Of Wight
      • Isle Of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 Reasons To Visit The Isle Of Wight
      • 5 Isle Of Wight Attractions You Haven't Visited
      • 8 Wonders of the Isle of Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy Day Activities On The Isle Of Wight
      • Itinerary For A Rainy Isle Of Wight Holiday
      • Winter Days Out On The Isle Of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens, dinosaurs >
      • Isle of Wight Zoos And Animal Attractions
      • Historic Attractions On The Isle Of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens And Parks
      • 5 Isle of Wight Dinosaur Attractions
      • 100 Isle of Wight Disasters, Discoveries and Weird News
  • Day trips
    • Day Trips From Portsmouth To The Isle of Wight
    • Day Trips From Southampton To The Isle of Wight
    • Day Trips From Lymington To The Isle of Wight
  • Beaches, tides, watersports & weather
    • Which Is The Best Isle Of Wight Beach For...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle Of Wight Tide Times
    • Isle of Wight Weather Forecast
    • Isle Of Wight Surf Forecast
    • Isle of Wight Watersports
    • The Beach Holiday Checklist - 5 Accessories
    • Mobile Version Of Isle Of Wight Best Beaches
  • Walking, Cycling & Golf Holidays
    • Walking >
      • Walking The Isle of Wight Coastal Path
      • 10 Best Isle of Wight Walks (Circular, 3-9 miles)
      • 10 Isle of Wight Short Walks For Children (1 Mile)
      • 10 Best Benches With A View
      • Isle of Wight Themed Walks
      • Isle of Wight Treasure Trails and Treasure Hunts
    • Cycling >
      • Cycling Holidays On The Isle of Wight
      • Red Squirrel Trail (Family Cycle Track)
      • Tennyson Trail (Mountain Bike and Walking Route)
    • 4 Best Isle of Wight Golf Courses
  • Public transport & driving
    • Public Transport
    • Isle Of Wight Car Hire
    • Wighty 90 Driving Route
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle Of Wight Car Journey Games
      • 15 Best Isle Of Wight Car Park Viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy Car Journey Game
  • Dog friendly
    • Dog Friendly Isle of Wight Accommodation
    • Dog Friendly Isle Of Wight Holidays
  • Disabled Holidays
    • Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation
    • Accessible Ferry Travel, Beaches and Days Out
  • Food & drink
    • Eating Out On A Budget
    • Pubs And Restaurants With A Sea View
    • Family Friendly Pubs With Playgrounds
    • Isle Of Wight Supermarkets
    • Isle of Wight Food and Drink Tour
    • Isle of Wight Beach Cafes With A Sea View
    • Posh Restaurants on the Isle of Wight
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which Mobile Phone Network Has The Best Signal On The Isle Of Wight?
      • Cheap Parcel Delivery And Sending Mail To The Isle Of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight Newspapers, News Websites And Radio Stations
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I Move To The Isle Of Wight?
  • About
    • Contact Us/About/Disclaimer
    • Who Is The Isle Of Wight Guru?
    • Isle of Wight Copywriter
    • Isle Of Wight Drone Photography and Aerial Videography
  • Blog
  • Français, Deutsch & Nederlands
    • Les Vacances Sur L’île De Wight
    • Urlaub auf der Isle of Wight
    • Vakantie op Isle of Wight
  • Advice For Plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
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Frequently Asked Questions About Isle Of Wight Holidays (2025 Guide)


Q. How can I get to the Isle of Wight?

A: For advice on how to get to the Isle of Wight, take a look at our Isle of Wight ferry beginners' guide. Car drivers have the option of travelling to Lymington, Portsmouth or Southampton and then catching a ferry which takes about 40 - 60 minutes.

​Foot passengers have the option of travelling to Lymington, Portsmouth, Southampton or Southsea for a crossing which takes between 10 minutes and one hour. As a very broad guide, it costs about £50 - £300 to take a car with passengers or about £10 - £40 for a foot passenger depending on factors such as time of year, length of stay, time of day and how regularly you travel.

If you've paid full price for the ferry, something has gone wrong. Plenty of discounts, deals and loopholes are available if you don't mind a bit of faff. See our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel for lots of money saving suggestions and discount codes.

One of the cheapest ways of getting to the Isle of Wight is to get a ferry and accommodation bundle.

Q. Will I need a passport to visit the Isle of Wight?

A: Ha ha ha ha ha! Ahem, sorry, I mean no you don't need a passport although obviously you'd need one to get into the UK if you're coming from abroad.

The Isle of Wight is an English county - much like Dorset or Hampshire. It just happens to be surrounded by water. 

The exception might be if you came by plane to one of the two small airports, but I've never flown into the Isle of Wight to test it out.
Passport on blue suitcase
You won't need to show this

Q. How can I get cheap ferry travel to the Isle of Wight?

A: Well, believe it or not, the Office of Fair Trading actually found that it was comparable in price to other stretches of water in Europe but it's hard to deny that it can be expensive at peak times (I've seen car return fares of £300+ being offered). Having said that, I've also got a return with a car full of people that worked out at £10 per person.

Hopefully, our guide to cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel will help. There are things such as Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal that can make it much cheaper. There are also deals for semi-regular travellers such as Wightlink's Multilink deal.

​It's also worth looking at the official offers pages for the three ferry companies.
Red Funnel ferries
Check out our guide to cheap ferry travel
Check Wightlink's offers page
Check Red Funnel's offers page
Check Hovertravel's offers page

Q. why hasn't anyone built a bridge or tunnel to the Isle of Wight?

A: Ah, well, that's a bit of a divisive one. Some Islanders think a bridge or tunnel would be great and would make it cheaper to get to the mainland. Others think that the Island's roads couldn't cope with the influx of cars pouring over from the South East on a sunny day and that it would ruin the relaxed pace of life and beautiful landscape. The BBC wrote a piece on the possibility of an Isle of Wight bridge in 2013. A tunnel was talked about in the 1990s but it never happened.

For at least the next 100 years or so I would recommend our guide to cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel, which has things like promotional and discount codes, tip, tricks and loopholes for Wightlink and Red Funnel. 

If you want to play a fun game, take a look at any news article about the Isle of Wight and see how far into the comments section you get before someone makes a remark about a fixed link. It's a hoot.
Ryde Pier pedestrian walkway
There are four piers on the Isle of Wight - but there isn't a bridge to the mainland

Q. How many people live on the Isle of Wight?

A: All of them! Anyway...the official population is about 140,400 but the Isle of Wight is visited by around 2.5 million holidaymakers each year meaning that the number goes much higher during the summer months. That population figure is from 2021.​

Q. Which town should I stay in on the Isle of Wight?

A. It depends on what you are after. Peace and quiet? An ice cream and a game of minigolf on the seafront? A romantic break? Beautiful coastal walks?

Take a look at our guide to Which Isle of Wight should I stay in? 

In summary, for young children or nostalgic adults I would recommend Shanklin if you like amusement arcades, minigolf and deckchairs. If you are looking for somewhere peaceful and romantic for quiet walks then the South Wight or West Wight are perfect (Ventnor, St Lawrence, Yarmouth, Brighstone or Freshwater Bay). ​

​If you would rather be a bit closer to civilisation and nightlife then Newport, Cowes or Ryde are your best bet. If you want somewhere accessible but pretty then the East Wight (Bembridge or Seaview) is worth considering.

There are lots of lodge parks, caravan parks and posh hotels to choose from, as well as camping, glamping and hot tub holidays on the Isle of Wight. If you want a self-catering cottage, then try Hoseasons or HolidayCottages.co.uk.

Personally, I love having a sea view on holiday - so we've written guides to holiday cottages with sea views and hotels with sea views. 
Shanklin Beach
Shanklin is popular...but it's not for everyone

Q. Can you get around the Isle of Wight without a car?

The short answer is yes, you can get around the Isle of Wight without a car.

However, I would say it's a lot easier if you stay in the East Wight (Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin), or possibly in Newport. The East Wight has a trainline that connects Ryde Pierhead (one of the ferry ports) with Ryde Esplanade, Sandown and Shanklin. They're all busy seaside resorts that are good if you like sandy beaches, amusement arcades, playgrounds and ice cream on a sunny day. Ryde has a bus station that connects with much of the Isle of Wight.

Meanwhile, Newport is a fairly ordinary market town in the middle of the Isle of Wight but it has the biggest bus station so you can get anywhere quite quickly. In the car, you can get anywhere from Newport in about half an hour but on the bus it will be longer.

I would say that you would find it more difficult to explore the Isle of Wight without a car if you stay in the South Wight (Ventnor, St Lawrence) or the West Wight (Yarmouth, Brighstone, Freshwater). That side of the Island is quieter and (in my view) prettier with some unspoilt beaches and coastline but there are no trains and fewer buses. For example, if you wanted to travel from Freshwater Bay in the West Wight to Ryde in the East Wight it would take you 40 minutes in a car or about 90 minutes on a bus. 

Regarding cost, I've found that the buses are particularly good value if you travel as a group and pay for a week in advance. See our public transport guide for more waffle on this topic.

Car drivers might like to see our guide to the perfect Isle of Wight road trip called the Wighty 90.
Appley Folly in Ryde
It is easier to rely on public transport if you stay near a big town like Ryde than in the wild West Wight

Open top buses

Another thing to consider is that during the warmer months there are open top buses that provide a great way to see the Island on a sunny day. From the top deck you get fantastic views on some routes. There's also a pre-recorded commentary. On a cold day it is akin to being locked in a freezer, so I would sit downstairs or bring a hot water bottle.
Open top bus at The Needles
The Isle of Wight's open top buses offer a breezy way to getting about

Day tripping

If you are planning a day trip to the Isle of Wight, then the advice about cars v public transport varies depending on which ferry port you are leaving from. Read our guides to day trips from Southampton, Lymington and Portsmouth for an excessively detailed guide, along with some advice of what to do. We've even got a guide just for people coming from London - whatever next!
Clock at London Waterloo
Travelling from Waterloo to the Isle of Wight? We've got a guide for that

cycling

Finally, if you are a keen bean bottom wiggling cyclist, then I would say that holidaying without a car is achievable. Several of the best car-free sections of cycle path have been attached together to form the Red Squirrel Trail. There are some sections on quiet roads to link up the off-road sections.

Distances between towns are not vast, although some roads can be a bit busy in summer.  If you were to stay in Newport then it would be about an hour's bike ride to several nice beaches, assuming you took the most direct route.

See our guide to Isle of Wight cycling holidays.
Newport to Cowes cycle path
Some of the former railway lines are now cycle tracks - this is the Newport to Cowes route
Bikes at Freshwater Bay
There are cycle tracks leading to many of the best beaches, including Freshwater Bay

Q. Does the Isle of Wight have an airport?

A. Yes, it has two...but it's pretty unlikely you will arrive by plane as they are more 'airfields' than 'airports'. They are in Sandown and Bembridge and both are for light aircraft. According to UK General Aviation, Sandown offers 'the best bacon rolls in the world of aviation', has a grass runway and only charges £20 for a small plane to land. Surely, it's only a matter of time before Ryanair catch on and changes the airport's name to 'London Sandown Airport'?

The nearest large airport is Southampton, which has flights from various European and UK cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and Edinburgh. Bournemouth is the next nearest airport.

Q. Which are the cleanest Isle of Wight beaches?

A. This is a bit of a complex and controversial area, but here is the data I use before deciding where to swim.

Firstly, we look at the latest annual data from the Environment Agency. They test sea water cleanliness at beaches around England in summer, including 15 on the Isle of Wight.

The tests look for bacteria from various sources, including sewage pipes, runoff from farming and bird poo (you shouldn't feed seagulls at the beach as it makes them hang around and poo in the sea).

At the time of writing, 11 Isle of Wight beaches get the maximum three star rating for cleanliness whilst four others get a two star rating.
  • Three star beaches include Colwell, Compton, Seagrove, Shanklin, St Helens, Totland, Ventnor, Whitecliff Bay and Yaverland. Cowes and East Cowes also get three stars, but we don't really like swimming at either of those.
  • Two star beaches include Bembridge, Ryde, Sandown and Gurnard.

The second thing that we look at is the Safer Seas Service, which is a free map and app provided by a charity called Surfers Against Sewage. It gives regular advices on water quality at beaches on the Isle of Wight. If it's been raining then there is a much higher chance of sewage being pumped into the sea.

This isn't just an Isle of Wight problem so don't let it put you off visiting. Sewage is legally dumped in the waters around the UK (and sometimes illegally dumped too).

The other thing to note is that the Environment Agency tests are only carried out from May to September. The sea water may not be as clean in winter.

You might like to read our full blog about sewage and pollution at Isle of Wight beaches.

See our interactive beach map (or the simpler mobile version) for more information and pictures of Isle of Wight beaches. We've also got a guide to 'which is the best beach for...'
Compton Bay swimmers
Compton Bay has a top rating for water cleanliness in summer from the Environment Agency

Q. What are people from the Isle of Wight called?

A: Generally, people from the Isle of Wight are called 'caulkheads' or 'Islanders' or according to Wikipedia 'Vectensians or Vectians'. The rule seems to be that you have to be a third generation Islander to call yourself a 'caulkhead'. There are various tales about the etymology of 'caulkheads', but most theories suggest it is either to do with caulking boats or floating in water.

Mainlanders who have moved to the Island are usually called Overners, whilst I've heard tourists referred to as Grockles before.

Common Isle of Wight lexicon includes Nammit (food), Gurt (great/large) and Somewhen (a combination of somewhere and sometime). If you want to fit in, try saying "eh nipper, fancy a gurt plate of nammit somewhen?"

Q. Is it true that the population of the world could fit on the Isle of Wight?

A: No, but it was probably true up until around 1981, according to my back-of-an-envelope calculations.

Back in 1980, there were about 4.454 billion people on earth (source: Infoplease). The Isle of Wight is about 384 square kilometres, which is 384 000 000 square metres. For simplicity, I've ignored the fact that the Isle of Wight shrunk when a big chunk of Blackgang Chine fell into the sea in the 1990s.

So, the Isle of Wight could have hosted a party for the entire planet if you squeezed 11.5 people into each metre square. 

We tried this out at a family gathering one Christmas and managed to fit 12 people into a metre square. It was a cosy experience, particularly after a turkey dinner. We couldn't have included a 13th person.
Group of people squashed into a small space
Our Christmas day experiment managed to fit 12 people in a metre square
Nowadays, the earth's population is much greater. There are eight billion people on earth (source: Wikipedia, 2023) which would require almost 21 people to fit into each square metre of the Isle of Wight. There's just no way that you could do it without standing on each other's shoulders.

My best guess is that it ceased to be possible to fit the entire population of the world on the Isle of Wight in around 1981.

Q. Is it correct to SAY 'In the Isle of Wight' or 'On the Isle of Wight'?

A: To be honest, no-one has ever actually asked me this question, but it's been irritating me for some time.

I've always been convinced that the correct preposition is 'on the Isle of Wight', as in 'I had a lovely holiday on the Isle of Wight'. From my survey of three people, I'd say that 'on' is what Isle of Wight residents say. Generally, you'll see 'in the Isle of Wight' written when the text has been produced automatically, such as searching on accommodation booking websites (for example, 'search for self-catering in Isle of Wight'). You will also hear it in the Beatles' song, When I'm 64:

"Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear"


Grammatically speaking, 'in' tends to be applied to permanent land masses (in England, in Southampton etc.), whereas you would use 'on' for the surface of an object (on the table, on the boat etc.). 

There's a good argument that 'in' is grammatically accurate, as the Isle of Wight isn't floating.

Sorry if you just drifted off whilst reading that last section but the short answer is that it's open to debate.

Q. What is the Isle of Wight postcode?

My Dad once told me that if you post a letter to your neighbour on the Isle of Wight, it will go across on the ferry to be sorted and then catch the ferry back. I'm still not sure if he was winding me up, but the Isle of Wight postcode is certainly shared with Portsmouth.

So, the Isle of Wight postcode is PO30 1UD for example (that's Isle of Wight Council's County Hall). The prefixes are PO30, PO31, PO32, PO33, PO34, PO35, PO36, PO37, PO38, PO39, PO40 and shockingly - PO41. 

I know that's not terribly interesting, but you did search for it, so you've only got yourself to blame.

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