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Frequently asked questions about Isle of Wight holidays
Q. How can I get to the Isle of Wight?
For advice on how to get to the Isle of Wight, take a look at our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel or the 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 30 - 60 minutes. Foot passengers have the option of travelling to Lymington, Southampton, Portsmouth or Southsea for a crossing which takes between 10 minutes and one hour. As a very broad guide, it costs about £35 - £150 to take a car with passengers or about £10 - £25 for a foot passenger depending on factors such as time of year, length of stay, time of day and how regularly you travel.
Q. Will I need a passport to visit the Isle of Wight?
You won't need this
A: Ha ha ha ha ha! Ahem, sorry, I mean no you don't need a passport.
The Isle of Wight is an English county - much like Dorset or Hampshire. It just happens to be surrounded by water.
The Isle of Wight is an English county - much like Dorset or Hampshire. It just happens to be surrounded by water.
Q. How can I get cheap ferry travel to the Isle of Wight?
Check out our guide to cheap ferry travel
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 more than £200 being offered). Having said that, I've also got a return with a car full of people which worked out as less than £10 per person.
Hopefully our guide to cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel will help. Red Funnel have given an explanation of their pricing structure.
Hopefully our guide to cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel will help. Red Funnel have given an explanation of their pricing structure.
Q. So why hasn't anyone built a bridge 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. 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.
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.
Q. How many people live on the Isle of Wight?
A: All of them! Anyway...the official population is about 140,000 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.
Q. Which town should I stay in on the Isle of Wight?
Sandown is popular...but it's not for everyone
A. It depends what you are after. Peace and quiet? An ice cream and a game of minigolf on the seafront? 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 Sandown or Shanklin. 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). If you would rather be a bit closer to civilisation and nightlife then Newport/Cowes/Ryde are your best bet. If you want somewhere accessible but pretty then the East Wight (Bembridge, Seaview) is worth considering.
In summary, for young children or nostalgic adults I would recommend Sandown or Shanklin. 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). If you would rather be a bit closer to civilisation and nightlife then Newport/Cowes/Ryde are your best bet. If you want somewhere accessible but pretty then the East Wight (Bembridge, Seaview) is worth considering.
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 £10 for a plane to land - surely it's only a matter of time before Ryanair catch on and changes its name to 'London Sandown Airport'?
The nearest large airport is Southampton which has flights to various European and UK cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and Edinburgh. Bournemouth is the next nearest airport.
The nearest large airport is Southampton which has flights to 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?
Blue flag beaches have the cleanest water
A. There are four Isle of Wight beaches which were given a Blue Flag for clean water (in 2014) and a Seaside Award (which 'ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch'. These were Sandown, Ventnor, Yaverland and Colwell.
As well as that, there are several beaches which have received a Seaside Award (but not a Blue Flag). For 2014 these were Seagrove, Gurnard, Ryde East, St Helens, Totland, Shanklin, Cowes, East Cowes, Springvale,
In 2015, the Isle of Wight Council decided not to pay for Blue Flags and Seaside Awards, although presumably the water is still clean.
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...'
As well as that, there are several beaches which have received a Seaside Award (but not a Blue Flag). For 2014 these were Seagrove, Gurnard, Ryde East, St Helens, Totland, Shanklin, Cowes, East Cowes, Springvale,
In 2015, the Isle of Wight Council decided not to pay for Blue Flags and Seaside Awards, although presumably the water is still clean.
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...'
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 it seems to be either to do with caulking boats or to do with 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).
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).
Q. Are there any decent car boot sales on the Isle of Wight?
A: I used to be a regular car booter on the Isle of Wight, although I am a little out of touch now. CarBootsRUs seems to be the most comprehensive site, but all booters will know that the size of car boot sales is important. Turning up at 7am to see three cars flogging socks is not a great experience.
Many years ago we used to enjoy the St George's Park car boot sale in Newport. However, Asda has bought the land and one had appeared on Fairlee Road in Newport (one of the Isle of Wight Festival camping fields I believe) which some people were going to instead. Both were on Sunday mornings.
We also used to go to one at Lushington Hill in Wootton (PO33 4NR) which was OK and on Saturday mornings, but it wasn't massive (I last went to this one quite a few years ago but I have seen the signs advertising recently). We also used to go to one at Brickfields (PO33 3TH) which was on Monday afternoons and was fairly good.
My general experience has been that mainland car boot sales are bigger, but if anyone can provide a more comprehensive and up to date answer, I would love you to get in touch.
It is also worth looking in the Isle of Wight County Press (paper edition) which has adverts for car boot sales. Please don't just turn up for one based on my out of date information!
Many years ago we used to enjoy the St George's Park car boot sale in Newport. However, Asda has bought the land and one had appeared on Fairlee Road in Newport (one of the Isle of Wight Festival camping fields I believe) which some people were going to instead. Both were on Sunday mornings.
We also used to go to one at Lushington Hill in Wootton (PO33 4NR) which was OK and on Saturday mornings, but it wasn't massive (I last went to this one quite a few years ago but I have seen the signs advertising recently). We also used to go to one at Brickfields (PO33 3TH) which was on Monday afternoons and was fairly good.
My general experience has been that mainland car boot sales are bigger, but if anyone can provide a more comprehensive and up to date answer, I would love you to get in touch.
It is also worth looking in the Isle of Wight County Press (paper edition) which has adverts for car boot sales. Please don't just turn up for one based on my out of date information!
Q. Is it true that the population of the world could fit on the Isle of Wight?
12 people in a metre square
A: No.
A lot of people seem to think this but according to my calculations it is no longer true.
In our scientific test (photographed) we managed to squeeze 12 people into a metre square - including three small children, zero obese people and plenty of hugging. 18 just isn't achievable with building a human pyramid.
However...this claim seems to have been around for years and it is much more plausible if we use population data from 1980.
Conclusion - no, it's possible anymore. My guess is that it stopped being possible some time around 1981.
A lot of people seem to think this but according to my calculations it is no longer true.
- The global population is about 7.131 billion (source: Wikipedia) or 7 131 000 000
- The Isle of Wight is 384 square kilometres (source: Wikipedia) or 384 000 000 square metres
- 7 131 000 000 divided by 384 000 000 is 18.57 people per square metre
In our scientific test (photographed) we managed to squeeze 12 people into a metre square - including three small children, zero obese people and plenty of hugging. 18 just isn't achievable with building a human pyramid.
However...this claim seems to have been around for years and it is much more plausible if we use population data from 1980.
- The global population in 1980 was 4.454 billion (source: Infoplease, rounded to 3 decimal places) or 4 454 000 000 .
- The Isle of Wight's size in 1980 was still 384 square kilometres (I'm sure there's been a little bit of erosion to the south west coast but let's ignore that) or 384 000 000 square metres.
- 4 454 000 000 divided by 384 000 000 is 11.5 people per square metres.
Conclusion - no, it's possible anymore. My guess is that it stopped being possible some time 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 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').
Grammatically speaking though, '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.).
So, if the Isle of Wight was floating then 'on' would be grammatically accurate.
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 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').
Grammatically speaking though, '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.).
So, if the Isle of Wight was floating then 'on' would be grammatically accurate.
Q. What is the Isle of Wight postcode?
Post a letter to your neighbour on the Isle of Wight and it gets put on a ferry, sorted in Portsmouth and then transported back across the Solent to your neighbour.
So, the Isle of Wight postcode is PO30 1UD for example (that's Isle of Wight Council 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.
So, the Isle of Wight postcode is PO30 1UD for example (that's Isle of Wight Council 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.
