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Osborne House - 11 Top Tips And Discount Codes (2024)
**English Heritage Discount Code: Save 20% on annual memberships via this link with exclusive code IWGEHMEXC until 31/12/24**
Osborne House is probably the most famous historic attraction on the Isle of Wight. Well, that's unless you count dinosaurs as an historic attraction. And some would argue that Carisbrooke Castle or The Needles Lighthouse are more famous. Anyway, let's not get bogged down in details.
Here are our tips for visiting Osborne, which are 100% guaranteed to dramatically reduce the risk of toddler tantrums, teenage sulks and grumpy spouses. Please direct any complaints to the guy who keeps copying our work (Ed: calm down, dear).
Here are our tips for visiting Osborne, which are 100% guaranteed to dramatically reduce the risk of toddler tantrums, teenage sulks and grumpy spouses. Please direct any complaints to the guy who keeps copying our work (Ed: calm down, dear).
Osborne House is great for kids and adults - but less good for teenagers and dogs
1. Membership is worth it - for some visitors
English Heritage Membership may work out cheaper if you also plan to visit Carisbrooke Castle, which is another excellent Isle of Wight attraction.
The merits of membership varies a little depending on a) your group size b) whether you visit on- peak c) whether you pay in advance and d) whether you choose to pay the extra donation that is suggested on the website.
Membership is more likely to be worthwhile if you visit on peak and don't book in advance.
For example, a family of four would pay a total of £99.50 to visit both Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne if they visited peak season, paid the donation and didn't book in advance. The same family would pay £76.90 if they visited off-peak, booked in advance and didn't add on the optional donation (2023 prices).
12 month English Heritage membership for the same family would be £120 but there is regularly an offer to make it closer to £100 (see our attractions offers page for the latest deal).
If you're on holiday, I would do a quick check to see if there are any English Heritage castles and stately homes near your home that you might get around to visiting in the next year.
Also worth a mention is that Yarmouth has a small English Heritage castle that costs about £20 for a family. It's nowhere near as big as Carisbrooke Castle but the views are good.
English Heritage members get other discounts such as 15%-20% off Wightlink Ferries.
The merits of membership varies a little depending on a) your group size b) whether you visit on- peak c) whether you pay in advance and d) whether you choose to pay the extra donation that is suggested on the website.
Membership is more likely to be worthwhile if you visit on peak and don't book in advance.
For example, a family of four would pay a total of £99.50 to visit both Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne if they visited peak season, paid the donation and didn't book in advance. The same family would pay £76.90 if they visited off-peak, booked in advance and didn't add on the optional donation (2023 prices).
12 month English Heritage membership for the same family would be £120 but there is regularly an offer to make it closer to £100 (see our attractions offers page for the latest deal).
If you're on holiday, I would do a quick check to see if there are any English Heritage castles and stately homes near your home that you might get around to visiting in the next year.
Also worth a mention is that Yarmouth has a small English Heritage castle that costs about £20 for a family. It's nowhere near as big as Carisbrooke Castle but the views are good.
English Heritage members get other discounts such as 15%-20% off Wightlink Ferries.
If you also want to see Carisbrooke Castle then English Heritage membership is probably worth it
2. Sunny or overcast days are preferable
Some guides suggest Osborne House as a good rainy day activity but I don't agree if you are bringing children (Ed: ooooh, controversial...)
Of course, the house is ideal in the rain and my mother could spend ages in there reading every single information board. However, the best bits for children are either outdoors or require a walk from the main house. That includes two playgrounds, the beach and the Swiss Cottage (built for the royal children). The grounds are large enough for expending some energy and the walled gardens will appeal to plant-loving Aunt Maude.
You don't get a free return at Osborne House so you need to see it all in one day. I would postpone if it's bucketing down.
I would say that you can expect to spend most of a day at Osborne. English Heritage suggests the average is 4-5 hours.
A lot depends on how slowly you walk round the house but getting to the beach and back is time consuming so it's not somewhere to pop in.
Of course, the house is ideal in the rain and my mother could spend ages in there reading every single information board. However, the best bits for children are either outdoors or require a walk from the main house. That includes two playgrounds, the beach and the Swiss Cottage (built for the royal children). The grounds are large enough for expending some energy and the walled gardens will appeal to plant-loving Aunt Maude.
You don't get a free return at Osborne House so you need to see it all in one day. I would postpone if it's bucketing down.
I would say that you can expect to spend most of a day at Osborne. English Heritage suggests the average is 4-5 hours.
A lot depends on how slowly you walk round the house but getting to the beach and back is time consuming so it's not somewhere to pop in.
Osborne Bay is rather lovely on a sunny day
3. Get to the beach
Osborne's beach is my favourite bit. It was closed off for years and then reopened about a decade ago. You can't swim at the beach, so don't bring your trunks.
The Bay is a long way from the house but there's a free bus. When I first visited there was a horse and cart instead of a bus but they switched to a less temperamental beast. Of course, the same couldn't be said if they were using my old Fiat Punto.
The Bay is a long way from the house but there's a free bus. When I first visited there was a horse and cart instead of a bus but they switched to a less temperamental beast. Of course, the same couldn't be said if they were using my old Fiat Punto.
4. Stick to the juiciest bits of history
This one is for well-meaning mothers who want to pass on their love of history to the next generation.
Don't attempt to tell your children every piece of history about the house. They are about as interested as you are in the computer game that they are currently telling you about.
Instead, see yourself as a Bill Bryson or Sandi Toksvig character who has the task of picking out the most amusing highlights.
Luckily, the Isle of Wight Guru has already done this and written a blog about the interesting bits from Osborne's history.
For example, the staff at Osborne House brought Prince Albert hot water every single day for many years... despite the fact that he was dead. None of them had the courage to ask the Queen if they could possibly stop doing it.
Don't attempt to tell your children every piece of history about the house. They are about as interested as you are in the computer game that they are currently telling you about.
Instead, see yourself as a Bill Bryson or Sandi Toksvig character who has the task of picking out the most amusing highlights.
Luckily, the Isle of Wight Guru has already done this and written a blog about the interesting bits from Osborne's history.
For example, the staff at Osborne House brought Prince Albert hot water every single day for many years... despite the fact that he was dead. None of them had the courage to ask the Queen if they could possibly stop doing it.
5. Avoid people
Other people are overrated aren't they? If they're not blocking your view of Queen Victoria's death bed they are pinching your seat in the café or coughing all over you.
If you want to avoid crowds at Osborne, take a look at their booking calendar which shows on-peak and off-peak dates. If you can't be choosy with dates, arrive at 10am and enjoy an hour of quiet in the main house before everyone else turns up to ruin it. The busy times are generally 11am-2pm so a visit late in the day is also an option.
The grounds are big enough to absorb lots of people. It is just the house and Swiss Cottage that gets busy.
If you want to avoid crowds at Osborne, take a look at their booking calendar which shows on-peak and off-peak dates. If you can't be choosy with dates, arrive at 10am and enjoy an hour of quiet in the main house before everyone else turns up to ruin it. The busy times are generally 11am-2pm so a visit late in the day is also an option.
The grounds are big enough to absorb lots of people. It is just the house and Swiss Cottage that gets busy.
6. Visit Osborne-Lite
If you can't afford Osborne but still want a taste of Victoria's life on the Isle of Wight, visit her church of St Mildred's in Whippingham. It has several ties to the royal family - some of them were married and buried there (not at the same time).
A free alternative for royalists is this church in Whippingham
7. Don't drag a teenager or a dog round if you can avoid it
I'm generalising a bit here. I'm sure some teenagers have a fascination with Victorian history and stately homes. What I really mean is, please don't drag the teenage version of me round Osborne House. There's enough for junior school aged children but the teenage version of me just complained and ruined it. Check out the guide to teenage activities on the Isle of Wight instead.
English Heritage often lay on activities for junior school aged children at Osborne. If there's a trail, embrace it with full enthusiasm - that sort of thing is gold for keeping our children occupied.
On a related topic, dogs are only allowed in the grounds and gardens at Osborne so it's not an ideal attraction for them. They can't go inside the buildings or onto the beach, unless they are assistance dogs. You really need to have a spouse who is willing to stand outside with the dog all day whilst you look round the house.
See our guide to dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays for alternatives.
English Heritage often lay on activities for junior school aged children at Osborne. If there's a trail, embrace it with full enthusiasm - that sort of thing is gold for keeping our children occupied.
On a related topic, dogs are only allowed in the grounds and gardens at Osborne so it's not an ideal attraction for them. They can't go inside the buildings or onto the beach, unless they are assistance dogs. You really need to have a spouse who is willing to stand outside with the dog all day whilst you look round the house.
See our guide to dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays for alternatives.
8. Playgrounds at Osborne
There are two playgrounds at Osborne. They are both mid-sized as stately home playgrounds go. Some properties like this have huge great play areas which go on for miles. That's not the case at Osborne but they are nice playgrounds which will fill a bit of time.
There are a couple of playgrounds at Osborne House
9. Leave your golfer next door
If you are married to a golfer then you may consider dropping them off at Osborne Golf Club next door - just like how you would drop a child off at a child minder. Visiting golfers are welcome and pay about £20-£40 for a round.
Your spouse can spend their day admiring the views whilst whacking a ball. You can enjoy the paintings, history and cream teas in peace.
The course is more than 100 years old and some has links to Victoria (Ed: pun intended?) including a bath for her pet elephant.
Your spouse can spend their day admiring the views whilst whacking a ball. You can enjoy the paintings, history and cream teas in peace.
The course is more than 100 years old and some has links to Victoria (Ed: pun intended?) including a bath for her pet elephant.
10. Visit on the way to the ferry
If you are getting the ferry from East Cowes (Red Funnel) or Fishbourne (Wightlink), then Osborne House is well located for one final pre-ferry day out.
If your accommodation kicks you out at 10am then you could park up at Osborne and book a ferry around 3-5pm depending on how quickly or slowly you plod round. Ferries later in the day are cheaper than lunchtime ferries so this could save you a few pounds compared to going straight home.
It's a five minute drive from Osborne House to the Red Funnel car ferry. The Wightlink ferry at Fishbourne is slightly further away and will take you about 15 minutes in the car.
If you don't have a big journey on the mainland, you might like to eat tea near Osborne to lower the ferry price further. The Lifeboat in East Cowes is popular. You'll need the sat nav as it's hidden away on the river and is reached via a housing estate.
If your accommodation kicks you out at 10am then you could park up at Osborne and book a ferry around 3-5pm depending on how quickly or slowly you plod round. Ferries later in the day are cheaper than lunchtime ferries so this could save you a few pounds compared to going straight home.
It's a five minute drive from Osborne House to the Red Funnel car ferry. The Wightlink ferry at Fishbourne is slightly further away and will take you about 15 minutes in the car.
If you don't have a big journey on the mainland, you might like to eat tea near Osborne to lower the ferry price further. The Lifeboat in East Cowes is popular. You'll need the sat nav as it's hidden away on the river and is reached via a housing estate.
Osborne is five minutes drive from the Red Funnel car ferry
11. Stay nearby to Osborne
If you're really obsessed with Osborne, there are a few places to stay with royal connections.
There's a small hotel next door called Albert Cottage Hotel, which was originally part of the estate. English Heritage also has places to stay on the estate called Sovereign's Gate and Pavilion Cottage.
No, you can't stay in the Queen's bedroom.
There are plenty of other places to stay in the Cowes and East Cowes area.
There's a small hotel next door called Albert Cottage Hotel, which was originally part of the estate. English Heritage also has places to stay on the estate called Sovereign's Gate and Pavilion Cottage.
No, you can't stay in the Queen's bedroom.
There are plenty of other places to stay in the Cowes and East Cowes area.
Albert Cottage Hotel in East Cowes is a good place to stay if you want the full Victorian experience
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ All the information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check details directly - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. Here's our full disclaimer.
