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Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples

I might be wrong but I fear that the Isle of Wight has a bit of an image problem when it comes to young couples looking for a romantic holiday. 

The Island is certainly seen as a great spot for a simple family holiday in the UK and it’s hugely popular with older visitors who want a traditional break or a coach trip.

But I suspect that a lot of people wouldn’t think of the Isle of Wight as a good location for a romantic holiday or a honeymoon. If you’re getting married soon, test this out and ask your fiancé what they think about a honeymoon on the Isle of Wight. I reckon you'll get a raised eyebrow.

So, here’s my attempt to bump up those numbers with my advice on where to stay and 10 things to do on a romantic Isle of Wight holiday.

Where is the best place for couples to stay on a romantic Isle of Wight holiday?

The key to a romantic break is avoiding children. You don’t want my noisy pre-schooler ruining your breakfast with her demands for yet more raisins.

So, if you can afford it, I would start by looking at posh hotels on the Isle of Wight. If you want a small boutique hotel I would look at:
There are plenty more in our luxury hotels guide.

If you want a bigger posh hotel I would start by looking at: 
Alternatively, you could go for somewhere with a hot tub such as:
Other quirky options which would impress Mrs Guru include
  • A houseboat such as Harbourside View in Bembridge (floating B&B)
  • The Enchanted Manor near Niton (four poster beds, chandeliers etc)
  • No Man's Fort, in the middle of Solent (former military base, converted into a hotel)
  • The Crow's Nest (one bedroom apartment with fabulous sea views on a beach which can only be accessed by foot) ​
  • A triangular Tiny Home (one bedroom eco-friendly home)
  • A potting shed in Ventnor Botanic Gardens (quirky little lodge in the gardens full of plants from around the world)
Buttercup Barn Retreats
Buttercup Barn Retreats in Wootton
Woodside Bay Treehouse
Treehouse at Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat

What to do on a romantic Isle of Wight holiday

The key thing on a romantic break is to avoid people, particularly children. They’ll only ruin the mood so plan carefully or you’ll end up dining out in a soft play area.

It very much depends on what you enjoy, but my top ten suggestions are:

1. Eating out with a sea view

The most romantic evenings out that we’ve had on the Isle of Wight have all had a sea view. There are loads of highly regarded inland pubs and restaurants but there's nothing like hearing the waves whilst you sip on your shandy and whisper sweet nothings. 

You can read our full guide to Isle of Wight restaurants with a sea view, but some of the more romantic ones include:
  • The Little Gloster in Gurnard near Cowes (quite pricey but modern and classy)
  • The Three Buoys restaurant in Ryde (balcony with views across Appley beach and posh nosh)
  • The Fisherman’s Cottage in Shanklin (thatched, relaxed pub on the beach with a simple menu. Walk down floodlit Shanklin Chine for a romantic start to the evening)
  • The Aqua in Shanklin (one of three pubs/restaurants in a row on Shanklin seafront. They all get quite busy, so they're a good choice if you like a bit of atmosphere)
  • The Bandstand in Sandown (modern restaurant in an elevated spot next to the beach)
  • The Boathouse in Steephill Cove, near Ventnor (very small seafood restaurant on a beach which is only accessible on foot)
  • The Hut in Colwell (trendy restaurant on the seafront with good sunsets)
Steephill Cove
Steephill Cove is home to a small seafood restaurant...
Fisherman's Cottage in Shanklin
…whilst Shanklin has a thatched pub on the beach

2. Isle of Wight Seaside sunset Strolls

Is there anything more romantic than a sunset over a sandy beach?

Our two favourite spots for evening sunsets are Gurnard near Cowes and Compton Bay in the West Wight.

Gurnard has a little hidden beach round the back of the sailing club and there’s a nice walk along the esplanade to Cowes.

Compton Bay is gorgeous at low tide, particularly in the early evening when the rest of the world has gone home for their tea. You might even like to kick off your shoes and paddle in the water whilst pretending it isn't freezing cold. 

We've had a few romantic barbecues at Compton Bay although you are best doing that when there aren't many people round. And if you leave your rubbish behind you will be hunted down and forced to eat charcoal.

Some other beaches which are usually quiet enough for a romantic moment include:
  • Priory Bay, East Wight – quite a faff to access, but it is beautifully sandy and backed by a woodland
  • Brook Chine, West Wight – next door to Compton Bay and a good one if you’ve also brought a dog with you. Unspoilt crumbly cliffs
  • Freshwater Bay, West Wight – stony beach which is popular with surfers on a stormy day
  • Dunroamin Beach, East Wight – the quiet bit between the busy resorts of Sandown and Shanklin
  • Woody Bay, South Wight – one of many quiet beaches along the South Wight coastline where you can avoid people even on a busy day

I would avoid Appley, Sandown, Shanklin and Colwell if the sun is shining as they are popular with families and get a bit crowded.

See our beaches map for locations and more ideas.
Compton Bay sunset
Compton Bay sunsets are hard to beat...
Gurnard sunset
...although Gurnard is pretty good too

3. Walk the West Wight coastal path

If the rain is pouring down and the Island is facing a howling gale...then I wouldn’t go for a walk.

However, if the sun’s shining I would head out for a walk in the West Wight. The West side of the Isle of Wight is much quieter and unspoilt than the amusement arcades and ice cream huts of the East Wight.

The coastal path along the South West of the Isle of Wight is a beautiful walk with massive views and several beaches that you can walk down to.

If you just want a short stroll with a view, try the walk up from the Blackgang viewpoint car park to St. Catherine's Oratory (often called The Pepperpot)

Another favourite short walk of ours in the West Wight is from Freshwater Bay up the hill to the Tennyson Monument on Tennyson Down. On one occasion we had a romantic evening dining out at Freshwater Bay thanks to a touring pizza van. I’m getting a bit emotional just thinking about it.
The Pepperpot
The Pepperpot has fabulous views on a sunny day...
Tennyson Monument
...much like Tennyson Down in Freshwater

4. Book in for afternoon tea or a spa

If you like having cucumbers placed a) on your eyes or b) in your sandwiches then you might consider an afternoon tea or a spa break on the Isle of Wight.

The Bembridge Coast Hotel offers afternoon tea or you might prefer the posh Champagne Tea at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor. We’ve only been to the one at the Royal but enjoyed it greatly. 

Spa day options on the Isle of Wight include Lakeside Park Hotel Spa or Warner's Bembridge Coast Hotel. They've both got swimming pools and offer things like massages, facials and - most importantly - lunch. See our Isle of Wight spa days guide for more suggestions.
Pebbles on back at spa day
No idea what the pebbles achieve, but it makes a nice photo to illustrate a spa day

5. A night at the theatre/cinema

The biggest theatre on the Isle of Wight is Shanklin Theatre which seats 600 and has good quality shows including musicals and that-guy-off-strictly who is doing a national tour. There are lots of other smaller theatres, including artsier ones which are covered in our days out for adults guide.
​
If it’s pouring with rain, you might like the refuge of the 11-screen Cineworld cinema in Newport or the smaller cinema in Ryde.

6. Historic attractions

Is history ideal for a romantic holiday or does it just feel like a school trip where they hand out clipboards and tell you to take brass rubbings?

If you’re interested in Victorian history, Osborne House is worth a visit. Queen Victoria's beach is even nicer than the house (in my opinion) so try and visit on a sunny day. Carisbrooke Castle has terrific views from the keep, but I would say you are very likely to stumble into a school party wearing matching caps.

See our guide to historic attractions for other old stuff including steam trains, lighthouses and piers. Gents, don't drag your wife to a day out at a steam railway unless you are certain that she is genuinely interested.
Osborne House
Osborne House is one of the busiest attractions on the Isle of Wight

​7. Visit an Isle of Wight Vineyard or distillery

There are a few food producers on the Isle of Wight which offer tours and the like.

I would consider Rosemary Vineyard or Adgestone Vineyard if you're into wine or The Isle of Wight Distillery, which is where they make Mermaid Gin.

​For something a bit quirkier, you could go on an organised foraging trip or visit The Garlic Farm.

You could also try making something yourself at somewhere like Whistle and Hound in Freshwater (they make things like candles) or try your hand at woodturning at Mulberry Tree Wood Turnery.

8.  Stand up paddleboarding or swimming

Who doesn’t like a bit of watersports on a romantic weekend? (Stop giggling at the back). Most watersports are a bit cold and hard going for a relaxing break but standup paddleboarding looks idyllic at least.

You can hire equipment from Wight Water Adventure Watersports or Tackt Isle in the East Wight.

Swimming in the sea around the Isle of Wight is a favourite activity of mine, but it does take a certain amount of courage to cope with the temperature. If you fancy it, there are plenty of good swimming beaches to choose from. I enjoy the choppy waters of Compton Bay, but the busy beaches at Appley, Sandown and Shanklin are very popular with swimmers.

Obviously it is wise to read the safety notices when you arrive at the beach, take note of tides and you might also like to check the safer seas map which tells you how clean the seawater is.
Stand up paddleboarding with sunset
"Just one cornetto, give it to meeeee!"

9. Take a ride on a tandem, a boat or a Tuk Tuk

My only tandem dating experience didn't go especially well. There was quite a lot of huffing and puffing and words like "this is much harder than it looks".

However, I am still married to my fellow tandem rider so perhaps it was bonding.

At the time of typing, you can hire tandems from Isle Cycle (Cowes and Sandown), Route 57 (Shanklin) and Wight Cycle Hire (Yarmouth). The Isle of Wight is blessed with a decent length of mostly car-free cycle tracks so you won't be wobbling next to a dual carriageway. Take a look at the Red Squirrel Trail website for routes.

For something which is a bit more quirky and less tiring, take a ride on the Isle of Wight's only Tuk Tuk.

Finally, a boat ride can be good fun although there’s certainly a risk that it will end up with you stuck onboard with noisy children.

However, if you can cope with that  then take a look at Black Rock Cruises which leave from Yarmouth. The Needles Pleasure Cruises are good fun, but it is in the middle of one of the busiest attractions on the Island so you’ll need to time it carefully to avoid school parties.

If you do end up at The Needles, I would visit the Old Battery rather than the Pleasure Park. The small tea rooms at the Old Battery has one of my favourite views on the Isle of Wight - which obviously means it is one of the best views in the world.
Needles Old Battery
The Needles lighthouse from the National Trust's Old Battery

10. Spot a red squirrel or smell some flowers

The Isle of Wight is famous for its red squirrels, which have been overtaken by grey squirrels from the USA on most of the mainland (I'm still working on an analogy for that one). They are notoriously shy and are quite rightly treated like royalty on the Island, with regular exclamatory road signs warning motorists that they should avoid running them over.

If you fancy a walk with the possibility of seeing a red squirrel, I would try Brading Marshes, Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve (near Sandown), Parkhurst Forest (near Newport) or Borthwood Copse (near Sandown). I did see one in my mum's garden once, but it isn't currently open to the public.

If you’re interested in neatly trimmed bushes and blooming flowers, try Ventnor Botanic Garden or Mottistone Manor Gardens.

Ventnor Botanic Garden has lots of plants which shouldn’t really grow in the UK thanks to its sheltered and sunny spot. Mottistone Manor Gardens is a National Trust property which is very well presented (warning: there’s a risk of bumping into my children during school holidays).

As mentioned earlier, Shanklin Chine is a pretty attraction. It’s essentially a gorge which leads from Shanklin's twee thatched village to the beach but it is a nice wander and there’s a tearooms you can visit. It's illuminated at night for an extra bit of romance.
Mottistone Manor Gardens
Mottistone Manor Gardens is free to National Trust members
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ The information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check opening times and details with attractions directly if you are planning a long journey - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. 

Related guides from Isle of Wight Guru: