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What Time Of Year Should I Visit The Isle Of Wight? 2024 Guide
Most holidays on the Isle of Wight happen in summer, for the obvious reason that you are less likely to spend a week watching raindrops dribbling down the window of your self-catering cottage whilst the children do somersaults on the sofa.
But summer isn't the only option - there are lots of advantages to visiting the Isle of Wight in spring, autumn or even in the depths of winter.
Here's our guide to choosing which time of year to visit the Isle of Wight.
But summer isn't the only option - there are lots of advantages to visiting the Isle of Wight in spring, autumn or even in the depths of winter.
Here's our guide to choosing which time of year to visit the Isle of Wight.
Ventnor in peak season
Option 1: School summer holidays (late July and August)
The Isle of Wight claims to have the best weather in the UK. This may or may not be true, but your greatest chance of a warm week is obviously in the summer.
The amount of rain stays at a pretty low level between May and August (5-6 dry days a week) and the warmest months are July and August (average of 20 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees). You'll get an average of six hours of sunshine a day in July, or 5.5 hours a day in August.
The amount of rain stays at a pretty low level between May and August (5-6 dry days a week) and the warmest months are July and August (average of 20 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees). You'll get an average of six hours of sunshine a day in July, or 5.5 hours a day in August.
Cowes Week coincides with higher accommodation costs
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Beaches like Shanklin rent out a lot of deckchairs in August
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However, unless you own either school-age children or a yacht (for Cowes Week) I would probably avoid late July and the whole of August on the Isle of Wight. The ferries and accommodation are both very busy so you will pay more than you would outside of school holidays (see our guides to cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel and cheap Isle of Wight accommodation for advice).
Don't get me wrong - you can still have a low-cost holiday on the Isle of Wight in August. However, you'll need to take a car full and stay somewhere like a caravan or camping site or fill up a self-catering cottage and then do lots of free things. It just won't be quite as cheap as off season.
The Island's wiggly roads are busy and some of the attractions are bursting at the seams. When I worked at one of the Isle of Wight's bigger tourist attractions, I used to fear the end of the summer school term and the oncoming charge of a thousand people-carriers with roofboxes. I should point out that I am now a proud roofbox owner.
In early August, Cowes Week ramps up the busyness. The town is bustling and it's a great day out to watch the yachts on the Solent or some music in the marina. However, you will pay more for the ferry and for places to stay (some self-catering places in Cowes double their prices for Cowes Week).
There are also carnivals in August and big events like the Chale Show and the Garlic Festival. See our guide to major festivals.
If you're a dog owner, bear in mind that there are restrictions on the most family-friendly beaches from May to September. Don't panic though, there are also several beaches which are dog friendly all year round.
Don't get me wrong - you can still have a low-cost holiday on the Isle of Wight in August. However, you'll need to take a car full and stay somewhere like a caravan or camping site or fill up a self-catering cottage and then do lots of free things. It just won't be quite as cheap as off season.
The Island's wiggly roads are busy and some of the attractions are bursting at the seams. When I worked at one of the Isle of Wight's bigger tourist attractions, I used to fear the end of the summer school term and the oncoming charge of a thousand people-carriers with roofboxes. I should point out that I am now a proud roofbox owner.
In early August, Cowes Week ramps up the busyness. The town is bustling and it's a great day out to watch the yachts on the Solent or some music in the marina. However, you will pay more for the ferry and for places to stay (some self-catering places in Cowes double their prices for Cowes Week).
There are also carnivals in August and big events like the Chale Show and the Garlic Festival. See our guide to major festivals.
If you're a dog owner, bear in mind that there are restrictions on the most family-friendly beaches from May to September. Don't panic though, there are also several beaches which are dog friendly all year round.
Option 2: Summer outside of school holidays (June, early July)
If you aren't tied by school holidays but warm weather is still a priority then I would strongly consider visiting the Isle of Wight in June or early July.
Rainfall is low (5-6 dry days a week) and the temperature averages about 18 degrees in June and 20 degrees in July. You can expect an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day in June or 6 hours of sunshine per day in July.
The roads, ferries and beaches are busy but certainly not as bustling as they are in August. Some of the bigger attractions are full of coach parties of schoolchildren on residential weeks but there are lots of days out for grown ups too.
Rainfall is low (5-6 dry days a week) and the temperature averages about 18 degrees in June and 20 degrees in July. You can expect an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day in June or 6 hours of sunshine per day in July.
The roads, ferries and beaches are busy but certainly not as bustling as they are in August. Some of the bigger attractions are full of coach parties of schoolchildren on residential weeks but there are lots of days out for grown ups too.
Beaches like Freshwater Bay look best in summer
Unless you are a music fan, avoid the Isle of Wight Festival weekend. It's usually around the second or third weekend in June and sees about 60,000 people pour onto Seaclose Park in Newport to get sunburnt. Ferry prices and accommodation prices go up during the festival as demand is so high. You will occasionally find special offers that actually make the ferry cheaper during the Isle of Wight Festival but you have to be very on-the-ball to get these.
Watch out for the Whitsun half term that usually falls in late May or early June (check dates here). It's a good time to visit if you have children, but otherwise I would avoid the week as it gets pretty busy.
The Round the Island Yacht Race is usually in late June or early July and is a fabulous spectacle.
Watch out for the Whitsun half term that usually falls in late May or early June (check dates here). It's a good time to visit if you have children, but otherwise I would avoid the week as it gets pretty busy.
The Round the Island Yacht Race is usually in late June or early July and is a fabulous spectacle.
Unless you've got a ticket, avoid the Isle of Wight Festival
Looking for self catering cottages on the Isle of Wight? Try Hoseasons or HolidayCottages.co.uk
Option 3: Spring or Autumn (March to May, September to October)
Autumn and Spring are good options for an Isle of Wight holiday if you want to avoid the crowds, save some money but still make the most of all the attractions.
As a general rule, all the seasonal attractions re-emerge from their wintery slumber around March and stay open until around late October or November. There are plenty which stay open all year round (see the winter guide) but certainly not all of them.
As for weather, you're a bit more likely to get drenched in Autumn than in the Spring. You can expect 5 dry days a week in Spring, compared to 4 or 5 dry days a week in Autumn.
However, the average temperatures are higher in the Autumn (15-18 degrees on average) than the Spring (10-15 degrees on average). In April, May and September there's an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. That drops by an hour in March and October to 4.5 hours per day.
For that reason, we like May and September when you can hope for two or three good days in a week to visit the beach and then go to wet weather places on the other days if you need to.
If you are tied to school holidays, then Easter or the summer term half term is a good time to visit. All the attractions will be open (and pretty busy), but you won't pay quite as much for accommodation as you would in August. The half term at the end of October might be a bit wet but it's statistically warmer than much of Spring.
There are quite a few decent festivals and events in the Spring and Autumn on the Isle of Wight. You can time your holiday around them without paying the inflated prices that you will if you combine your holiday with the Isle of Wight Festival (June) or Cowes Week (August).
Spring festival highlights include a walking festival in May whilst in October there is a literary festival (see our guide to festivals).
In September you might find some of the staff at attractions looking a bit shell-shocked after a frenetic August.
As a general rule, all the seasonal attractions re-emerge from their wintery slumber around March and stay open until around late October or November. There are plenty which stay open all year round (see the winter guide) but certainly not all of them.
As for weather, you're a bit more likely to get drenched in Autumn than in the Spring. You can expect 5 dry days a week in Spring, compared to 4 or 5 dry days a week in Autumn.
However, the average temperatures are higher in the Autumn (15-18 degrees on average) than the Spring (10-15 degrees on average). In April, May and September there's an average of 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. That drops by an hour in March and October to 4.5 hours per day.
For that reason, we like May and September when you can hope for two or three good days in a week to visit the beach and then go to wet weather places on the other days if you need to.
If you are tied to school holidays, then Easter or the summer term half term is a good time to visit. All the attractions will be open (and pretty busy), but you won't pay quite as much for accommodation as you would in August. The half term at the end of October might be a bit wet but it's statistically warmer than much of Spring.
There are quite a few decent festivals and events in the Spring and Autumn on the Isle of Wight. You can time your holiday around them without paying the inflated prices that you will if you combine your holiday with the Isle of Wight Festival (June) or Cowes Week (August).
Spring festival highlights include a walking festival in May whilst in October there is a literary festival (see our guide to festivals).
In September you might find some of the staff at attractions looking a bit shell-shocked after a frenetic August.
Option 4: Winter (November, December, January and February)
English holiday resorts in winter may not seem immediately appealing. Let's be honest, you will be lucky to dodge the rain completely, even on the Isle of Wight.
The rainfall peaks from October to January and then tails off in February. You can expect about four dry days a week on average.
Temperatures average 8-12 degrees on the Isle of Wight in winter. November is the warmest month but it's also the wettest. Sunshine hours bobble around 3.5 hours per day on average. Of course, you will get some days with zero sunshine and other days that are genuinely pleasant. February is the least sunny month, the others are all about the same.
The rainfall peaks from October to January and then tails off in February. You can expect about four dry days a week on average.
Temperatures average 8-12 degrees on the Isle of Wight in winter. November is the warmest month but it's also the wettest. Sunshine hours bobble around 3.5 hours per day on average. Of course, you will get some days with zero sunshine and other days that are genuinely pleasant. February is the least sunny month, the others are all about the same.
Fancy a swim?
However, there are numerous advantages to visiting the Isle of Wight in winter. The ferry crossing is pretty cheap (perhaps £50 to £100 if you get your accommodation provider to book it for you - e.g. Away Resorts, Warner Leisure or Parkdean Resorts).
Parking on seafronts is generally free and easy. The roads are quieter. Holiday park accommodation is practically given away (excluding Christmas) and those attractions that stay open are nice and quiet. Dog owners can also rejoice, as the restrictions on beaches only apply from May to September.
We've got three relevant guides:
We also wrote a blog for the Huffington Post on this topic.
There are some special events around Christmas at places like Osborne House, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and Robin Hill.
Of course, for some people, ticketed 'attractions' are far from attractive. If you want to explore the Isle of Wight's rich natural landscape with stops at country pubs then winter is very appealing (bring a coat, just in case). Here's our guide to the best circular walks of 3-9 miles.
On a related note, the Isle of Wight got some celebrity winter visitors a few years ago. Actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart caused a few pints to be spilled when they walked into the Spyglass in Ventnor for New Year's Eve. Although to be honest, my Mum wouldn't have known who they were if they knocked on the door whilst holding a Twilight DVD and name badges.
Parking on seafronts is generally free and easy. The roads are quieter. Holiday park accommodation is practically given away (excluding Christmas) and those attractions that stay open are nice and quiet. Dog owners can also rejoice, as the restrictions on beaches only apply from May to September.
We've got three relevant guides:
- 15 winter days out on the Isle of Wight
- 35 rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight.
- An itinerary for a rainy holiday
We also wrote a blog for the Huffington Post on this topic.
There are some special events around Christmas at places like Osborne House, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and Robin Hill.
Of course, for some people, ticketed 'attractions' are far from attractive. If you want to explore the Isle of Wight's rich natural landscape with stops at country pubs then winter is very appealing (bring a coat, just in case). Here's our guide to the best circular walks of 3-9 miles.
On a related note, the Isle of Wight got some celebrity winter visitors a few years ago. Actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart caused a few pints to be spilled when they walked into the Spyglass in Ventnor for New Year's Eve. Although to be honest, my Mum wouldn't have known who they were if they knocked on the door whilst holding a Twilight DVD and name badges.
Something different? How about staying in an Isle of Wight manor house or a quirky property.
Conclusion
There isn't a bad time to visit the Isle of Wight - it just depends on what you want from your holiday, what your budget is and how flexible you are.
Summer holidays are quite obviously peak season. Everything's busy - the ferries, the accommodation, the pubs, the attractions, the beaches and the roads. You'll spend more time in queues and pay more for the experience. The good news is that it's always possible to find a quiet corner on the Isle of Wight if you know where to look.
You'll also be rewarded with better weather (hopefully), a holiday atmosphere and interesting festivals and carnivals. It should still be a lot nicer than a week during peak season with food poisoning in a pokey Portuguese apartment.
Summer outside of the school holidays is recommended if you want the weather and the attractions but don't want to pay quite so much. Of course, that's no use if you have little ones at school so I won't keep harping on about that one too much.
Spring and autumn are good options if you are happy to do a mix of weather reliant attractions (e.g. walking, beaches) and all-weather days out, historic attractions, zoos and wildlife parks. There are some nice smaller festivals to tie into your visit. Spring and autumn are also good for a low-cost holiday to the Isle of Wight (you can get cheap ferries and accommodation).
Winter is worth considering if you want to enjoy the Isle of Wight's natural beauty, rather than its tourist attractions or if you prefer admiring the sea from a distance rather than stripping off down to your pants and diving in (I Iike both). There's still plenty to do in winter if you know where to look, and you won't be fighting for a parking space or paying very much for the ferry. However, don't expect lots of sunny days and pack a nice thick coat.
Summer holidays are quite obviously peak season. Everything's busy - the ferries, the accommodation, the pubs, the attractions, the beaches and the roads. You'll spend more time in queues and pay more for the experience. The good news is that it's always possible to find a quiet corner on the Isle of Wight if you know where to look.
You'll also be rewarded with better weather (hopefully), a holiday atmosphere and interesting festivals and carnivals. It should still be a lot nicer than a week during peak season with food poisoning in a pokey Portuguese apartment.
Summer outside of the school holidays is recommended if you want the weather and the attractions but don't want to pay quite so much. Of course, that's no use if you have little ones at school so I won't keep harping on about that one too much.
Spring and autumn are good options if you are happy to do a mix of weather reliant attractions (e.g. walking, beaches) and all-weather days out, historic attractions, zoos and wildlife parks. There are some nice smaller festivals to tie into your visit. Spring and autumn are also good for a low-cost holiday to the Isle of Wight (you can get cheap ferries and accommodation).
Winter is worth considering if you want to enjoy the Isle of Wight's natural beauty, rather than its tourist attractions or if you prefer admiring the sea from a distance rather than stripping off down to your pants and diving in (I Iike both). There's still plenty to do in winter if you know where to look, and you won't be fighting for a parking space or paying very much for the ferry. However, don't expect lots of sunny days and pack a nice thick coat.
Data from worldweatheronline, the Met Office and Isleofwightweather. Temperatures in celsius (sorry Grandad).
