Bembridge village

You can’t get much further east on the Isle of Wight than Bembridge but it’s worth travelling to this Island extremity for a real taste of village life.

From a wonderful windmill to a picturesque harbour, three delightful beaches and a bustling village centre packed with shops and places to eat, this is the quintessential village experience.

So much so that it was voted National Village of the Year in 2019.

Bembridge is one of the biggest villages in England with a population in excess of 3,500, and it has plenty to see and brilliant walks along the coastal path, looking out over the Eastern Solent at Palmerston’s Follies – a series of 19th century forts built to protect the naval port of Portsmouth and The Solent. These days, one is a luxury home while St Helen’s Fort is accessible on foot at extreme low tides, although extreme caution is needed.

Things to do

Culver Down is a fantastic vantage point looking down on Bembridge and Sandown. It’s a good hike up to the top but you can reward yourself with a pint and a bite at the Culver Haven Inn at the top.

Browse the fantastic shops in the High Street. From an award-winning butcher to bakeries and delicatessens, plus clothes and homeware outlets, interspersed with pubs, restaurants and cafes.

The National Trust operates Bembridge Windmill, the only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight. It is open to the public and you can climb to the top and find out how it once operated as a working mill.

The Bembridge RNLI station is one of the most spectacular in Britain, rising out of the Solent and housing inshore and offshore lifeboats. The station is generally open to the public and weekly launches are staged during the summer months (callouts permitting).

Bembridge Harbour is huge and houses two yacht clubs and hundreds of pleasure craft, houseboats and fishing vessels. Stroll along The Embankment or visit one of the cafes and eateries along this beautiful road.

Places to eat and drink

Counting the Culver Haven Inn, there are five pubs in Bembridge, from the clifftop Crab and Lobster with its stunning vistas to the harbourside Pilot Boat, home to the Wight Knuckle brewery.

The Birdham is a Bembridge fixture and has recently had new owners in an established Isle of Wight pub owning family.  It offers a great range of pub classics.

There are food choices for all tastes but be sure to check out the seafood at The Best Dressed Crab on the harbour. 

For a traditional English restaurant in the heart of the village, try Fox’s Restaurant, which serves great food using locally-sourced ingredients.

Places to stay

There are numerous hotel, bed and breakfast and self-catering options in the area.

With over twenty self catering holiday homes in Bembridge, Wight Coast Holidays will provide you with the perfect place to stay.

For a luxurious stay, in a stunning location, take a look at Warner Leisure’s Bembridge Coast Hotel.

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park has the benefit of sitting just above one of the best kept “secret” beaches on the Isle of Wight. This award-winning park has loads of things to do on site as well.

If you are looking for something a little different for your stay, then Houseboat Islay on Embankment Road could float your boat. The super setting on Bembridge Harbour is reason enough, but it is just a short stroll to the village shops, pubs and restaurants.

Bembridge has any number of holiday cottages to let and 4 The Nab House is so convenient for the beach and village centre.

Or, how about Dolphin Cottage with its luxurious interior and village centre setting.

Tourist information

If you want to know more about what’s happening in the village, visit the Tourist Information Point in the library at the centre of the village.

Getting there and getting around

Ryde’s ferry links are closest to Bembridge and Southern Vectis’s number 8 bus and seasonal Downs Breezer sightseeing bus serve the village.

The nearest Island Line train station is Brading.