Say Yes to the Isle of Wight this Winter!

The now deserted beaches, quiet roads, and still landscapes amplify the peace and tranquillity of the Island if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, but there’s still plenty to do for a family break.

With great value deals on places to stay and ferries, winter is a great time of year to visit the Island!

Say YES to winter wanders and cosy pubs

The Island’s coastline and beaches provide a striking backdrop for winter walks. The sea is spectacular, the sunsets breath-taking, and you can walk for miles without seeing another soul. 

Inland there is a further expanse of footpaths and walkways through the many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to explore, weaving around and through some of the Island’s most picturesque towns and villages.  

All that walking can work up an appetite, so get your bobble hat on, don your wellies and book yourself a table to defrost whilst enjoying some of the Isle of Wight best food and drink.

Less than a mile away from the beautiful 12th Century Shalfleet Church, you’ll find Shalfleet Quay and the Newtown estuary, perfect for walkers and bird watchers. 

If a 400 year-old pub with spectacular views across miles of open countryside to the Western Solent sounds like the place for you, then head to the Blacksmiths. You could cycle the three miles from Carisbrooke and feel very virtuous before tucking into a Sunday roast with plenty of locally sourced produce on the menu. Perfect for chilly winter days.

Join the regulars at the Pointer Inn for pie and a pint of real ale in this popular Isle of Wight pub. Renowned for its generous portions and locally grown produce, you’ll find there’s something delicious on the menu for everyone, and they have the most indulgent desserts!

Explore Culver Down before feasting at the 18th century Ye Olde Village Inn in Bembridge. The local farm shop and Woodfords the butchers almost opposite the pub provide much of the menu fare. The specials change daily to include locally reared meats, fish from the harbour, and there’s an interesting wine and ale menu to choose from.

Noted for its fish and shellfish, The Highdown Inn is the best place to end up after a walk up Tennyson Down. When you’ve got your breath back, settle down in front of the fire and enjoy pies, slow cooked meats, and seasonal vegetables. You’ll deserve it after a trek on the Down!

The best way to see the Isle of Wight is on foot, on your bike or by bus and the ‘drive less, see more’ ethos on the Island means that you get to see all of the things that might otherwise pass you by. 

Say YES to discovering the Island’s heritage

With the Isle of Wight’s rich history, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to heritage attractions, museums and galleries. Queen Victoria’s Royal Palace by the Sea at Osborne is open weekends through to mid-February, along with the impressive Carisbrooke Castle, where King Charles I was famously imprisoned. The Brading Roman Villa provides a welcoming indoor stop with its award-winning visitor centre and fully licensed café.

Over on the west side of the Island, Dimbola Museum and Galleries, the former home of acclaimed Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, hosts year round exhibitions including displays on the Isle of Wight Festival, with a great choice of refreshments in their award-winning café.

One of the most striking examples of architecture on the Isle of Wight is the impressive Quarr Abbey, which is home to a small group of Benedictine monks. The Abbey is open all year round for visitors. You’ll also discover a visitor centre exploring the lives of the resident monks, a teashop, and a well-stocked farm shop showcasing some fabulous local produce, much of which is grown and made on site at Quarr.

Discover more attractions you can visit this Winter here.

Say YES to a Wight Christmas

Be enchanted by the magic of a Wight Christmas with a whole programme of festive events on the Island: unique Christmas markets, children’s entertainment, pantomimes, live music, Christmas lights, festive food & drink, special events and much more! Find out more about Christmas on the Isle of Wight here.

Say YES to a fun-filled February half-term

There may be a chill in the air but on the sunny Isle of Wight there’s always lots happening for the half-term holidays!

Take your little monkeys to see the real thing at the Island’s Monkey Haven and delight in the singing Lar Gibbons, cheeky Meerkats, slithering snakes and the cutest owls. Perfect for little and bigger kids alike who will love the keeper talks and rescue stories.

There are plenty of free activities to get you and your family out and about over half term. Go beachcombing at Compton Bay where you can see fossilised dinosaur footprints at low tide and you may even find fossils to take home. Or take a bracing walk up Tennyson Down and enjoy spectacular views over the West Wight. Go on a guided birdwatching walk at Newtown and enjoy the multitude of species that the Island enjoys or just join one of the many walking paths or cycle trails across the Island and take in the scenery.

Head to our Spring page to check out what's happening during February Half-Term on the Isle of Wight.

Say YES to starry nights

The Isle of Wight is a perfect destination for eager stargazers in winter. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with light pollution kept to a minimum, as well as a mild climate, stargazing on the Island is a great night-time activity for the whole family.

Fort Victoria Country Park is a Dark Sky Discovery Site and the car park is an easily accessible observing site with hard surface parking and level access for wheelchairs. 

Say YES to an Isle of Wight winter adventure!

Whatever you decide to do, it’s easy to get to the Isle of Wight this winter by car, passenger ferry and hovercraft. And with great links to all of the connecting ferry ports, getting here by train from anywhere in the UK is easy too.