Charles Dickens Trail on the Isle of Wight

The Charles Dickens Trail has been created as a tribute to the 175th anniversary of Charles Dickens last visit to the Isle of Wight in the summer of 1849 with his family.

The 6.3 mile walk uncovers some of the hidden gems connected to Charles Dickens life. The interactive trail starts in the coastal village of Shanklin and takes you across the Downs to the traditional seaside resort of Ventnor and finishing at the charming village of Bonchurch.

The trail guides you to the holiday home and other locations Charles Dickens visited during his time on the Isle of Wight.

Hillside Cottage & Ventnor Cemetery on the Isle of Wight

Creative writer in the Victorian era

Charles Dickens brought to life a view of humankind and the societal circumstances that surrounded it during the Victorian period. Dickens wrote 15 novels, five novellas and hundreds of short stories as well as over 14,000 letters.

Global superstar

One of Dickens many fans included Queen Victoria who found his writing ‘excessively interesting’. By 1849 Charles Dickens became something of a global superstar and he needed to find somewhere he could balance the need for privacy, find inspiration and entertain. The Isle of Wight offered the perfect place to work and relax.

Echoes of Dickens: Words brought to life

Hear the words of Charles Dickens that are brought to life by his family during the trail allowing you to discover the experience of his visits to the Isle of Wight. All the quotes are accessible via QR codes that can be found on the leaflet below.