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Isle of Wight

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4.2 stars(57 reviews)
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The scenic charms of the Isle of Wight

5 days From £429 £379 per person
Online Only Offer

Online only offer for selected UK 2023 holidays.

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2023 Tour code: 23IWS

About the tour

Experience a wonderful five-day holiday to the lovely Isle of Wight. With half of the island designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', this tour takes in the best of its scenic charms.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sandown

Meet in Portsmouth and board the catamaran for the short journey to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. From here, join the rail service down the scenic east coast to Sandown. This delightful Victorian seaside resort boasts sandy beaches and views over the English Channel. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for a four-night stay.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Osborne House

Your first visit today is to St Mildred's Church in Whippingham, an ornate church with close links to the royal family. After time to look around, continue to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's family holiday home. The house was designed by Prince Albert himself to mirror an Italian palazzo. The house was a favourite retreat for Queen Victoria and it is here where she died in 1901. You're free to explore the exquisite state rooms and private royal apartments. It's interesting to note the difference between the opulent rooms in the wing known as 'the Pavilion' and the more comfortable and homely setting of the apartments. Outside, explore the manicured gardens or maybe make your way to the pretty beach that's now open to the public.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Tour of the island

Enjoy a panoramic island tour, taking in some of the Isle of Wight's best attractions. Begin at the cliffs overlooking the area's white 'needles'. These striking formations are an iconic sight of the Isle of Wight, with distinctive stacks of chalk rising out of the sea. Continue to Yarmouth to admire the views from its charming harbour. Bursting with history, explore the cobbled streets lined with quaint shops and cafés, and the main square, overlooked by the town's church. Later, visit historic Carisbrooke Castle. This English Heritage site is famous for serving as a royal prison to Charles I during the civil war, and today it's the location of the Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden. You end the day at picturesque Godshill, a quintessentially English village with historic architecture.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Discover the Isle of Wight's heritage railway. Begin by taking the island's public train from Sandown to Smallbrook Junction, where you board the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for a return journey to Wootton. This beautiful line dates back to 1862 and winds through unspoilt countryside, traversing the heart of the island past scenic woodland, lush meadows, and picture-book towns. This is a wonderful way to explore the Isle of Wight; the train takes you back to the 'Golden Age' of rail as it journeys through rolling countryside, pulled by a charming steam locomotive. Along the way, stop at Havenstreet for a visit to the interesting Carriage and Wagon Workshop.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Portsmouth & home

Take the train to Ryde and board the catamaran back to Portsmouth. Here you're free to depart.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

Departure times

On many of our UK & Ireland tours, you may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Trouville Hotel, Isle of Wight

Trouville Hotel, Isle of Wight

View hotel

Train

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

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Upgrades

UK rail connections
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Reviews

4.2 stars4.2 / 5 · 57 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (25)
  2. 4 stars
    (24)
  3. 3 stars
    (6)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (2)

Judith Billingham

5 stars

Submitted 05 Oct 2022

We enjoyed all of it and were pleased we could visit all the places as originally arranged, and watch the Queen's funeral

Collected by Trustpilot

J Redfern

5 stars

Submitted 05 Oct 2022

We appreciated seeing everything in the itinerary despite plans needing to be changed due to the Queen's funeral. The hotel was well run and the weather was good.

Collected by Trustpilot

Tony Dadoun

4 stars

Submitted 03 Oct 2022

Good value for money,well organised and reasonably adaptable when things didnt go according to plan. Would recommend as a brief introduction to the Island.

Collected by Trustpilot

Peter Gamble

5 stars

Submitted 28 Sep 2022

Lovely island, plenty to do and see.

Collected by Trustpilot

Sally Ashman

5 stars

Submitted 28 Sep 2022

A good hotel, although sadly, Sandown currently is quite rundown, like many seaside resorts. The staff were very hard working and efficient. Pleasant and clean room and good shower ! Would have preferred not to have had 3 nights of a lone singer in evenings, perhaps a film or games instead. Enjoyed the choice of food. A well organised trip and a wonderful, unflappable tour guide! An interesting island, the highlights for me, were Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle. Excellent coach drivers, with good information. Thank you....

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Taylor

4 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2022

A good itinerary which had to be amended as a result of the funeral of HM The Queen, which would have been spoiled if it had not been rescued by the hard work of the Newmarket travel guide, David Parmley, who worked tirelessly to ensure that as much of the itinerary was saved.

Collected by Trustpilot

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