Isle of Wight

This afternoon, you meet your Tour Manager and the rest of your group in Portsmouth. Beginning your adventure, you board the catamaran for the short journey to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. From here, you join the rail service down the scenic east coast to Sandown. This delightful Victorian seaside resort has lovely sandy beaches and great views over the English Channel. After checking into your hotel, there's time to freshen up before dinner this evening.

• Dinner

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, your group continues to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's family holiday home. The house was designed by Prince Albert himself to mirror an Italian palazzo and was a favourite retreat for Queen Victoria. Explore the exquisite state rooms and private royal apartments at leisure. As you wander the rooms, you'll notice a difference between the opulent rooms in the wing known as 'the Pavilion' and the more comfortable and homely setting of the apartments. Outside, you can stroll through the manicured gardens and make your way to the pretty beach that's now open to the public. For lunch, you could dine in the elegant Terrace Restaurant and Orangery or enjoy soup and snacks at the café in the Petty Officers' Quarters.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, you experience a panoramic island tour, taking in some of the Isle of Wight's best attractions. Beginning 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. Your group then heads 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, the coach takes you to 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. There's time at leisure to discover its thatched buildings, Medieval church and even its own model village, with scale models of Shanklin and Godshill villages as they were in the 1920s.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, you discover the Isle of Wight's heritage railway. After travelling by rail to Smallbrook Junction, your group boards 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, there's a stop at Havenstreet where you can visit the interesting Carriage and Wagon Workshop.

Returning to your hotel, the afternoon is at leisure. The Revetment is a seawall walk from Sandown to Shanklin and a great way to admire the vistas of the bay. Alternatively, you could stroll along Sandown Pier taking in the traditional seaside atmosphere or find a peaceful spot along the miles of golden sand and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. You rejoin your group at the hotel for your last dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

It's time to begin the journey home this morning. Leaving Sandown behind, your group travels by rail to Ryde, where you catch the catamaran back to Portsmouth. Once you've said goodbye to your fellow travellers, you can make your way home, or continue exploring on your own.

• Breakfast