Just a short hop from London, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a weekend escape. We crossed the Solent by hovercraft, cycled along coastal roads, stopped for ice cream in Shanklin, enjoyed a Sunday roast in Ventnor, and explored landmarks like Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House. Whether you come by bike, bus or car, the island’s mix of beaches, history and countryside makes it a trip to remember.
Overview
The Isle of Wight has a way of packing in a little bit of everything – seaside resorts, dramatic chalk cliffs, fortified churches, Victorian gardens and royal palaces. Just a short journey from London, it makes for an easy but rewarding weekend escape.
We decided to explore by bike, but the island is equally accessible by car, bus or even the quaint little Island Line train. What follows is our account of two days cycling across the island, filled with coastal rides, hearty pub lunches, and a good dose of English history.
Getting to the Isle of Wight
Our adventure started early, with the 8am train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea. From there it was just a short walk to Southsea Hoverport, where we boarded the hovercraft to Ryde.
The crossing only takes 10 minutes, skimming across the Solent, and is quite a unique experience compared with the slower ferry. One thing we noticed: if you buy the combined train and hovercraft ticket, it works out cheaper and more flexible than buying them separately from the operator’s website.
Another plus is that you can bring bulky items like bikes on board – space permitting – and if not, the next hovercraft isn’t far behind. If you are short on time and can only visit for a day, you can get a round-trip hovercraft journey to the Isle of Wight here.
For those not keen on the hovercraft, regular ferry services also run from Portsmouth. Drivers can bring their cars across, while foot passengers can connect easily to buses and trains once on the island.
If you only have a day for Isle of Wight, you could consider this Isle of Wight Day Trip Including Osborne House from London.
Getting Around the Isle of Wight
We opted for bikes, which gave us complete freedom to explore the coastline and countryside at our own pace. Be warned though: the Isle of Wight is hilly in parts, and some of the climbs will test your legs. That said, the descents more than make up for it!
If cycling isn’t your thing, public transport is a good alternative. The Island Line train runs from Ryde to Shanklin, and Southern Vectis buses cover most of the island.
For the greatest flexibility, a car hire might be the easiest option, especially if you want to fit in several attractions in a short space of time. Use the widget below to find a car hire for you.
Where to Stay at the Isle of Wight
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, we would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. Use the widget below to find the best accommodation at the Isle of Wight for your specific dates.
We found accommodation on the island to be rather expensive but it is true that we went during school holidays and during the August bank holiday weekend. We did choose to book accommodation via AirBnB.
Day 1 – From Ryde to the Needles
Stop in Sandown
From Ryde we headed south to Sandown, a popular resort on the east coast. Even in the morning, the beach terraces were busy with people enjoying the sunshine, sipping cold drinks and soaking up the sea air.
Sandown has a traditional seaside charm with its long sandy beach, and we could see why it draws both locals and visitors.
Wander Through Shanklin
Next came Shanklin, a town well known for its thatched cottages and winding lanes. We stopped for an ice cream at Beach Cafe 34– the weather was too good not to – and had a wander past the chocolate-box houses with their straw roofs.
Very picturesque, and well worth a pause for photos. There’s also Shanklin Chine, a gorge and botanical garden that dates back to Victorian times. We skipped it this time for lack of time, but it remains a popular attraction.
Browsing the shops, we stumbled across a Christmas shop that stays open year-round – quirky, but fun to poke around in.
Ride to Ventnor and Lunch in Niton
From Shanklin, we pedalled on to Ventnor, a town nestled on the island’s southern coast. After, we went to Niton where we stopped at The Buddle Inn, a cosy pub, for Sunday lunch with a nice view of the sea and a welcoming atmosphere.
For readers unfamiliar with the tradition, a Sunday roast is a classic British meal served on Sundays, usually featuring roasted meat, seasonal vegetables, crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
I chose the beef roast, which was tender and delicious, while Hristina went for the lamb, which sadly wasn’t cooked to perfection; the fat hadn’t been fully rendered, making it a bit chewy.
The vegetables were flavoursome though, even if the parsnip had caught a little too much in the oven. A pint of local cider rounded off the meal nicely.
For dessert, I indulged in a sticky toffee pudding, although it was more like a sponge with toffee sauce than the traditional rich pudding, and a touch too sweet for my taste.
Ride Along the Military Road
After lunch, we hit the road again – the Military Road, to be precise. This scenic coastal stretch gave us some challenging climbs, but also stunning views out across the sea.
We paused at Compton Bay, where sunbathers were out in force, the white cliffs behind them glowing in the sunshine. After a much-needed rest, we tackled another steep climb, rewarded with a thrilling downhill ride full of adrenaline. This stretch alone made the cycle worthwhile.
The Needles Viewpoint
By late afternoon, we arrived at the Needles, the island’s most iconic landmark. Jagged chalk stacks jutting out into the sea, they’re best seen from the headland.
The official viewpoint is a bit further back than we’d have liked, but still gave us a good glimpse. For those with more energy, climbing to the higher ground would give even better views.
By this point, we were too tired to take on another hill, and still had an hour’s ride to reach our Airbnb.
Dinner turned into a challenge – it was a bank holiday weekend and everywhere was fully booked. We’d hoped for a meal at the Red Lion Inn in Freshwater but didn’t manage to get a table.
In the end, we picked up some ready-made meals at a supermarket before heading to our Airbnb, which happened to be near an Alpaca Farm. At least it made for some fun photos the next morning!
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Day 2 – Castles and Palaces
Breakfast in Newport
We started our second day in Newport, the island’s regional capital. Breakfast was at The Man in the Moon, an old church converted into a Wetherspoons pub.
Nothing fancy, but their English fry-up hit the spot. Even Hristina went for the full “Big Breakfast”, which says a lot after the long day we’d had before.
Carisbrooke Castle
From Newport, we cycled to Carisbrooke Castle, one of the island’s most historic sites. Built as a fortress, it later became famous as the prison of King Charles I during the English Civil War.
The castle reminded us of Warwick Castle, with high walls and towers, and we enjoyed walking along the ramparts. The views across the island and up to the northern coastline were spectacular in the clear weather.
📍Location: Castle Hill, Newport PO30 1XY
🕒Time Needed: 2-3 hours
🌟Best Time to Visit: Early morning to avoid crowds
🎟 Price: $$
ℹ️Note: Book in advance if going during peak times
Ride to Cowes
Next came a leisurely ride by a canal to Cowes, one of the island’s most famous towns, especially for sailing. We stopped for lunch at The Fountain Inn, sitting outside in 30-degree sunshine.
I had lamb leg with mint gravy, which was tender and flavourful, while Hristina went for the classic fish and chips. Sadly, her fish tasted of oil that had been reused a few times, though the batter was well done. Still, a chilled cider in the sun made up for any shortcomings.
Exploring Cowes’ old town, we found Paradice ice cream parlour and treated ourselves to sundaes – a refreshing way to enjoy the afternoon.
Osborne House
From Cowes, we crossed to East Cowes using the “Floating Bridge”, a short ferry that costs just £1. Then it was on to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s summer palace.
Built for her and Prince Albert, it’s filled with their personal belongings, grand rooms, and treasures from around the world.
Highlights included the lavish Indian dining room, the ornate furniture and, perhaps most movingly, the bedroom where Queen Victoria passed away. Outside, the palace gardens were a joy to wander, especially the fountain terrace overlooking the Solent.
Though the ticket price is steep at around £26 per person in 2025, we found the visit worthwhile. For those with more time, there’s also a private beach and the Swiss Cottage to explore.
📍Location: York Ave, East Cowes PO32 6JX
🕒Time Needed: 2-3 hours
🌟Best Time to Visit: Early morning to avoid crowds
🎟 Price: $$
ℹ️Note: Book in advance if going during peak times
Returning to London
After Osborne House, we cycled back towards Ryde, taking the evening hovercraft across to Portsmouth. From there, the 7pm train brought us straight back to London Waterloo, tired but happy after a full weekend.
Final Thoughts
The Isle of Wight is an easy and rewarding escape from London. With its beaches, historic castles, grand Victorian palaces and cosy pubs, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
Whether you choose to cycle, drive or rely on public transport, the island is manageable over a weekend. Just remember to book restaurants in advance if travelling on a bank holiday weekend, and be prepared for a few challenging hills if you bring your bike.
The views and experiences are worth every bit of effort.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com, Trip.com or Agoda to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider Rentalcars.com for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Travel insurance – check SafetyWing for travel medical insurance that works for you and your specific needs.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
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