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Places to Visit on the Isle of Wight
Be sure to check out these places to visit on the Isle of Wight below
The Isle of Wight in the English channel, found five miles from Britain, is a popular holiday retreat, regularly holding different festivals and fairs all throughout the year, making the Isle of Wight known as the carnival capital in the United Kingdom. Here are some of the best places to visit on the Isle of Wight.
Newport is the Isle of Wight's county town and second biggest town on the island. Although its name is Newport, it isn't found by the sea at all; it is instead right in the island's very center. The annual Walking Festival is launched in Newport, where participants take around five hundred miles of different footpaths along the Isle of Wight's gorgeous natural terrain.
Also highly attended in Newport is the County Show. Hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society, the County Show is an all encompassing farmer's market festival. It has the largest animal bazaar, as well as arts and crafts stalls, talent showcases, arena events and horse shows, and terrier racing.
The very popular Isle of Wight Festival is also held in Newport. The music festival has steadily been growing since it was revived in 2002. This year, top musical acts Muse, Snow Patrol, Kasabian, Keane and the Rolling Stones headlined 50 bands from the island and neighboring regions, over a span of three days.
Robin Hill County Park near Newport is also the site of Bestival, a separate mammoth music festival held in September, which featured 300 musicians this year playing in over 14 venues with different themes.
Cowes is another popular place to visit on the Isle of Wight, and the best place to go sailing in all of the United Kingdom. Regattas or yacht races are held here, including the Etchells World Championships and the Skandia Cowes Week, which accommodates over a thousand yachts. Cowes is also the location of Osborne house, Queen Victoria's beloved summer house and where she spent the latter part of her life, which was donated to the nation by King Edward VII.
Another Cowes attraction is the St George's Day parade, which features floats, battle re-enactments and Tug-of-War competitions, Mummers show, and Morris dancing.
Newchurch is the site of the Garlic Festival, held every August, which features all kind of garlic products, even garlic ice cream. The festival is not only all about garlic, but also features carnival acts such as belly dancers, fire eaters, stilt walkers, and magicians.
Ryde is the largest town in the Isle of Wight and is the home of the Ryde Arts Festival which lasts a week in July, and the International Scooter Rally, which is the largest scooter event in the world. Ryde's beach, as well as the coastal shores all over the island, hosts sandcastle competitions in the summer.
Yarmouth's Harbour is home to the Old Gaffer's Festival, where over 100 boats of all kinds come to either race or be displayed. This year's special exhibit feature was a 42-foot schooner, La Recouvrance, which traveled all the way from France to participate in this festival.
All over the island, you will find dozens of hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and chalets and caravan parks for accommodations. Even if there isn't any ongoing festival, the Isle of Wight still has lots of nice places to visit, such as dinosaur and maritime or pirate museums and beaches and piers to enjoy sunbathing and sailing. Return From Places to Visit on the Isle of Wight to Places to Visit in Europe
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