What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Itinerary
Shanklin & the Isle of Wight
We start our morning in Ryde, the largest town on the island, often referred to as ‘the town on the beach.’ There’s plenty to see along the seafront, including the oldest pier in the UK and a wide range of independent shops. Next, we make our way to Cowes, home to the world-famous regatta. Many of the town’s ornate buildings date from Queen Victoria’s time, in the style popularised by her consort Prince Albert.
Full Day
Shanklin & the Isle of Wight
For our second included excursion we journey to Sandown, known for the long beach which stretches all the way along the esplanade. Enjoy free time to explore, take in the brisk sea air and admire the views of the pier, golden sands and the seafront.
Half Day
Shanklin & the Isle of Wight
Our optional excursion takes us first to the colourful sands of Alum Bay, famous for the iconic chalk outcrop known as The Needles and one of the prettiest beaches on the island. We then visit the charming towns of Yarmouth and Newport, regarded as the capital of the Isle of Wight and located in the heart of the island. There’s much to see in the bustling central square and narrow streets.
Full Day
Cowes Maritime Heritage Walk
Discover Cowes, home to the world-famous Cowes Week, and enjoy a relaxed wander along the waterfront and boutique-lined High Street. Look out to the Solent as sails skim the horizon and note the stately presence of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes Castle. Nautical storefronts and marina views capture the town’s seafaring spirit.
Unpack the area’s stature as a 19th-century yachting hub, shaped by royal patronage and Victorian seafront architecture. The lively harbour, regatta traditions, and briny air reveal a living maritime culture that continues to define the Isle of Wight.
Sandown Esplanade & Pier
Walk the shore-hugging promenade beside Sandown’s long arc of golden sands and step onto Sandown Pier for classic coastal views. Arcades, sea-spray, and the curve of the bay create a timeless seaside mood, with cafés and deckchairs punctuating the lively esplanade.
Sense the character of a traditional English resort where warm shallows and chalk headlands set the scene. Glimpses toward Culver Cliff evoke the island’s fossil-rich coastline, while you soak in the seaside atmosphere amid gentle surf, wheeling gulls, and the soft light of the south coast.
Island Highlights: Alum Bay, The Needles, Yarmouth & Newport
Opt for an additional-cost island highlights tour (bookable on tour) to witness Alum Bay’s coloured sands and the chalk stacks of The Needles and lighthouse. Enjoy sweeping vantage points where sea, cliff, and sky meet, and pause for photos and reflection over some of Britain’s most dramatic coastal scenery.
Continue through character-rich towns: Yarmouth, with its harbour, wooden pier, and Tudor fort, and Newport, the island’s county town with St Thomas’ Square and Georgian frontages. This curated circuit blends big-sky vistas with market-town heritage for a rounded portrait of the Isle of Wight.
Ryde Seafront & Historic Pier
Explore Ryde, affectionately known as the town on the beach, and join a leisurely seafront stroll along its broad promenade. Trace the shoreline to Ryde Pier, Britain’s oldest seaside pier, and take in open views across the Solent toward Portsmouth’s skyline. Independent shops and beachside cafés lend a relaxed, coastal rhythm.
Absorb the layered heritage of a resort shaped by Regency and Victorian tastes since 1814. Listen for shore birds, feel the salt breeze, and pause for photos and reflection where elegant ironwork and gently lapping waves frame classic seaside scenes.
