The Most Unique Experiences In England's Isle Of Wight

Though the glorious Isle of Wight has all the traditional cream teas and clifftop walks you could possibly dream of, sometimes it’s fun to fill the itinerary with trips and activities that are a little further off the beaten track. As an island with a culture and vibe all its own, this pretty place is the perfect spot to find eccentric shops and less than obvious ways to while away an afternoon in the south coast sunshine. Read our guide to the most unique experiences in England’s Isle of Wight.

Take a ghost tour of the island

Though postcards from the Isle of Wight often show candy-striped beach huts and sparkling sands, there’s actually a darker side to the island’s history. With myths and legends surrounding many of the buildings and monuments on the Isle of Wight, there’s plenty of places to explore which are on the thrilling side of spooky. For maximum chills, book a ghost walk with Ghost Island.

1. Walk with dinosaurs

Building, Museum

Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight | © jpennycook/Flickr

3. Trek with alpacas

Alpaca, Isle of Wight | © Mike Russell/Flickr

4. Hunt for fossils

Low tide at Hanover Point, Isle of Wight | © Jim Champion/Flickr

Picnic in a beach hut

While a snapshot of these candy-coloured shelters is obligatory for any self-respecting Instagrammer visiting the Isle of Wight, far fewer are those who have the luxury of lunching in one of the pretty huts. Even better, hire the hut as accommodation for the whole of your stay, for a true taste of the English seaside. Tuck into some salty fish and chips from the comfort of your hut as you gaze across the channel.

5. Ride a cable car over stripey cliffs

Shop

The Needles Landmark Attraction, Alum Bay New Road, Alum Bay PO39 0JD, Isle of Wight, +44 1983 752401

Alum Bay cable car, Isle of Wight | © Les Chatfield

Make your own sandy artwork

If simply admiring the stripey cliffs of pretty Alum Bay wasn’t enough, you can take home your own little slice of the island by heading along to Alum Bay Sand Shop. Fill a little bottle with layers of the different coloured sands from the patterned cliffs as a take-home memory of your visit to the Isle of Wight. Choose from uniquely shaped jars such as love-hearts, guitars, skulls or teddy bears, and scoop in the sand to make a one-off piece of the beach to keep forever.

6. Go wild at Blackgang Chine theme park

Park, Amusement Park

Humpty Dumpty at Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight

With fairytale characters and (yet more) dinosaurs hiding in the bushes, Blackgang Chine theme park is the ideal place to let your imagination run wild. With roller coasters and fairground rides galore, it’s a fun-packed way to spend the day with family or pals.

7. Watch the sun set behind The Pepperpot

Church

This peculiar hexagonal tower, otherwise known as St Catherine’s Oratory, could be straight out of a fairytale. It is the remains of England’s only surviving medieval lighthouse, dating back to 1314. The story goes that wealthy landowner Walter de Godeton came into possession of some stolen wine (174 casks, to be exact) which had been on its way to France in a ship that ran aground. The Catholic Church was unimpressed, so as penance, Walter built a lighthouse where a priest would pray for sailors wrecked on the treacherous rocks below. This is also an exceptional spot to wrap an arm around a loved one and watch the sun set over the sea.

Spend the night in a retro caravan

For that quintessentially British holiday feel, book yourself into one of Vintage Vacations‘ cosy caravans. Mixing the whimsy of the Carry On films with modern amenities and tasteful decorative touches, these bonny mobile homes stay put on the plush green lawns of the campsite. There’s something truly exciting about waking up to breakfast in a deckchair on the grass.

Caravans in The Meadow, Vintage Vacations

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.