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Accommodation and travel ideas in Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is an island and a county, located 5–8 km from the south coast of the mainland, in the English Channel. It is separated from mainland Britain by the Solent and is situated south of the county of Hampshire. The Isle of Wight is made up a collection of towns including Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor.
The island has a rich history, including a brief status as an independent kingdom in the 15th century. It was home to the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Queen Victoria built her much loved summer residence and final home Osborne House at East Cowes. The Island's maritime and industrial history encompasses boat building, sail making, the manufacture of flying boats, the world's first hovercraft and the testing and development of Britain's space rockets. It is home to the Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival, Bestival and the recently-revived Isle of Wight Festival, which, in 1970, was one of the largest rock music events ever held. The island has some exceptional wildlife and is also one of the richest fossil locations for dinosaurs in Europe.
Historical places to visit on the Isle of Wight
Visit the castles, manor houses, churches and fortifications in the Isle of Wight. To many visitors, the towns and villages hold special fascination and interest because their historic buildings have been relatively untouched by the fashions and changes of mainland Britain. The Island has a wealth of religious buildings dating from Saxon times to the present day. Visit some of the village churches to discover the fascinating heritage of a local community whose religious and social history is preserved within the church grounds. Hilltop monuments such as the Yarborough Monument on Culver Down and the monument to Tennyson on Tennyson Down await discovery by the walker. Upon St Catherine's Down, you will find the imposing Russian-style Hoy Monument and St Catherines Oratory, the original 14th century lighthouse known locally as the "Pepperpot".
The fortifications of the Island, particularly by Henry VIII and Lord Palmerston, provides an historic insight into the Islands strategic role. Carisbrooke Castle dates from Norman times and brings history alive to many thousands of visitors each year. Yarmouth Castle, the Needles Old Battery, Fort Victoria, are of interest to the military historian, as well as the casual visitor. A number of manor houses with fine furniture and beautiful artefacts are open to the public. Some manor grounds are historic landscapes in their own right, many containing walled gardens, fine plant collections and buildings of local and national significance. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert established a favourite residence at Osborne. This royal stamp of approval brought many famous Victorians to visit and settle on the Island. Alfred Lord Tennyson, who bought Farringford House, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, John Keats, Turner, Ruskin, are just a few of the literary and artistic "greats" who were inspired by this "enchanted isle".
Walk through the older parts of the towns to discover the historic heritage, explore Victorian churches such as the Royal Church of St Mildred at Whippingham and visit Osborne House, where you can see rooms left much as they were when Queen Victoria died there in 1901.
Histoic bed and breakfasts (B&B's) and hotel accommodation on the Isle of Wight
The more historic hotels and bed and breakfasts will be towards the centre but there are a decent range of hotels throughout the city along with more rural hotels and B&Bs to stay at within easy reach of the city. Overall, there is a good range of bed and breakfast accommodation.
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