Things to do on the Isle of Wight
Neolithic history, South American mammals, a Mediterranean climate and a village within a village – of all the lists of things to do on the Isle of Wight, this might be the most eclectic. It might be hard to believe that you’ll find animals from the Andes rubbing shoulders with horticulture from the Himalayas, but they’re just some of the many unique destinations the Isle of Wight has to offer.
PO38 1UL
Ventnor is protected from cold northerly winds, resulting in a Mediterranean microclimate in the heart of the Isle of Wight. The garden is home to a wide range of subtropical plant life that won’t grow anywhere else in the UK, scuttling wall lizards, secret passageways and an underground mushroom vault.
West Wight Alpacas
PO41 0SZ
8-min drive from Norton Grange / 41-min drive Bembridge Coast
Usually more synonymous with Peru than West Wight, there are now around 60 alpacas on this husband-and-wife run farm close to Norton Grange. They also feature llamas, miniature donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep across 23 acres of countryside – better bring your wellies.
Godshill Village
PO38 3LD
24-min drive from Bembridge Coast / 31-min drive from Norton Grange
Established in 1952, Godshill Model Village recreates island life in intricately-detailed miniature – and the full-size village isn’t bad either. The medieval church is home to one of only two lily crucifix paintings in Europe, and the thatched roofs of the high street sit over classic tea rooms and gift shops.
Mottistone Gardens & Estate
PO30 4EA
16-min drive from Norton Grange / 40-min drive from Bembridge Coast
Nestled in the rolling downs, Mottistone gardens are home to a millennia of history that includes a legendary 4m-high sandstone pillar, supposedly thrown by St Catherine in a wager with the devil himself. The estate is set on a 6,000-year-old Neolithic long barrow.
Quarr Abbey
PO33 4ES
24-min drive from Bembridge Coast / 33-min drive from Norton Grange
Surrounded by woodlands, coastline and formal gardens, this working Benedictine abbey is built on the site of the original Quarr Abbey, whose 14th century ruins still stand within its grounds. Quarr also boasts an orchard of over 200 fruit trees and a traditional tea room for visitors.
