The tranquil Isle of Wight, close to the English mainland - it lies just a couple of miles across a very narrow stretch of water called the Solent -has long been a favorite haunt of sailors and the yachting fraternity. It hosts the well known Cowes Regatta.
The little Island is also an ideal spot for family holidays for it has a great deal to offer travelers seeking a very English style of relaxation. It has grass covered chalk downs, sandy bays, clean, beaches, wooded chines, attractive gardens, Victorian architecture, little thatched-roofed cottages, fishing villages and a quiet friendly resort. It also has a medieval castle at Carisbrooke which is where King Charles I was incarcerated. After the English Civil War, the unfortunate King was imprisoned at Carisbrooke, and following several unsuccessful attempts to escape was transferred to London and eventually beheaded at Whitehall. A short entry in the register of Carisbrooke Church records the gruesome event : ’’In the year of our Lord God, 1649, January the 30th day, was King Charles beheaded at Whitehall Gate.’’ Then there is Osborne House, which was Queen Victoria’s favorite home, and her decision to have a rustic retreat on the Isle of Wight drew a number of literary figures across the Solent. Among them was Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poet laureate, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, John Keats, Elizabeth Sewell and Charles Darwin. More recently it was one of the locations used for shooting the film Mr. Brown.
I like the old world villages on the Island, the very pretty and unspoilt little fishing harbours, and some of the delightful hostelries where you can get some delicious crab sandwiches to go with your pint. There are also some good museums on the Isle of Wight, including ones dedicated to Geology, Smugglers’ and Maritime Affairs. These are worth heading for particularly if the weather precludes you lying on the beach or pursuing other outdoor pursuits. Amusements and entertainments are provided at the likes of the Robin Hill Park and the Zoo, but I would not say the place is exactly renowned for a throbbing nightlife. Rather it is an ideal spot for a relaxing family holiday and good to visit during the summer months.