Isle of Wight - Royals & Rails

With elegant resort towns, spotless beaches, old-fashioned charm and miles of unspoilt coastline, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing few days away. A firm favourite of Queen Victoria in the 19th century, the island is one of the UK’s most popular destinations and it’s easy to see why. On this fantastic break we enjoy the island’s peace, tranquility and natural beauty as well as a nostalgic journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and a visit to fascinating Osborne House.


Travel Options


Holiday Highlights

  • Return coach travel & ferry crossings
  • 4 nights at a selected hotel on the Isle of Wight (JG2 or JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
  • Entertainment some evenings
  • Excursions to Osborne House, Cowes & Ryde
  • Heritage train journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Optional Island Highlights Tour (£14pp)


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Selected Hotel

We’ll stay at one of four well-appointed hotels on the Isle of Wight. The hotels offer en-suite rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities as well as a pleasant bar and restaurant.

Holliers Hotel, Shanklin (JG2 rating)

The friendly, family-run Holliers Hotel is an 18th-century coaching inn situated in the heart of the picturesque Old Village of Shanklin.

Please note: the Holliers Hotel has no lift or ground floor rooms and is therefore unsuitable for those with limited mobility.

Medehamstede Hotel, Shanklin (JG2 rating)

The family-run Medehamstede Hotel is situated in the coastal town of Shanklin. Set within spacious, well-kept gardens, the Victorian building has plenty of character.

Please note: The Medehamstede Hotel has no lift but has some ground floor rooms (a few steps to navigate).

Shanklin Beach Hotel, Shanklin (JG2+ rating)

The Shanklin Beach Hotel is located on Shanklin’s seafront, offering stunning sea views. The contemporary en-suite rooms feature satellite TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel also offers a bar and restaurant with views of the esplanade.

Burlington Hotel, Sandown (JG2+ rating)

The welcoming Burlington Hotel is situated near the seafront in the resort of Sandown and is one of the resort’s most established and reputable hotels.

Please note: The Burlington Hotel has no lift but has some ground floor rooms.

Hotel Rating

Hotels with a JG2 rating are a mixture of larger hotels and privately owned properties. Décor and furnishings may be simple but are clean and well maintained. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, TV and may have tea/coffee making facilities. Food may be buffet style in some of the larger hotels. Services may be limited but efficient.

Hotel Rating

JG2+ rated hotels offer a slightly higher standard of hospitality, often with good home cooking plus enhanced décor, facilities and services, which is recognised and welcomed by our customers. Food may be buffet style in some of the larger hotels. They may also enjoy an enviable location and/or higher levels of satisfaction on online hotel rating sites and our own customer feedback surveys.

Included Excursions

Osborne House & Cowes (full day)

We have the chance to explore Queen Victoria’s one-time residence on the island, Osborne House. Built as a holiday home and rural retreat in the late 1840s, the Italianate palace reflects Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s tastes and boasts spectacular views across the Solent. It is no wonder that Victoria herself once said, ‘it’s impossible to imagine a prettier spot.’ Here we take an intimate glimpse of royal family life as we wander through the magnificent Royal Apartments as well as the walled gardens and grounds where we find the charming Swiss Cottage, used by the royal children to learn household management.

We then head to Cowes, a vibrant and sophisticated resort home to the world-famous regatta that swells the local population each August. Enjoy a stroll along the seafront, browse the boutique shops, or admire many of the town’s ornate buildings which date from Queen Victoria’s time, in the style popularised by Prince Albert.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway & Ryde (full day)

We journey back to a bygone era as we board the award-winning Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet. Sit back and relax in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages as we enjoy the rolling views of the glorious Isle of Wight countryside. We pass through quaint rural stations, quiet hamlets and ancient woodland on our journey to the seaside resort of Ryde.

Afterwards we spend some time at leisure in Ryde with its long stretch of golden sand, pretty esplanade, marina and beautiful gardens. Take a stroll along the famous 19th-century pier, the oldest in England, or admire the many boats moored in the town’s busy harbour.

Optional Excursion

Island Highlights Tour – £14pp (full day)

Our fantastic optional Island Highlights tour takes in this unique island’s many famous sights. After Ventnor, a pretty resort built on a series of terraces, we make for Alum Bay. Here we can admire the multi-coloured cliffs and famous chalky outcrop, The Needles. Next is the historic port town of Yarmouth which contains some of the oldest architecture on the island including a 16th-century castle. We continue on to Newport, regarded as the capital of the Isle of Wight, with a historic quayside and selection of specialty shops. We return to the hotel via the pretty inland village of Godshill where we can view from the coach its charming thatched-roofed cottages and delightful medieval church.

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