Isle of Wight Reviews 

I have visited multiple times over the past 44 years and always enjoyed the experience however this time we had a disabled family member using a wheelchair.

This was a new experience and one we won’t be repeating. Despite lots of places declaring they are accessible they actually aren’t for a variety of reasons ( steps, narrow aisles and uneven pavement.)

We were supposed to be there Monday till Friday however Tuesday evening we booked a ferry for the following morning ( £90 ) and travelled home early .

The island itself is a mix of tourist traps and derelict looking areas .

There are electric bikes and scooters abandoned all over the place even in hedges .

Its a crap hole the whole island doesn't offer anything its a town built for the people of british heart foundation. Nothing extraordinary the sceneries are just ok. Better to stay in Dorset. My advise dont go to the isle wasting tour money and time

Holiday in Shanklin IOW. Nice scenery but very limited without a car. Buses do run and the tfl/city app even picks it up but only bus numbers destinations not times due. Very hilly on pavements/roads, so if you suffer back/knee issues it can be very hard to manage and may find yourself limited. The lift down to the beach is still out of service and has been all summer which is very poor. Shame on council, not disability friendly. We didnt get to go around the Island even though it was my first visit. Maybe we should have hired a car. Local town is ok but most retail close around 4pm. Old town is nice and Regent Street is the high street. We stayed a few days. BnB was very nice.

My friend and I stayed in Seahaven House, bed and breakfast, in Ryde whilst attending the Isle of Wight festival. Although the location was ideal the premises were not. It has severe health and safety issues that need addressing. Apparently previous residents have complained about these issues but nothing has been done. Including fire doors wedged open and out of date checks to fire extinguishers. The list is endless, dirty and decrepit fittings. Dirty curtains, spare doors left in hall way, along with fishing equipment. Bicycles and a large child’s car left in breakfast room. Despite it saying fully booked there were no other residents in the accommodation. Enjoy England.com have been contacted as there is a 3* sign in the building, which I am sure they are unaware of.

Do not come to the island without a car or motorcycle. Taxis services are expensive and irregular. Restaurant food is expensive and mediocre. Cyclists slow traffic, on roads, for miles. You must book everything you do in advance and as a holiday resort you’d think shops would open on a Sunday, well they don’t. It’s a island for old people with cars
and money whom stay at home.

It was an epic experience in so many ways ... from the superb Claremont Hotel, fine dining and its wonderful staff (and its restaurant and coffee bar is open to the general public too!), to all of the wonderful scenery and places to see on the island. Was never interested in history until we saw how well it was presented here. The transport system is amazing, modern, clean, on time/reliable, the drivers are so helpful and understanding. No Graffiti !!! No Rubbish !!! People wanted to talk to us about life on the island. Proud to fly their flag all over at every opportunity to do so, obviously not influenced by any looney brigades. Slight negative, the sea front eateries in Douglas were filthy, disgusting food, overpriced. Go to away from the sea front and you'll be fine. One time late in the day we were lost in the middle of nowhere as far as we were concerned and a driver noticed this, stopped and went out of their way to take us back to our hotel. It's mostly about the people.

Isle of Wight Mushrooms

Harding Shute Farm

Harding Shute

Ryde

Isle of Wight

Been buying mushroom drops from this company for 6 months. Dr John Campbell recommended their product to perhaps battle Prostate Cancer so I started buying from them. Got my first 5 months supply paying per item. I set up a DD to have a bottle delivered every month paid for the first bottle then no delivery but they took the payment. Called several times also emailed with no reply. Be careful

I have been visiting the IOW twice a year .. but yesterday I decided to give up! I have stayed in campsites, hotels, Forts and lodges. So, for my 65th we decided on a day trip.
The ONLY place that showed any warmth & worth was "Toni's Coffee Shop", Ventnor. 5*.(and their new Gingerbread muffins are on sale from tomorrow).
The Garlic Farm, always a last treat of any visit in the past .. was dank, workmen practically shared our table for 4 .. we were innocently walked through the open door of the Christmas Fayre barn ... to "...get out we are not ready .." by some miserable older lady. The products are available on the mainland & online, so without politeness & atmosphere .. what is the point?? The new Mermaid Gin in the shop, but not behind the bar. A sad farewell IOW. Cornwall, Devon and more here we come ...
I will erase this memory from my birthday treats, but feel cheated.

I find it very frustrating that motorists have to pay to park their vehicles in
Sandown, Isle of Wight because many vehicles evade parking fees
by parking on the pavement outside the old tourist information centre
opposite Sandown Pier.
This area is also in a pedestrianised only zone, which means by parking on
the pavement it is dangerous for pedestrians.

Apart from this the Isle of Wight is a nice place

Absolutely lovely island our second visit here. This is the first time with an electric car, we have had an absolute nightmare with charging. what chargers they have 90% of them don't work.take my advice if you only have an electric car DO NOT visit the island.

Don't Try and get a taxi. We called 8 firms within 15 minutes drive and 7 didn't answer and the one that didn't wouldn't come as not in the area of the Botanical gardens.

It was only 9.45 pm.

The phone signal on two networks has also been really poor. We were staying in the south of the island and trying to call or text people was terrible.

Honestly felt like we had stepped back in tech time.

From the warning on the ferry about bull breeds not being welcome from one of the passengers the whole week was littered with like minded insults and general unfriendly attitudes. The dog in question by the way was a labrador cross. I certainly won't bother again, there are easier ways to waste money.

Visited here for the first and last time! Island is very expensive whatever you do and ideally you need a car to get around we spent over £100 in diesel in 4 days. Locals are rude know it alls. Sandown was the worst place i've ever been to, burnt out buildings, small pier, half he arcade machines weren't working. Very very disappointed. Local produce is very expensive.

I was most disappointed with this so called trip back in time,
Not a trip back in time the restoration of the coaches was not all back to the original they have used wood looking paint on the wooden doors and frames it looks cheap and nasty.
The trip cost £66 for three adults and what we got was a load of messing about while they changed the engine from one end of the train to the other so all you got was sitting onboard with nothing to look at except weeds and then a couple of miles up and down the same bit of track.
for that amount of money I would have expected at least a longer journey with a lot more to look at than fields and weeds.

Recently stayed at Luccombe Hall Hotel, Shanklin. It’s a traditional seaside hotel that appears to be thoughtfully managed by on-site owners. It’s large to provide a spacious interior/facilities for the occasional wet day, and outside, a lovely heated swimming pool with adjacent warm jacuzzi. There is an abundance of reclining sun beds, space to wander round to admire the well tended, colourful plants and shrubs.
Inside?
Dining- very well thought through menu that caters for varying tastes and age of diners and the food itself is deftly created and presented by caring staff.
The staff - they are approachable and very willing to help new and the many returning guests. Make no mistake. Every aspect of this quality hotel is well managed (Can you spot one of the Directors working with their staff?)
There has and continues to be a real drive to make your stay be the best it can be. Admire the unique indoor pool and all day sauna. Tucked away, there are classic game machines and more to be accommodated.
Yes, you guessed, we had a lovely relaxing, cosseted time.
So why not 5 stars? The adjacent sister hotel, Luccombe Manor permits dogs but provides no evening meal (for humans) so they gravitate (dogs and all) to Luccombe Hall for Dinner.
Dogs? Well behaved in an appropriate location are a real joy, I know from first hand experience.
However a dining room occupied by boisterous barking dogs with indulgent owners is not a place to enjoy such delightful food presented by well trained front of house staff - ever.
The next door, sister hotel, Luccombe Manor accommodates dogs so why can’t dogs be left there, so diners can dine in peace and enjoy what must be some of, if not the best food on the island?
The last bit -promise.
After delightful food there was the opportunity to sit in the comfortable bar area - and enjoy individual local vocalists performing to a high standard - where, on enquiry, we learned dogs were indeed allowed to sit on the seats.
Gentle reader, this is an hotel that tries hard and succeeds but dogs, as described above, are a Marmite decision.
Next year our decision would be a “no”. If yours is a “yes” then you won’t be disappointed.

Nodes point safari tent, damp and moldy dead rat on grass outside tent. Had to pay for upgrade to a caravan as tent was inhabitable.

What a dive. Honestly save the extortionate cost of the ferry and go to prettier places like Dorset, Devon, Cornwall etc. neglected towns, awful drivers, rude locals and paying through the nose for awful days out. Will never visit here again and could only advise all against coming, also got food poisoning from seafood restaurant in Shanklin to make an awful break worse.

Just had our 2nd visit to Appley Lodge Shanklin Isle of Wight.

Lovely B and B. Gareth and Wendy could not be more welcoming. Lovely place to stay and will be back again.

Visiting here after 52 years.
What a dump most of the towns are - totally neglected.
Feel sorry for the people who have to live here
Villages and the countryside are good and clean
Why would we come back?