Isle of Wight Tourist Guide - Articles
Isle of Wight Villages
Isle of Wight villages are amongst the prettiest in the UK. Many "chocolate box" villages have delightful thatched cottages and welcoming olde worlde pubs. Countless famous people visit the Island each year to escape the pressure of their normal lives and many own property here. So, if youre deciding where to stay on holiday, one of the wonderful villages on the Isle of Wight makes a perfect choice for the tourist, with superb accommodation on offer at various locations around the Island.
Below is a list of Isle of Wight villages.
Adgestone is a small village on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to Brading in the east of the Island.
Arreton is a village between Newport and Sandown and has a thousand year old church.
Bembridge is located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. Bembridge lays claim to be the largest village in England and was once cut off from the rest of the Island.
Binfield is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight near Newport.
Binstead is positioned two kilometres from Ryde in the northeast of the Island. There are two churches (the Methodist and the Holy Cross) and a monastery (Quarr Abbey). There is a beach within walking distance.
Blackwater is located three kilometres south of Newport close to the centre of the Island. The famous singer, Robbie Williams once visited for three nights to reportedly "get away from the media".
Bonchurch is a village next to Ventnor and is one of the earliest settlements on the Island. It boasts some large and striking Victorian houses and a pretty village pond. The sea views here are superb and between the village and coastline is the tiny church of St Boniface, which was built by Benedictine monks, around 1070.
Bowcombe is located three kilometres southwest of Newport, in the centre of the Island.
Brighstone is situated about six miles southwest of Newport, near the Island's southwest coast. Its original name was Brixton and dates back to the 12th century. It has beautiful thatched houses, a pretty church (St Marys, built in the 1180s) and a small village museum with free admission.
Brook is on the south west coast of the Island. There are miles of trails and bridleways which are perfect for walking, cycling and riding. There is a Norman church to be found at the top of the village. Brook is the major kitesurfing and windsurfing venue on the Isle of Wight, due to the outstanding waves along this stretch of coastline.
Calbourne is in the west of the Island, eight kilometres from Newport. It is one of the most photographed Isle of Wight villages, made famous by the picturesque row of 18th century thatched cottages in Winkle Street. There is a 9th century church next to the village green. It is also the home of Westover cricket team, who play on the green.
Chale is situated near the southernmost tip of the Island. Both holidaymakers and locals alike, enjoy the remote coastline and rugged beauty of the rural surroundings.
Cranmore is to be found about three miles east of Yarmouth, in the northwest of the Island.
Easton is located close to Totland in the west of the Island.
Fishbourne is a small village between Wootton and Ryde and includes the Wightlink car ferry terminal to and from Portsmouth.
Freshwater is a village and parish at the western end of the Island. Nearby Freshwater Bay is a small cove on the south coast. Alfred Lord Tennyson lived at nearby Farringford House.
Gatcombe is positioned four kilometres from Newport in the centre of the island.
Godshill is the typical English village, with several tea gardens and a lovely old-fashioned feel. It is located between Newport and Ventnor in the southeast of the Island. It has many attractions for visitors including a Toy Museum and Model Village. There is a large coach and car park in the centre of the village, opposite a superb family pub.
Gurnard is situated on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, to the west of Cowes. Sailing is the main activity here and Gurnard has its own sailing club.
Hamstead is about three miles east of Yarmouth, in the northwest of the Island.
Havenstreet is a village located about 2 miles southwest of Ryde. It is home to Havenstreet Station, the focal point for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
Knighton is a small hamlet close to Sandown. The old manor house, Knighton Gorges used to stand there, but only the two stone gateposts remain. Rumour has it, every New Year's Eve the house reappears in ghostly form. Locals have also claimed having seen animal-like gargoyles (which were removed many years ago) on top of each gatepost!
Lake is a village and civil parish nestling between Sandown and Shanklin. It is a large village with an excellent sandy beach and is much quieter than its two neighbours.
Mottistone is in in the southwest of the Island, 11 kilometres southwest of Newport . It is home to a church and a 16th century manor house
Nettlestone is a village on the Isle of Wight about 4 miles south east of Ryde.
Newbridge is located nine kilometres from Newport in the west of the island.
Newchurch is situated between Sandown and Newport in the south east of the island. It is the most extensive parish on the Island.
Newtown is a small hamlet and is located on the large natural harbour on the north-western coast.
Ningwood is a small village, located about three miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the Island.
Niton, near Ventnor is split into two halves - Upper Niton and the lower part of the village which is known as Niton Undercliff which includes the most southerly point of the Isle of Wight, St Catherine's Point and St Catherine's Lighthouse. The church at Niton is from various periods.
Norton Green is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight, located just north of Freshwater in the west of the island.
Nunwell is a small village close to Brading in the east of the island.
Porchfield is situated seven kilometres southwest of Cowes in the northwest of the island.
Rookley can be found five kilometres south of Newport in the centre of the Island.
Seaview is popular with tourists and is about 10-minutes by car from the town of Ryde. It is a charming, historic village with narrow streets, a sandy beach and a lively harbour. It is one of the Islands most popular sailing centres.
Shalfleet is located between Yarmouth and Newport and is built around a Norman church.
Shorwell is positioned eight kilometres from Newport in the southwest of the Island and includes the 12th century church of St. Peters. It is a very picturesque village with many thatched cottages and a lovely pub.
St Helens is situated on the eastern side of the Island and has a fine village green on which cricket is played during the summer and football in the winter.
St Lawrence is a village between Ventnor and Niton and can suffer regular landslips. The tiny 12th century old church of St Lawrence was for many years considered to be the smallest church in the British Isles.
Thorley is placed in the northwest of the Island, two kilometres from Yarmouth.
Wellow is located about two miles east of Yarmouth and features St. Swithins church.
Whippingham is situated two kilometres south of East Cowes in the north of the Island. It is probably best known for its connections with Queen Victoria, especially its church, redesigned by Prince Albert.
Whitwell is a small village in the south of the Island, about five kilometres to the west of Ventnor, close to Niton and Godshill. It has a church, pub and White Well after which the village was named.
Wootton can be found between Ryde and Newport. The area of the village close to Wootton Creek is known as Wootton Bridge, and in the past, this was actually a separate settlement. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway terminus is to be found at Wootton.
Wroxall is in the south of the Island, near Ventnor. It is close to Appuldurcombe House - once the grandest and most striking house on the Isle of Wight.
Yafford is a hamlet located nine kilometres from Newport in the southwest of the Island. It has a non operational water mill, which was working until 1970.
Back to Articles Page
Below is a list of Isle of Wight villages.
Adgestone is a small village on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to Brading in the east of the Island.
Arreton is a village between Newport and Sandown and has a thousand year old church.
Bembridge is located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. Bembridge lays claim to be the largest village in England and was once cut off from the rest of the Island.
Binfield is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight near Newport.
Binstead is positioned two kilometres from Ryde in the northeast of the Island. There are two churches (the Methodist and the Holy Cross) and a monastery (Quarr Abbey). There is a beach within walking distance.
Blackwater is located three kilometres south of Newport close to the centre of the Island. The famous singer, Robbie Williams once visited for three nights to reportedly "get away from the media".
Bonchurch is a village next to Ventnor and is one of the earliest settlements on the Island. It boasts some large and striking Victorian houses and a pretty village pond. The sea views here are superb and between the village and coastline is the tiny church of St Boniface, which was built by Benedictine monks, around 1070.
Bowcombe is located three kilometres southwest of Newport, in the centre of the Island.
Brighstone is situated about six miles southwest of Newport, near the Island's southwest coast. Its original name was Brixton and dates back to the 12th century. It has beautiful thatched houses, a pretty church (St Marys, built in the 1180s) and a small village museum with free admission.
Brook is on the south west coast of the Island. There are miles of trails and bridleways which are perfect for walking, cycling and riding. There is a Norman church to be found at the top of the village. Brook is the major kitesurfing and windsurfing venue on the Isle of Wight, due to the outstanding waves along this stretch of coastline.
Calbourne is in the west of the Island, eight kilometres from Newport. It is one of the most photographed Isle of Wight villages, made famous by the picturesque row of 18th century thatched cottages in Winkle Street. There is a 9th century church next to the village green. It is also the home of Westover cricket team, who play on the green.
Chale is situated near the southernmost tip of the Island. Both holidaymakers and locals alike, enjoy the remote coastline and rugged beauty of the rural surroundings.
Cranmore is to be found about three miles east of Yarmouth, in the northwest of the Island.
Easton is located close to Totland in the west of the Island.
Fishbourne is a small village between Wootton and Ryde and includes the Wightlink car ferry terminal to and from Portsmouth.
Freshwater is a village and parish at the western end of the Island. Nearby Freshwater Bay is a small cove on the south coast. Alfred Lord Tennyson lived at nearby Farringford House.
Gatcombe is positioned four kilometres from Newport in the centre of the island.
Godshill is the typical English village, with several tea gardens and a lovely old-fashioned feel. It is located between Newport and Ventnor in the southeast of the Island. It has many attractions for visitors including a Toy Museum and Model Village. There is a large coach and car park in the centre of the village, opposite a superb family pub.
Gurnard is situated on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, to the west of Cowes. Sailing is the main activity here and Gurnard has its own sailing club.
Hamstead is about three miles east of Yarmouth, in the northwest of the Island.
Havenstreet is a village located about 2 miles southwest of Ryde. It is home to Havenstreet Station, the focal point for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
Knighton is a small hamlet close to Sandown. The old manor house, Knighton Gorges used to stand there, but only the two stone gateposts remain. Rumour has it, every New Year's Eve the house reappears in ghostly form. Locals have also claimed having seen animal-like gargoyles (which were removed many years ago) on top of each gatepost!
Lake is a village and civil parish nestling between Sandown and Shanklin. It is a large village with an excellent sandy beach and is much quieter than its two neighbours.
Mottistone is in in the southwest of the Island, 11 kilometres southwest of Newport . It is home to a church and a 16th century manor house
Nettlestone is a village on the Isle of Wight about 4 miles south east of Ryde.
Newbridge is located nine kilometres from Newport in the west of the island.
Newchurch is situated between Sandown and Newport in the south east of the island. It is the most extensive parish on the Island.
Newtown is a small hamlet and is located on the large natural harbour on the north-western coast.
Ningwood is a small village, located about three miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the Island.
Niton, near Ventnor is split into two halves - Upper Niton and the lower part of the village which is known as Niton Undercliff which includes the most southerly point of the Isle of Wight, St Catherine's Point and St Catherine's Lighthouse. The church at Niton is from various periods.
Norton Green is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight, located just north of Freshwater in the west of the island.
Nunwell is a small village close to Brading in the east of the island.
Porchfield is situated seven kilometres southwest of Cowes in the northwest of the island.
Rookley can be found five kilometres south of Newport in the centre of the Island.
Seaview is popular with tourists and is about 10-minutes by car from the town of Ryde. It is a charming, historic village with narrow streets, a sandy beach and a lively harbour. It is one of the Islands most popular sailing centres.
Shalfleet is located between Yarmouth and Newport and is built around a Norman church.
Shorwell is positioned eight kilometres from Newport in the southwest of the Island and includes the 12th century church of St. Peters. It is a very picturesque village with many thatched cottages and a lovely pub.
St Helens is situated on the eastern side of the Island and has a fine village green on which cricket is played during the summer and football in the winter.
St Lawrence is a village between Ventnor and Niton and can suffer regular landslips. The tiny 12th century old church of St Lawrence was for many years considered to be the smallest church in the British Isles.
Thorley is placed in the northwest of the Island, two kilometres from Yarmouth.
Wellow is located about two miles east of Yarmouth and features St. Swithins church.
Whippingham is situated two kilometres south of East Cowes in the north of the Island. It is probably best known for its connections with Queen Victoria, especially its church, redesigned by Prince Albert.
Whitwell is a small village in the south of the Island, about five kilometres to the west of Ventnor, close to Niton and Godshill. It has a church, pub and White Well after which the village was named.
Wootton can be found between Ryde and Newport. The area of the village close to Wootton Creek is known as Wootton Bridge, and in the past, this was actually a separate settlement. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway terminus is to be found at Wootton.
Wroxall is in the south of the Island, near Ventnor. It is close to Appuldurcombe House - once the grandest and most striking house on the Isle of Wight.
Yafford is a hamlet located nine kilometres from Newport in the southwest of the Island. It has a non operational water mill, which was working until 1970.
Back to Articles Page