DAY ONE - Friday 2nd April
07.30 - 09.00hrs London pick ups begin.
Travel by luxury coach from London down to Southampton for our ferry crossing with Red Funnel Ferries.
11.00hrs Ferry crossing from Southampton to East Cowes. Upon arrival we will commence a panoramic sightseeing tour of the island. After the tour, check in to our Sandown Hotel and relax.
The evening is at leisure in Sandown.
DAY TWO
The morning is at leisure in Sandown. After lunch meet back at the hotel for the journey across to the other side of the Island to visit the famous Needles.
Evening at leisure in Sandown.
DAY THREE
After breakfast we make our way to Osborne House where entrance is included. The rest of the day is at leisure on the Isle of Wight.
DAY FOUR
09.00hrs After breakfast meet your Tour Manager and Driver outside the hotel for transport to Shanklin and Ventnor. A lunch stop will be made and you will have some free time to explore.
17.35hrs Return ferry crossing from East Cowes to Southampton.
20.30hrs Approximate arrival back in to London.
Please note the itinerary is intended as a guide and some details may be subject to change.
About the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a British island and county in the English Channel between three and five miles from the south coast of Great Britain. It is situated south of the county of Hampshire and is separated from mainland England by the Solent. Popular since Victorian times as a holiday resort. The Isle of Wight is known for its natural beauty and for its world-famous sailing based in Cowes.
Being one of the most southerly points in the UK, the Isle of Wight has a warmer climate than other areas which results in high numbers of holiday-makers, particularly along the south of the island. It also has a longer growing season than other areas in the UK
About The Needles
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. A lighthouse designed by Scottish civil engineer James Walker has stood at the western end of the formation since 1859. The formation takes its name from the former fourth needle-shaped pillar called Lot's Wife that used to stand in its midst until it collapsed in a storm in 1764. The remaining rocks are all short and squat and not at all needle-like, but the name has stuck.
The Needles were featured on the 2005 TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the South.
About Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. Sandown Bay is the name of the bay off the English Channel which both towns share, and it is notable for its long stretch of easily accessible golden sandy beach. It is the site of the lost Sandown Castle, Isle of Wight. Whilst undergoing construction, this was attacked by a French force which had fought its way over Culver Down fron Whitecliff Bay, resulting in the French being repulsed. It was built too far into the sea and constantly suffered erosion, until now reduced to a pile of rocks. Later forts in the town include the Diamond Fort (named after its plan), built inshore to replace the castle and which fought off a minor attack from privateers in 1788, and the present "Granite Fort", which is now the zoo.
East Cowes
East Cowes has been more characterised by industry than West Cowes in which yachting predominates, which some would argue has produced a cultural rift, leading to East Cowes being referred to derisively as Narnia by the West, due to the alleged eccentricity of its inhabitants.
We also visit the seaside resorts of Shanklin & Ventnor, which both boast history and fantastic views.
Ventnor lies underneath St Boniface Down (which, at 787 feet, is the highest point on the Isle of Wight), and is built on steep slopes and cliffs leading down to the sea.
The sheltered location on the cliff of the island's south coast means the area experiences a microclimate with more sunny days than much of the British Isles, and fewer frosts. This has allowed many species of subtropical plant to be successfully planted and maintained. Ventnor Botanic Garden is particularly notable.
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