Bembridge Village
Bembridge is situated on the most easterly point of the Isle of Wight, lying behind the spectacular headland of Culver.
It is also claimed to be the largest village in England, with a population of approximately 4,000 residents.
Bembridge stretches around most of the Eastern tip of the Isle of Wight which includes its harbour and three beaches, and has its own airport.
We're pleased to announce that Bembridge Village has won 'Village of the Year' in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2019! They called Bembridge village a "wonderful coastal setting with a pier and lifeboat station, plus a busy village community with independent shops, cafés and restaurants. With three great beaches and the white cliffs of Culver Down on the doorstep, the village is a perfect base for exploring."
As the village runs along the coast many of the things to do in Bembridge are related to the sea.
The three beaches Lane End, the Ledge and Bembridge Beach are very popular for exploring with contrasting coastlines, rock pools and stunning panoramic views out to sea.
With its substantial harbour Bembridge is a very popular destination for sailing.
On the Lane End Beach you will find the new Bembridge Lifeboat station which stands offshore to form a striking image.
The natural timber building was only completed in 2010 but has become one of the most iconic and most photographed structures on the Isle of Wight in recent years.
Another of the Isle of Wight’s most recognisable pieces of architecture is Bembridge Windmill, on the outskirts of the village, which is maintained by The National Trust.
A short distance from Bembridge is Culver Down, the white cliffs of which can be seen from Sandown Bay all the way through to Shanklin.
The chalk down of Culver has a fascinating mixture of wildlife and natural features, mixed with several remaining military features including a monument with the adjoining remains of a former barracks, a substantial fort owned by The National Trust and a 2nd world war anti-aircraft battery at the end of the cliffs.
Beneath Culver on the Bembridge side is the magnificent Whitecliff Bay, a sheltered cove well worth exploring and best accessed through the Whitecliff Bay holiday park.
At the heart of Bembridge village there are a number of independent shops and eateries.
Most of the places to eat in Bembridge serve locally caught fish, and there are a number of small restaurants with very high reputations for their food.
If you are looking for something more traditional the pubs in Bembridge also offer a good selection of English food.
Frequent buses link the East Wight with both Ryde and Newport.