Ventnor Town
Ventnor on the South coast of the Isle of Wight is a picturesque seaside resort, and one of Britain's most famous Victorian health resorts due to its unique micro-climate.
The town lies beneath St Boniface Down (the highest point on the Isle of Wight) and for the most part is built on the side of a steep hill leading down to the seafront and beach.
The beach huts that line the back of the beach are converted Victorian “bathing machines” and are available to hire, along with deckchairs and private areas.
Ventnor has plenty of things to do both in the town and nearby.
Ventnor Beach is a great suntrap, and the sand and shingle beach is great for sunbathing and family swimming.
Ventnor Marina and the bandstand development are very prominent on the seafront and offer a great viewing platform to look out to sea, and the Ventnor Haven Fishery sells the best in local crab and lobster.
Opposite the marina the spectacular Cascade Gardens run down the side of the cliff where the main road zig-zags its way back up into the main town.
Further along there is a children’s paddling pool which features a giant map of the Isle of Wight, and from here there are great walks to Wheelers Bay and Bonchurch along the Sea Wall.
A short distance from the seafront at the Western side of the town you can stroll through the beautiful Victorian Ventnor Park. This leads onto the famous Ventnor Botanic Gardens at the Undercliff, where the town’s micro-climate can be truly appreciated in a 22 acre sub-tropical paradise, see if you can spot the indigenous wall lizards here.
A short walk from here and you will discover one of the Isle of Wight’s best kept secrets, Steephill Cove, which is one of the most relaxing beaches on the Island.
Along Ventnor esplanade there are several pubs, cafes and restaurants offering a variety of food and refreshments, with a number of alternative places to eat further into town.
With the local fisheries there are some great fish and seafood options available at many of the eateries, and some of the local hotels are highly recommended for their fine dining experiences.
In recent years Ventnor has become the regular host of several big arts and culture events, with the Isle of Arts Festival and Ventnor Fringe.
It is also one of the Isle of Wight’s main carnival towns, with daytime and illuminated processions usually taking place during the summer months.
A short drive along the coast is one of the Isle of Wight’s best known attractions, Blackgang Chine, and regular events are hosted here to entertain all the family.
You can enjoy the spectacular scenery from the top deck of one of the regular buses that serves the town.
Catch a bus northwards to Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde, or travel across the Island to Godshill, Newport or Cowes.