Luxury holidays in Isle of Wight

When to go

The Isle enjoys the finest weather in the UK, so it’s perennially popular as a summer destination. Sought-after spots can get busy at this time, as does the Isle of Wight Festival, which runs for four days around mid-June.

Getting there

• Planes

  The closest international airport is Southampton; fairly modest in size, it’s best for domestic flights and some of the closer European airports. Those coming from further afield, or from transatlantic destinations, should fly to London Heathrow. Car transfers to Portsmouth and Southampton take around an hour and a half depending on traffic.

• Boats

  To get to the island, you’ll need to take a ferry; these depart from Southampton, Lymington and Portsmouth, with most services running seven days a week. The fastest option comes in the form of a hovercraft – note that this only takes foot passengers. It takes less than 10 minutes to make the journey between Southsea in Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Regular ferries, including those that will transport cars, take between 20 and 40 minutes depending on departure and arrival point.

• Automobiles

  Car hire is available on the island, but it’s also common for visitors to bring their own on one of the car-ferry services. All the main towns are connected by well-built roads, some of which could even be described as spectacular; Military Road is regularly voted one of the best roads to drive on in the UK, owing to the views of undulating limestone cliffs along the coastline. If possible, avoid town centres during rush hour, as things can get a little congested.