Isle of Wight: What makes England's sunny island so special
The answer to the question of what makes England's sunny Isle of Wight so special is already in the question. The answer is "the sun," because that's not what England is actually known for. But that's far from everything. The Isle of Wight has much more to offer.
From the beach to the forest in no time. It's possible on the Isle of Wight.
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What makes the island so special is its blend of British lifestyle and Mediterranean flair. Rarely does one experience the politeness of the British against a backdrop of colorful flowers, lush shrubs, palm trees, and bananas.
What else awaits you on the Isle of Wight.
The flora on the Isle of Wight is remarkable. Here, everything can be found in such a small space. Beach vacation in England ? Yes, that's possible. Hiking? Sure. Forest bathing? Anytime.
The Isle of Wight is also ideal for hiking. The Spring Walking Festival takes place from May 10 to 18.
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The island is like a microcosm: steep chalk cliffs reminiscent of Portugal , wide sandy beaches exuding a Mediterranean flair, rolling hills, dense forests, and lush meadows. They all exist within a stone's throw of each other. It's no wonder, then, that the British government declared large parts of the island an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" back in 1963.
Thanks to the botanical garden in Ventnor, there are even palm trees on the Isle of Wight.
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To pay tribute to the magnificent flora, a botanical garden was even established in Ventnor on the sunny south coast of the Isle of Wight in 1970. The Ventnor Botanic Gardens are home to subtropical plants – pure holiday feeling! Thanks to them, the island has even been used as a film set – specifically for films set in the Mediterranean.
The diverse flora comes from the approximately 180 days of sunshine a year with which the Isle of Wight is blessed. For an island in the English Channel, this high number is quite remarkable.
The Isle of Wight lies off England's south coast. The famous English port city of Southampton is directly opposite. At 35 kilometers long and up to 20 kilometers wide, the Isle of Wight is slightly smaller than the Baltic Sea island of Usedom.
Almost too beautiful to be true: the view towards Freshwater Bay.
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Over the years, a variety of celebrities have graced the Isle of Wight. Freshwater, in the west of the island, for example, was home to the famous poet Lord Alfred Tennyson. He was followed in the late 19th century by the naturalist Charles Darwin and the painter G.F. Watts.
Even writers Charles Dickens, creator of "Oliver Twist," and Lewis Carroll, author of "Alice in Wonderland," were drawn to the Isle of Wight. And who knows, perhaps one or two scenes were inspired by the enchanting island.
Later, music icons like The Doors, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Joni Mitchell came to the island. The reason? The famous Isle of Wight Festival. It took place in 1968, 1969, and 1970. The latter, with around 600,000 people, attracted more people than the legendary Woodstock Festival. Even the Beatles were there – as festivalgoers.
"It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot," Queen Victoria is said to have said. And she had a summer residence built, Osborne House.
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The great British monarch Queen Victoria was a huge fan of the Isle of Wight – right up until her death. In 1901, the Queen died at her summer residence in East Cowes in the north of the island.
Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was an excellent landscape designer. He designed most of the gardens himself.
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The impressive manor house can still be visited today, and the magnificent gardens surrounding it are further testament to the island's wonderful Mediterranean climate.
There were once four "Needles." Today, only three rocks protrude from the water. The lighthouse at the end is now uninhabited—it is operated automatically.
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Anyone planning a trip to the Isle of Wight should definitely plan a few days. Although the island is small, there's plenty to see. The spectacular rock formation "The Needles," for example, consists of three rocks that rise steeply out of the water. There were once four, but one of them was destroyed during a storm in the 18th century.
Alum Bay is known for its multicolored rocks. A chairlift leads up to it.
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Alum Bay is also worth a visit. It is famous for its steep cliffs. Above the small beach, the sandstone cliffs shine in a variety of colors.
Not only the waterfall in Shanklin is worth seeing – the charming cottages with their thatched roofs also enchant visitors.
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Shanklin Chine is said to be the island's oldest tourist attraction. What awaits travelers here? First, a very pretty little town. And then, a waterfall in a gorge with almost tropical vegetation.
Places like Hope Beach in Shanklin prove that you can also have a beach holiday in England.
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At the end of the gorge, there's a beautiful beach for swimming. Let no one say you can't have a beach holiday in England.
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