20 Attractions to Explore Near St Mildred's Church

A beautiful former holiday home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, located on the Isle of Wight. Relax in the open air as you wander rolling acres of the magnificent Osborne estate. The island palace has seen royal weddings, romances and parties grace its rooms and gardens over the last 160 years and now you can write the next chapter in the story of this unique home, and begin your new life together where one of greatest love stories played out.

Red Squirrel Trail is a 32 mile long mostly traffic-free cycling route through the heart of the Isle of Wight’s beautiful countryside. The trail takes in estuaries, woodland, farmland, downland, and a stretch of the Island’s fantastic coastline.

The Wight Military and Heritage Museum is located in Cowes. The museum holds an interesting mix of tanks, artifacts, other vehicles, small arms and a range of uniforms from the 1940's to the present day. One of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

The Classic Boat Museum has been telling visitors and Islanders its wonderful maritime story since 1996. It has an extensive collection of artifacts, models, photographs, and uniforms. It is located on the Isle of Wight at two separate sites on either side of the River Medina; The Boat Collection in Cowes, and The Gallery in East Cowes.

Butterfly World is a butterfly zoo located on the Isle of Wight. It opened on 1 May 1983 as part of the Medina Garden Centre tourist attraction. It includes an indoor sub-tropical garden with free-flying butterflies.

This Gold award-winning sanctuary is home to a diverse collection of rescued primates and birds of prey. Whooping gibbons, cheeky macaques, cute capuchins and curious owls are just some of the fantastic animals here.

The Quay Arts Centre is the Isle of Wight’s leading art gallery and venue for live arts events. It is situated in a converted 19th Century brewery warehouse complex located at the head of the River Medina in the centre of Newport. The complex features three art galleries, a crafts shop, a 134 capacity theatre, conferencing facilities and a cafe and was fully refurbished in 1997 by architect Tony Fretton. The Quay Arts owns and operates Jubilee Stores, also located on Newport Quay.

Newport Minster is a parish church serving at the heart of Newport and the Isle of Wight, where anyone and everyone is welcome. It’s fascinating history has links to Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House and the Royals. Follow it from the Middle Ages, through Elizabethan times, the Civil War and Queen Victoria right up to the present day.

Quarr Abbey Situated just off the south coast of England, which is home to a small group of Benedictine monks who dedicate their lives to the glory of God. Visit this beautiful church and wander around the grounds to experience the tranquil atmosphere. There was a art gallery where local artists display their artwork or browse the bookshop, where you can buy published works by a member of the community of monks along with other Quarr Abbey souvenirs.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a multi-award-winning heritage railway and museum set in the heart of the Isle of Wight’s countryside. Here you can enjoy a ride on the majestic steam trains, take in the Island’s stunning countryside and explore the four stations along the five and a half miles of line. The railway passes through 5+1⁄2 miles of countryside from Smallbrook Junction to Wootton station, passing through the small village of Havenstreet, where the line has a station, headquarters a

Thorness Bay is an 86.2 hectare Site of special scientific interest which is located on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight, England, in the western arm of the Solent. The site was notified in 1966 for both its biological and geological features. The bay stretches about 3 km from Salt Mead Ledge in the west to Gurnard Head to the east.

Carisbrooke Castle Museum is the only public museum in the UK founded by a member of the Royal family and is an accredited local history museum run by an independent Charitable Trust. It was founded as a memorial to Princess Beatrice’s husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg, who had died during the Ashanti campaign in 1896 and it holds many important collections that is connected with the history of the Isle of Wight, including social history, medieval history and so more.

Carisbrooke Castle has been an artillery fortress, king's prison and a royal summer residence. Today it’s the quintessential romantic castle, with lots to see and enjoy. Most famously, Charles I was held prisoner here during the Civil War, shortly before his execution. Since then Carisbrooke Castle has remained a symbolic centre for the island, not least as the residence of its governor.

A beautiful 88 acres of natural parkland with stunning woodland, open rolling countryside and curated water gardens for endless exploration. The park has four main rides: A quarter-mile downhill toboggan, 4D Motion Cinema, 'Cows Express' Junior train ride and the 'Colossus' a swinging galleon boat ride. On the site of Robin Hill is the buried farmstead of Combley Roman Villa. This is explained in the 'Romans at Robin Hill' exhibition when at the park.

One of the ideal locations for birdwatchers and natural enthusiasts. The long stretch of shingle beach is popular with kite surfers and wind surfers, families, and holidaymakers. From the shoreline, you can look across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Watch yachts, ferries and cargo ships on their way to and from the harbors and marinas dotted along the south coast

Ryde's pier is the second-longest seaside pier in the country. Only Southend's is longer. The original wooden structure at Ryde opened in 1814. At 1,740 feet, it allowed ferries to berth even at low tide, when the sea retreats half-a-mile from the shore. It was extended in 1824, and reached its present length of nearly 1/2 mile by 1842.

Rosemary’s Vineyard has become One of the most iconic vineyard and has produced some of the most highly regarded Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in California. ll English wine, liqueurs, juices and ciders are made on the estate from grapes/apples grown on the estate. Relax and enjoy a taste of the good life in this peaceful setting.

Calshot beach forms part of a mile-long shingle spit that reaches out into the mouth of Southampton Water. From here you get a great view of the ships coming and going from one of the UK’s largest ports. It was home to one of the UK’s biggest outdoor and watersport centers The beach also offers panoramic views of the Solent, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.

An impressive collection of Island buses and coaches dating from 1927 to more recent examples are housed here. There are over 20 vehicles on display. These include a 20 seater Dennis Ace bus, beautifully restored to as new 1934 condition, which worked the Ryde - Alum Bay Coastal Route pre-war. The museum hosts two bus rallies of its own. There is one event in May, running day.

The Hovercraft Museum is the only one in the world dedicated to this unique concept. The collection consists of approximately 60 hovercraft, ranging in size from single-seat fun craft to giant SRN4 that used to operate across the English Channel. Here, visitors can see famous hovercraft from film and television, climb aboard historic specimens, and see the very first proof-of-concept machines that led the way to the hovercraft revolution.