Bringing history to life

From Victorian forts and monastic ruins to Bronze Age burial mounds and hilltop castles, the Isle of Wight is steeped in history, even boasting the UK’s oldest pier and one of the country’s earliest surviving phone boxes.

It’s the perfect destination for all things historical, geological and archaeological, whether you fancy joining druids for the summer solstice at the prehistoric Longstone or meeting the donkeys that turn the wheel of a 16th century well.

Whilst there are enough historical hotspots to fill an age or an epoch, we’re about to take you around some of our favourites, so pack your travelling chest and straighten up that bowler hat as you step back in time at our award-winning Isle of Wight attractions.

First things first, it’s time to polish up that chain mail and gallop over to Carisbrooke Castle. Throughout the summer months, the castle often comes alive with thrilling historical re-enactments and medieval spectacles. Watch as rival knights charge toward each other at full speed in the ultimate display of chivalry and honour. Expect shimmering armour, shattering lances and an abundance of thundering hooves.

Visitors should also keep an eye out for special events like the Knight’s Tournament, which aside from gallant warriors clashing swords in a Grand Melee – comes with a medieval encampment, where you can meet costumed characters from the Middle Ages, see traditional crafts in action and discover what life was really like in centuries past.

Next, it’s time to let off some steam (quite literally), at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Step aboard at Havenstreet and make yourself comfy in a painstakingly restored Victorian carriage, complete with shimmering brass fittings and nostalgic sooty smells.

As the conductor’s whistle sounds and the train begins chugging towards Wootton, keep an eye out the window for red squirrels and woodpeckers whilst the track wends its way through swathes of ancient woodland.

For some Isle of Wight history with an international twist, head to Osborne – once Queen Victoria’s palace by the sea (designed in an Italian style, by her German husband). Explore the underground kitchens where South Asian chefs prepared the Queen’s favourite chicken curry, stroll down to the Swiss Cottage where the young princes and princesses once played and then skim stones on the beach – just like the Russian Tsar’s children did on a visit in 1909.

As the sun sets and the night draws in, the historical experiences don’t have to end – with plenty of characterful cottages and comfy four-posters to spend the night in.

Stay on the estate of Victorian Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in one of the self-catering cottages at the beautiful Farringford Estate at Freshwater. For a truly unique experience, you can even stay in the poet’s former stables.

Alternatively, check into the historic golf course clubhouse at St. Helens. Now a National Trust holiday let, it was originally the clubhouse of the Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club, which opened in 1882 and became a popular retreat for royalty and high society.

History lovers can also spend the night at a Grade II listed farmhouse beside the atmospheric ruins of the original Quarr Abbey. Founded in 1132 by Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon and Lord of the Isle of Wight, the Cistercian abbey stood here for centuries before being dismantled during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

In East Cowes, Albert Cottage offers a royal connection of its own. Once part of Queen Victoria’s Osborne Estate, this Grade II listed boutique hotel is set within two acres of landscaped gardens and provides an elegant base from which to explore the Island’s rich heritage.

If you prefer modern comforts with a military history twist, consider staying at Fort Redoubt or Golden Hill Fort. Perched above Freshwater Bay, Fort Redoubt was built during the Victorian era in 1856 as part of Lord Palmerston’s coastal defence programme, originally constructed to provide defence for the Needles battery, while Golden Hill Fort, built shortly after, once housed soldiers protecting the western approaches to the Solent. Today, both have been thoughtfully converted into distinctive holiday accommodation, allowing guests to enjoy a stay steeped in history without sacrificing contemporary luxury.

If there’s space in the diary, set your coordinates for High Down Rocket Test Site, near Alum Bay. Originally a secret, this coastal concrete facility saw the launch of numerous test missiles and rockets during the height of the Cold War, with teams of operators directing the action from bunkers dug deep into the chalk cliffs below. Not only a must-visit for aerospace aficionados, the site also offers the most spectacular view of The Needles rocks and lighthouse – an unmissable seaside selfie for any Isle of Wight visit.

Next, why not put the wind in your sails – with a trip to the Island’s last surviving windmill. Standing on the edge of Bembridge village since the early 1700s, it ground corn into flour for generations of hungry locals, before becoming a Home Guard lookout post in the Second World War, and finally being saved from dereliction by villagers in the 1950s. Today, you can climb to the top of the fully restored mill, touch the three-hundred-year-old machinery and even get those muscles pumping as you try your hand at grinding flour yourself.

Rounding off this tour of historical hotspots is an evening excursion to the Island’s oldest attraction – Shanklin Chine. Once a hiding place for local smugglers, this stunning tree-lined gorge has been visited by Keats, Dickens and even Jane Austen since first opening its gates in 1817! As darkness falls, it takes on a mystical aura, as ‘the wondrous Chine’ is transformed with hundreds of coloured lights illuminating its paths, streams and waterfalls, adding a goosebump-inducing atmosphere to this already magical must-see destination.

Whether you’re exploring royal residences, uncovering medieval legends, following in the footsteps of poets and monarchs, or discovering the Island’s military past, the Isle of Wight offers a journey through centuries of fascinating history. With remarkable attractions, memorable places to stay and stories waiting around every corner, it’s a destination where the past truly comes to life.

• A version of this article, written by author James Rayner, first appeared in the Summer 2022 Wightlife Magazine