The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place with a lot of history. It’s no wonder that people have questions about it! In this blog, we’ll answer some of the most common questions that people have about the Isle of Wight.
How big is the Isle of Wight?
The Isle of Wight is around 9 miles wide and 13 miles long, making it one of the larger British Isles. It’s about the same size as the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Wight is roughly diamond-shaped and extends through approximately 22.5 miles from east to west, and about 13.5 miles from north to south, giving it a land mass of about 147m².
Where is the Isle of Wight?
The Isle of Wight is a large island that lies off the south coast of England, in the English Channel, and is separated from the mainland by the deep strait known as The Solent.
The Isle of Wight was considered part of Hampshire until 1890, when it became it’s own county.
How to get to the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is easy to get to, and there are a couple of ways to get there. The most common mode of transportation to the island is the Ferry, though there are a couple of small airports located on the island for private flights.
Ferry
There are approximately 200 ferry crossings a day between the Isle of Wight and the Mainland, primarily from Southampton and into East Cowes. However, there are also smaller ferry transfers out of Portsmouth and Lymington into Ryde, Cowes, East Cowes, Fishbourne and Yarmouth. The latter three also have the capability to carry vehicles.
Fly
If you don’t like boats, or own a plane – then there are two small airports located on the Isle of Wight, situated in Sandown and Bembridge. The airports both feature a grass surface runway, and fuel is available on a self-serve basis. The airports are open all year and radio coverage at the tower is available between 09:00 and 17:00 local time, or sunset (whichever is earlier), seven days a week.
More information about the Isle of Wight Airports can be found here.
How many people live on the Isle of Wight?
The population on The Isle of Wight by the end of 2021 was counted at 142,296, a breakdown since the 1800s can be found below:
- 1801: 22,097
- 1861: 55,362
- 1921: 94,666
- 1981: 111,261
Where to stay on the Isle of Wight
There are so many different places to stay on the Isle of Wight, from Hotels to Bed and breakfasts right the way to self-catering camping.
We have selected one from each category, which can be found below:
Luccombe Hall Hotel
The Luccombe Hall Hotel is a stunning hotel located on top of the cliff in Shanklin. The superior sea-facing rooms feature their own private balconies which provide one of the best views on the island. The hotel is just a couple of minutes away from the town of Shanklin and offers a range of top-quality facilities.
Read more about our Top 5 Hotels on the Isle of Wight.
The Stag
The Stag: Bed and Breakfast is a gorgeous, family-run pub located in the heart of the Island, between West Cowes and Newport – providing great access and freedom of travel to both Newport town centre and Cowes.
The Stag offers 4 beautiful, homely rooms and an amazing full morning breakfast, lunch and evening main menu. The team welcome guests with open arms to enjoy the full stag experience, by warming themselves by the open fires in colder months or enjoying the large private garden and terrace area in the summer months.
Cheverton Copse Holiday Park
If you prefer to camp or stay in a static caravan, then Cheverton Copse Holiday Park is the perfect place for your holiday or short break. The site is situated within an unspoilt countryside between the sandy beaches of Sandown and Shanklin.
The site has achieved a 4-star holiday park rating and the David Bellamy Gold Award for conservation and has 57 caravans, with a variety of styles and prices to suit all budgets. All caravans come equipped with an 8 channel colour TV, fridge, gas cooker, microwave, shower, basin and WC.
How to move to the Isle of Wight
If you are interested in moving to the Isle of Wight there are certainly a few things to consider. Firstly, moving to an Island is probably a huge change of lifestyle, so you should check our blog about the 6 things to do on the Isle of Wight.
Aside from the change of lifestyle, there isn’t much difference, especially with regards to work, schools, shops, home prices, etc… The Island is considered part of the UK and as a result, all of the same laws and policies are the same, and purchasing a new property is the same. First, you’ll need to get in touch with one of the top 5 Estate Agents on the Isle of Wight and arrange to view some properties.
Once you’ve found and purchased your new property, it’s time to make the move – and it’s a good idea to choose a removal company that specialises on moving people onto the Isle of Wight, such as Isle of Wight Removals.