Ventnor, Isle of Wight
About Ventnor
One of the sunniest spots on the Island, Ventnor can be found perched on a cliff top in the very South of the Island. The climate has enabled the famed Botanic Gardens to transport visitors to a subtropical paradise generously spread over 22 acres of grounds.
Terraced roads zigzag down to the beach, where there’s a paddling pool and amusements as well as plenty of pubs and restaurants specialising in freshly caught seafood. For some of the best Island crab and lobster, Ventnor Haven Fishery is a must.
The seafront's eastern promenade leads to Bonchurch, the Island's best preserved Victorian village. A favourite with Victorian writers including Charles Dickens, who penned part of David Copperfield here, Bonchurch basks in the same sunny micro climate as Ventnor.
Nearby Appuldurcombe Gardens offers 11 acres of parkland, laid out at the end of the 18th century by Capability Brown, with great views of the surrounding downs, and a falconry centre.
Things to do in Ventnor
- Ventnor Botanical Gardens offer 22 acres of exotic plants and tree's, and offer visitors a feeling of being in the Mediterranean more than the Isle of Wight. The gardens are a great escape and there is a modern visitors centre and childrens play park.
- Ventnor's seafront offers a sheltered beach for swimming and sunbathing - the beach is south-facing and so captures the sun's warmth all day.
- There is a coastal path, offering spectacular views of the bay and winding inland to the gardens of Ventnor Park and along the sea wall to the Botanical Gardens.
- There are a host of local shops, restaurants, cafes and tearooms, as well as Ventnor Heritage Centre, which provides visitors with an insight into Ventnor's past.