Isle

THE Isle of Wight is known for its Mediterranean-looking beaches, ‘back in time’ towns and being one of the sunniest spots in Britain.

If you fancy a visit – and we suggest you do – here’s everything you need to know, from the best hotels to the quieter beaches, as well as how to get discounts on the ferry and where to find the island-made sparkling blue wine.

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To find out all the best bits about the British island, Sun Travel sought out the help of an insider who has been there almost 100 times.

Darragh Gray, who hails from Northern Ireland, has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight since he was just three years old.

When family school holidays came to an end, Darragh was so taken with the place that he continued to visit and has already planned four trips this year.

Talking to Sun Travel, Darragh describes the isle as “magical” and, at the right time of year, even comparable to the Mediterranean.

Best beaches

As the Isle of Wight is only 22.5 miles long, you’re never too far from a beach. For some bucket and spade fun, Darragh knows exactly where you should visit.

He says: “If you’re looking for a beach with all the fun of the traditional seaside, you can’t beat Sandown. It has miles of sand that run from a pier at one end to the cliffs at the other.

“Another great spot is a beach resort called Ventnor, which has striking red and gold sand and shingle; that’s a lovely one to visit.”

For more of a rural coastline escape, Darragh suggests heading to West Wight, which has dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.

He says: “Compton Bay is a lovely spot that feels remote, and you can go fossil hunting on the beach.

“Freshwater Bay is interesting because on a stormy day it looks wild with huge waves on the edge of the Atlantic.

“But on a calm summer’s day, you can feel like you’re on a Greek island.”

Other secluded spots include Bembridge on the East Coast and the quiet beach found on Totland Bay.

Local gems

The town of Cowes in the west is famous for yachting and well known, but what tourists don’t know about is the secret spot around the corner.

Darragh says: “About 30-minutes walk around the coast, there’s a little village called Gurnard.

“It has a lovely little beach and beautiful sunsets.”

It’s bordered by green beach huts, and there’s a traditional pub called The Woodvale found beyond the green where you can watch boats bob along the water.

Another secret spot is Seaview – the small Edwardian resort is just beyond Ryde.

Darragh says visitors will love it for its “lovely coastline”, which is much quieter as it’s away from the main resorts.

He also named Steephill Cove near Ventnor as a “lovely hidden place” that can only be reached on foot.

The fishing cove is known for its safe sandy beach, perfect for swimming, with plenty of rock pools for exploring.

Pubs

Who can stay away from a pub on holiday, whether it’s a refreshing pint you’re after or a glass of wine in a sunny garden?

Well, there are lots of lovely ones on the Isle of Wight, with sea views or overlooking the countryside.

When it comes to his favourites, Darragh told us about one in Shanklin.

He says: “Tucked under the cliffs is the Fisherman’s Cottage; it’s a lovely pub away from the main beach – sitting on the patio is one of my favourite places to be.

“Or the south side of the island, in Ventnor, is The Buddle Inn, which dates back to the 16th century and used to be a spot for smugglers back in its day.

“It’s lovely to sit by the fire in the winter, or in the garden in the summer.”

Another favourite is The Culver Haven Inn, thanks to its outdoor terrace that has sea views in “three different directions”.

It’s isolated up on the cliffs, but there are plenty of walking routes around it.

When it comes to country pubs, Darragh says: “The Blacksmiths is a country inn near Halsbrook, which I think is one of the most tranquil locations on the island.

“You can eat, drink and take in the views all the way down to the Solent.”

Another is The Crown Inn in Shorwell, which Darragh describes as quiet and historic with a “great gastropub menu”. On Sundays, they serve up pub lunches, as well as dishes like steak and chips, and of course, plenty of fish dishes.

Number 3, that’s tucked away at the top of the high street in Cowes, is a restaurant that Darragh says offers good value.

He also recommends the Basque Kitchen, which has “outstanding tapas”.

A higher-end restaurant is the RT Cafe Grill in Ryde, which is right by the sea, and has an à la carte menu, grill specials and Sunday roasts too.

The True Food Kitchen in Ventnor cooks up Asian-inspired food made from local ingredients.

Darragh says: “They’ve just opened up a second restaurant in Castlehaven where you can sit outside and look over the cliffs – it’s very magical.”

Seaside favourites

No trip to the seaside is complete without going to the chippy.

Darragh has two that are his standouts.

He tells us: “The first is the Happy Haddock in Shanklin, and Stotesburys in Newport, which is the oldest fish and chip shop on the island, and both are great value for money.”

When it comes to soft serve treats and gelato, head to Ventnor.

“There’s a fantastic Victorian ice cream parlour in Ventnor called Crave, which makes a whole range of ice cream on site every day.”

It has rotating flavours from Dubai chocolate pistachio to Cabana (coconut, caramel, cherries and chocolate) and salted butter and ginger cake.

If you happen to be in Newport, pop into Minghella.

It’s called an ‘institution’ serving ice cream for over 75 years, and a must-try, according to Darragh, is their unique ginger ice cream.

Local food and blue wine

When it comes to food, the Isle of Wight harvests a lot of its own produce, from tasty tomatoes to fresh seafood, and in one case, blue wine.

“There’s one commercial vineyard on the island called Adgestone, and what you can buy from there is sparkling wine: white, red, and blue. I once took the wine to a barbecue, and everyone was fascinated by it.

“The colour blue comes from the skin of the grapes, and I don’t know how they do it, but it’s an incredible turquoise-blue colour, and very tasty.”

Mermaid Gin, which is sold around the country, is also made on the island, and you can even visit the distillery. At the Mermaid Bar, you can sample cocktails made with their distilled gins and rum made from island botanicals. Think a ‘Ginacolada’ and Mermaid Margarita.

Free activities

For animal lovers, the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which has 109 donkeys, is a great spot – it’s open seven days a week, and is completely free.

Another free activity is at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Bembridge, which opens a few days a week to the public.

There are some quirky museums too, like the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum in Ryde, which is full of historic vehicles and completely free.

On display are around 20 vehicles, transport artefacts and photographs as well as a cafe and shop.

Festivals

During the spring and summer seasons, the Isle of Wight comes alive with festivals across the island.

Darragh has some suggestions, one of which is slightly unconventional.

He says: “The garlic festival is one of my favourites, I went for the first time last summer and can’t wait to go back this year.

“It’s a mix between a food festival and a country fair with lots of food stalls and dog shows.”

This year, the Garlic Festival is taking place between August 15-16, with tickets still on sale.

For keen hikers, the Isle of Wight is full of trails, and there are even organised Walking Festivals – some are free of charge. You can ride the Isle of Wight Steam Railway throughout the year, but they also hold festivals.

One is the Real Ale Festival, where local brewers offer a selection of beers and ciders – it was last held in May so anyone wanting to attend will have to keep an eye out for next year’s event.

Of course, one of the most famous events on the island is the Isle of Wight Music Festival. This year it’s between June 18 and June 21 with Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, and The Cure all headlining.

Hotels

There are plenty of places to stay scattered across the island, from large hotels to tiny guesthouses.

Darragh says: “I’m a big fan of supporting independent businesses – there’s a big choice of private hotels and B&Bs.

“In terms of where you might want to base yourself, Shanklin is great, especially for first-time visitors because it has a village and a beach.”

“Places I’ve stayed in there and I’d be happy to recommend are the Havelock Hotel, and then there’s a slightly larger Channel View Hotel, which has an indoor pool.”

If you fancy a hotel stay in Shanklin, then Darragh suggests The Curraghmore, which is a family-run B&B with rooms from £90per night.

It’s a great spot for anyone wanting to enjoy spring sunshine as it has beachfront access, a sun terrace and a pretty garden.

The Chestnuts first became a B&B in the 1940s, and is still operating as one today – guests can relax in its suntrap patio and get breakfast included.

Rooms here start from £45 per night and range from singles to family suites.

Number 29 is a small adults-only B&B with rates from £42.50 based on two adults sharing a double room.

All three rooms are en-suite with tea and coffee facilities as well as free Wi-Fi, and include a full English breakfast cooked to order in the mornings.

Darragh adds: “Cowes is a great place to stay, it’s got a lovely High Street, lots of good restaurants and independent shops. There are a couple of places I’ve stayed there.

“One boutique hotel is called Onefifty, which I was really impressed with, or if you fancy staying in a pub, then check into The Anchor Inn, which has good value rooms.”

He adds: “If you’re looking for a self-catering stay, my top tip would be to look at Sun Holidays because there are two big holiday park companies on the island, Parkdean and Away Resorts.

“I’ve stayed more times than I can count in one of those resorts – I’m going over next week, later in May, and they really are great value.

“I’m consistently able to find off-peak week-long stays on the island from £41; you can have up to six people stay in some of the modern caravans.”

Ferries

To get to the Isle of Wight, visitors will have to book a ferry across the Solent.

Darragh suggests hopping on board a Wightlink service where fares start from £21.90 if taking the foot passenger ferry.

Prices can increase during peak travel, but Darragh says there are ways to keep the cost down that not everyone knows about.

He tells us: “If you’re travelling on foot, or by car with Wightlink, children under five are always free, and during the school holidays, you can take school-aged children on the ferry for free.

“If you’re travelling by train, you can buy a return train ticket to the Isle of Wight that includes the ferry and often works out cheaper.

“It’s especially handy if you have a railcard as that discount is applied to the whole journey and it saves faffing about with multiple tickets.”

Before booking, also check discounts through membership schemes like Blue Light cards, English Heritage, and if you’re a supermarket shopper, you can even use Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Darragh adds: “Lots of accommodation on the island offer discounts on ferries as well, so have a look at that before you book.

“For example, I know that with Parkdean, you can get a significant discount on the ferry when you book a holiday.”

Geraldine Noel was a lawyer in the UK when she accidentally found herself relocating to Malta, a sun-drenched Mediterranean island where English is an official language

It was a complete twist of fate that led high-flying lawyer Geraldine Noel to swap her life for a Mediterranean paradise where English is spoken as a first language.

She said: “I never would have thought adopting a rescue dog and being banned from bringing it into the UK would have led me to settling in Malta, but I love my life here in the sun and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Born in south-west London, Geraldine was offered a position at a Maltese bank. This was before Brexit, she explains, when it was considerably easier for British citizens to live and work across EU nations.

She told the I newspaper how property prices on the sun-soaked island have shifted dramatically since she first arrived 16 years ago: “I’m very fortunate. I was able to purchase a property in the north of the island in St Paul’s Bay 13 years ago. So I’ve been able to avoid the year-on-year increase of property prices that we are currently dealing with.”

Soaring property prices are being driven by a significant surge in demand. Malta’s population is currently estimated to sit at around 580,000 – with much of the growth attributed to American retirees, drawn in by the Mediterranean haven’s warm climate and straightforward access to Italy, Greece, and North Africa. The single largest expat community in Malta, however, remains British – with roughly 15,000 Brits calling the island home.

Geraldine continued: “When I moved, a two-bedroom in St Paul’s Bay would have cost between £150,000 and £250,000 and now that same property would be worth between £200,000 and £350,000.”

This surge in property demand has sparked a construction boom, with new homes and extensions springing up across the island. The downside, Geraldine notes, is increased traffic and noise.

Yet it’s Malta’s tax system that proves most enticing to British expats, she explains: “Tax efficiency is one of the most appealing things about living here. Malta still has the British non-dom regime and a variety of tax breaks that include a 15% rate on income remitted to the country, and no capital gains or inheritance tax.”

Sadly, moving to Malta from the UK has become more complicated in recent years: “The curse of Brexit, though, means it’s so much harder for young people to move over – you have to have a work permit or be on a residency programme,” Geraldine said.

That said, she points out, skilled tradespeople – plumbers, carpenters or electricians – will find abundant opportunities thanks to Malta’s construction surge.

Ultimately, Malta offers an exceptional quality of life, Geraldine insists. She cultivates tropical fruit in her garden and lives just a five-minute stroll from the beach, while still enjoying familiar home comforts for nostalgic Brits: “There are so many things that make Malta appealing to British nationals,” Geraldine says.

“English is an official language, there are British pubs galore that do roasts with all the trimmings, red post boxes, Marks & Spencer. You can get Waitrose and Iceland-branded products in certain supermarkets. I actually have Greggs sausage rolls in the freezer right now.”

Malta remained under British rule until it achieved independence in 1964. As a result, English is one of the island’s two official languages, alongside Maltese.

Dean Harrison set the fastest time in Tuesday’s first qualifying session for the Isle of Man TT.

The Honda Racing rider topped the Superbike leaderboard with a speed of 133.925mph, a time of 16 minutes 54.206 seconds.

The five-time TT winner had earlier posted a lap of 133.222 from a standing start on his opening lap before shaving more than five seconds off his lap time on his second circuit.

The Yorkshireman, now based on the Isle of Man, was a double winner in the Superstock class last year, his first race victories since 2019.

Michael Dunlop was second quickest in the Superbike class on his Hawk Racing Honda at 130.341, almost 28 seconds slower than his rival.

Manx rider Nathan Harrison, Ian Hutchinson, David Johnson and John McGuinness completed the top-six leaderboard.

Australian Josh Brookes led the Superstock qualifying leaderboard thanks to a lap of 130.197 on his DAO Racing Honda, with 14-time winner Peter Hickman second behind the double British Superbike champion with 129.42, followed by Jamie Coward at 128.702.

Dunlop was best of the Supersports on 126.922 on his V2 Ducati, the Northern Ireland rider making a strong start in his bid to extend his run of eight consecutive race wins in the class.

Brookes was second at 124.271 on a Suzuki, then Hickman on his Triumph on 123.584.

Paul Jordan topped the Sportbike speeds thanks to a lap of 120.208 on an Aprilia, with Coward (119.199) and Browne (119.097) second and third respectively.

The concluding sidecar session was ended prematurely because of a red-flag situation.

An update from Race Control said they were “managing an incident that occurred at Brandish”.

The opening practice session of the 2026 event on Monday was red flagged following a crash on the northern section of the 37.7-mile (60km) Mountain Course, leading to the abandonment of the remainder of the day’s schedule.

Two spectators have been subsequently flown to the UK for specialist medical care after a competitor crashed into the crowd.

Event organisers said six other spectators and the motorbike racer had been discharged from hospital.

BRAD PITT and Channing Tatum have halted work on their new Isle Of Man motorbike film after a serious crash at the TT Races over the weekend.

The pair are working on a new movie about the annual gathering, which is regarded as one of the world’s most ­dangerous motorsport events.

Filming had started on the Amazon MGM Studio production over the weekend but was stopped on Sunday following an accident on the opening practice day.

My on-set source said: “Channing was filming on loca­tion when the crash happened with one of the ­professional motorbike riders.

“It ended up being very serious, with eight people taken to hospital after one of the riders crashed into spectators.

“They were taken to hospital for treatment immediately.

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“The film is being made around the same areas so they have an authentic backdrop. As soon as the ­incident happened, filming was halted. Everyone on set was gravely worried about those involved in the incident.

“There is a reason the Isle of Man TT is known as the most dangerous motorbike race.

“The accident brought home to everyone the risks that are involved in this sport.”

Brad — who played racing driver Sonny Hayes in 2025 sports drama F1 — is a producer on the film, which is called Isle Of Man.

Channing has the starring role as one of the bikers.

Channing first started preparing for the film in 2023 when he was seen on the track meeting the riders and their teams.

A documentary series about the Isle of Man TT and called The Greatest Show on Earth, will be released in conjunction with the film.

Earlier this month, TT veteran John McGuinness said he had been helping Channing get ready for the role.

He said: “I speak to Channing a little bit and have a bit of a chat with him, and he just loves it — loves the bikes — I think it’s ­fantastic.

“It’s a big Hollywood thing. I know some of the guys who are involved in it and, you know, let’s hope it’s a success.”

Suki’s a belter

SUKI WATERHOUSE looks stunning in a new fashion campaign for Miu Miu.

The model-turned-singer posed in co-ords for the brand’s Upcycled collection as she gears up to release her third studio album, Loveland.

Suki, who signed a deal with Island Records last summer, will drop the record on July 10.

And it will be her first since she and actor boyfriend Robert Pattinson became parents.

She said: “I finished my last record right as I had my daughter, and this one has been everything since then. The process has been somewhat different because, I think, at the beginning of writing it, I was quite fragile.”

BRITNEY: I WISH FANS WOULD STOP RAKING UP MY PAST

BRITNEY SPEARS has called for an end to “embarrassing things” from her past being shown online – which doesn’t bode well for her big-budget biopic currently in the works.

The pop star made the plea to fans on Instagram weeks after being arrested for driving under the influence and subsequently checking herself into rehab.

In a post online, she wrote: “When you get that awkward, weird feeling you can start to feel that perhaps too much chatter is going on behind your back.

“It actually affects people. I still send them love but most importantly, I hope they feel my smile.

“The media has been a bit much in my opinion and I hope they can respect my unbelievable and miraculous spiritual journey.

“I’m so excited to embrace my journey and hope they stop showing embarrassing things from my past.”

Britney’s biopic was first announced in 2024, when Universal Pictures said it was working on an adaptation of her memoir, The Woman In Me, with Wicked filmmaker Jon M Chu as director.

I told last year how work on the much-publicised project was “not going at full speed” because of concerns that Britney was getting cold feet.

As it stands, the lead role has still not even been cast.

So perhaps Britney doesn’t need to worry about things being dredged up again quite yet.

Timothee Nicks kiss from Kylie

I THINK Kylie Jenner might be Timothee Chalamet’s lucky charm when it comes to his basketball team, the New York Knicks.

The couple were seen going bananas courtside – with Kylie giving Timothee a big kiss – after the Nicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach the NBA finals over the weekend.

It was the first time they have got there in 27 years, having last made an appearance when Timothee was four.

The joy wasn’t shared by everyone though, as across the court Taylor Swift was seen trying to cheer up her Cavaliers fan fiancé Travis Kelce.

As a Spurs supporter who almost chewed off every fingernail over the weekend, I feel his anguish.

SWIFTLY ON TO EMMYS

TAYLOR SWIFT was snubbed at the American Music Awards this week, but she’s not letting that stop her.

The chart-topper has already set her sights on September’s Emmys.

The Look What You Made Me Do singer has submitted her Eras Tour: The Final Show for Outstanding Variety Series and The End Of An Era show for Outstanding Docuseries.

Both were released on Disney+ last year and have become two of its most streamed shows.

Something tells me that Taylor could be getting at least one win in a few months’ time.

KYLIE MINOGUE has only just released her Netflix docuseries, but she is already giving fans more with Kylie: Tension Tour Live, out today on the streamer.

The behind-the-scenes look at her 2025 arena shows gives fans the chance to relive the concerts and her biggest tour in a decade.

PINK P’S BID WAS POINTLESS

PINKPANTHERESS has discovered that there really is such a thing as being too famous.

The Boy’s A Liar singer told fans during her Manchester show on Monday that she once tried to go on BBC quiz show Pointless, only to be rejected because producers thought viewers would recognise her.

She said with a laugh: “I applied for Pointless once and they said I was too famous.”

Given most contestants dream of being remembered for something on the show, that’s really quite a nice problem to have.

MAISIE PETERS is on course to score her second No1 with third album Florescence, two years after The Good Witch topped the charts.

She has competition though from Michael Jackson’s The Essential hits compilation, which is behind at No2 in the midweek figures from the Official Charts.

ARRDEE’S DRUG PAIN

ARRDEE has opened up about his secret battles with alcohol and ketamine addiction, admitting he blew the entire £300,000 from his first record deal on booze and designer clothes.

The Brighton rapper revealed he landed the huge payday aged 18 after bluffing rival labels into a bidding war.

But instead of saving the cash, he confessed: “I p**sed it up the wall.

“I didn’t save a penny even for the tax man. I didn’t even know what tax was.”

ArrDee admitted splashing thousands at Selfridges on Stone Island jumpers and Ralph Lauren polos before spiralling into years of heavy drinking and drug use.

He said: “I was super-numb. We was rock-star living.”

The rapper revealed he would drink heavily while filming videos and eventually developed addictions to alcohol and ketamine.

Asked if he believed he was addicted, he replied: “100 per cent.”

But speaking to Paul C Brunson on his We Need To Talk podcast, he said his older brother suffered a drug-induced psychosis, which changed his outlook on life.

He added: “If I could turn back time and not have fame and music, but have my brother be how he was before, I would.”

The rapper has since settled down with his partner Ocean and they now have a child together, which helped him re-evaluate life.

And he admitted: “I always thought I’d be a bad dad because I didn’t know what a good one looked like.”

It’s Baller or nothing for AJ

AJ TRACEY brought the heat to the Baller League final when he debuted his new track Quaresma live at London’s O2 Arena.

The song was inspired by Portuguese football great Ricardo Quaresma, and rapper AJ walked out with the man himself in front of a packed crowd

The football wasn’t bad either.

Prime FC, run by KSI, took the crown, beating YouTuber Niko Omilana’s NDL FC 5-2 in the final to become Baller League Season Three champions.

Prime FC knocked out Deportrio FC, managed by former Premier League stars Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, in a chaotic 5-3 semi-final.

Where else can you watch football legends, YouTubers and AJ Tracey all share the same pitch?

Only in the Baller League.