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Explore Isle of Wight attractions from Shanklin accommodation

The Isle of Wight is generally warmer than the South of the mainland, which makes it a top holiday destination for tourists in the UK. The island has many places of outstanding beauty and plenty of history to absorb from dinosaurs, smuggling, Roman villas, castles, historic houses, and lighthouses to shipwrecks and exhibitions. There are plenty of gift shops and places to visit, with pubs serving excellent locally caught seafood and offering fine views. It’s no surprise that most who go to the island for the first time, return to visit again. There are plenty of Shanklin accommodation to stay at and things to do even if you don’t wish to see many of the island’s attractions. Here are some of them described in more detail.

Osbourne House

Osbourne House was built in Cowes on the Isle of Wight as a country retreat for Queen Victoria and soon became a family residence. The building was designed by Prince Albert and communicates Albert’s fondness for Italian art and architecture. After Queen Victoria died Osbourne House became unused by the Royal family and was donated to the nation. Private apartments and gardens are now open to the public and have remained virtually unchanged, enabling visitors to get an insight into the Royal family life. You can book Shanklin accommodation and come to Cowes for a visitor’s tour, taking you through both public and private rooms once used by the Royal family.

Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle, best known as the place where King Charles I was imprisoned, is one of the main tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight. It has stood for over 800 years and resisted a siege by the French and fought off the attack of the Spanish Armada. Inside the castle there is Carisbrooke Museum which provides visitors with more historical information about the castle as well as Charles I memorabilia including his personal relics, documents, prints and armour. If you book Shanklin accommodation, you can have a great value family day out on the Isle of Wight. While visiting the castle, your children may also love dressing up as Norman soldiers or Civil War troopers and meeting the castle's famous donkeys.

Dinosaur Isle

Shaped like a giant pterosaur, Dinosaur Isle is an interactive museum where you can discover the world of dinosaurs. Located not far away from Shanklin and Sandown, the museum displays the fossilised remains of animals and plants that used to live on the island. You can book Shanklin accommodation and visit the museum the same day. The main exhibition is based on a reconstructed landscape so you can see fleshed models of the main Isle of Wight dinosaurs as well as teeth, bones and reconstructed skeletons of some of the rarest dinosaurs in the UK.

Attractions on the Isle of Wight cater for all age groups from children to senior citizens. Whether you´re travelling alone or with a family, the list of to-do things is almost endless. You can choose between a wide range of Shanklin accommodation and attractions to suit any taste and budget. There are parks and gardens to relax in as well as a wide variety of great activities on offer.

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