Shanklin's beautiful beachShanklin is the most southern of the three settlements that make up the impressive Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight, mentioned in “Our Mutual Friend”, the last novel of Charles Dickens. Once popular with Queen Victoria and members of European royal families who would come to the island for its mineral baths, this pretty town now offers visitors an esplanade boasting an abundance of hotels and restaurants.
From there the road reaches up through a beautiful wooded ravine to the quintessentially English haven of the Old Village. With ancient thatched cottages and pubs, it is a delight to walk around; especially charming is Pencil Cottage, a tearoom and gift shop where you can stock up on local produce and gifts to take home.
Shanklin's coastline
Shanklin also offers a gorgeous sandy beach which is situated between Yaverland in the north and Luccombe in the south. It is divided into two areas – Hope Beach and Small Hope Beach. The Esplanade above Small Hope Beach is wonderful for a stroll, and is full of traditional seaside attractions such as an amusement arcade, crazy golf and a playground. Sadly, the pier was destroyed by fire during the great storm of 1987, but there is a cliff lift which takes you from the beach up to the cliffs – certainly the best way of drinking in the beautiful views across the Channel to France on a clear day. The walks along these cliffs are simply amazing and offer a real sense of peace and tranquility.
One of the most compelling places to visit on the island is Shanklin Chine. A ravine full of sumptuous trees, secret paths and a stunning waterfall, it is especially enchanting on balmy summer nights, when the Chine Lumiere lights up the whole area, with hundreds of bright colours dotting the winding paths and plants - the waterfall even has its own LED display! The aim is to give the feeling of looking up to a cathedral roof and it really is just as magical.
“The ravine is especially enchanting on balmy summer nights...”
If you like to see the sights, churches to visit include The Church of St. Saviour-on-the-Cliff, the quirky St. Blasius Church and St. Paul’s Church - the latter is home to the bell from HMS Eurydice which sank off Dunnose Point in 1843. There are also some lovely parks and gardens dotted around the town – Rylstone Gardens is a real hidden gem near to the Old Village and is the perfect spot to kick back with a book. The bandstand puts on a series of events throughout the summer and you will find a couple of cosy tearooms for colder months!
The two main streets are Regent Street and the High Street – the latter offers gift shops for visitors as well as a multitude of restaurants, and is also home to Shanklin Theatre. You won’t be stuck for places to eat either – bistros, pubs, bars and of course traditional seaside fish and chips, an essential part of an English holiday by the coast! On summer evenings, many restaurants put on entertainment such as live music so it is always worth having a look to see what is on locally.
We have some lovely cottages in and around Shanklin. Why not take a look at some of our Shanklin cottages to feel inspired?