Osborne House
Address: East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
Tel: +44 (0)1983 200022

This is a fascinating house steeped in history, providing tourists with a real insight into the Victorian era and Royal family life at that time.
"It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot" said Queen Victoria of Osborne House, her palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight. Visit Victoria and Albert's private apartments, their Isle of Wighting beach and children's play-cottage for an intimate glimpse of royal family life. Then stroll through the garden terraces where the stunning views across the Solent reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples.
Osborne reflects Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's passions, tastes and style. Ornate furnishings and artefacts from The Royal Collection fill rooms and corridors where Victoria entertained heads of state, inventors, princess and princesses and ruled the vast British Empire.
Osborne House was actually designed by Queen Victoria's beloved husband Prince Albert and after her death in 1901, the Royal family chose to donate the entire estate to the nation. The interior is both opulent and extravagant, while the spectacular gardens come with a number of grand statues, terraces, fountains and topiary.
Open hours: daily, April to October - 10:00 to 17:00
Website: OsborneHouse

Nunwell House
Address: Coach Lane, Brading, Isle of Wight, England
Tel: +44 (0)1983 407240
Nunwell House is situated on the outskirts of Brading, close to Kelly's Copse.
One of the Isle of Wight’s beautiful historic houses, set in five acres of tranquil gardens with a stunning historic view overlooking Natural Parkland, Brading Haven, Bembridge Harbour and across the Solent. The House and Garden are open to visitors for part of the year with groups being welcome throughout the year. Part of the house and garden is available for exclusive weddings or functions
This traditional Jacobean and Georgian building dates back to the 12th century and is now a Grade-II listed structure.
Opening Times 2017
May 8th to July 11th
Mon, Tues Only
(Closed Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun)
September 11th to 26th
Mon, Tues Only
(Closed Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun)
Opening hours 1pm to 4.30pm.
The interior of the house is only visited by guided tours at 1.30pm and 3.00pm
Website: www.nunwellhouse.co.uk

Yarmouth Castle
Address: Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England
Tel: +44 (0)1983 760678
Yarmouth Castle is situated in Yarmouth, on the island's western coastline, where it was built in the middle of the 16th century to guard the harbour.
Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight provides a magnificent picnic spot, with views over the Solent for a lovely relaxing family day by the sea. Step inside and discover the atmospheric recreation of how the rooms were used in the 16th century, and see the exhibition about the many wrecks which occurred in the treacherous stretch of sea which the castle overlooks.
This was the last and most sophisticated addition to Henry VIII's coastal defences; it was completed after his death in 1547, with the first new-style 'arrowhead' artillery bastion built in England.
An onsite exhibition tells the story of these treacherous waters, where many ships have been wrecked over the years.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, free to members of the English Heritage
Website: YarmouthCastle