Sandown and Shanklin

The waterfall at Shanklin Chine

Sandown and Shanklin are seaside towns on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight.

Understand

Sandown and Shanklin are seaside resort towns on Sandown Bay. The bay, which is off the English Channel, is known for a long stretch of easily accessible golden sandy beach.

Sandown is a little faded, it has the island's zoo and the lost Sandown Castle.

Shanklin has the popular Shanklin Chine which is illuminated for summer evenings.

Visitor information

• Sandown
• Shanklin

Get in

By bus

• Southern Vectis. Two routes run from Newport Bus Station via Godshill, Shanklin, Sandown and Brading to the Ryde Terminus. In summer, an Island Coaster bus covers the entire south shore of the island, while a local double-decker Shanklin Breezer runs half-hourly for most of the day within the town, seaside and Old Village. £10/day or £25/week. 

By train

Both 1 Sandown station and 2 Shanklin station are on the Island Line to Ryde.

Get around

• Shanklin Breezer. Hop-on, hop-off bus provides "land train" service between Sandown and Shanklin in summer. £4. 
• Shanklin Steamer. Tourist-orientated half-hourly bus service connecting Shanklin train and bus stations with the beach and Old Village. Summer only. (updated May 2019)

See

• 1 Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Sandown, ☏ +44 1983 404344, fax: +44 1983 407502. Dinosaur museum  
• National Poo Museum, Sandown. Plop-up Poo Museum (Brown’s Golf Course, Sandown) open sporadically, featuring Poo Spheres and other interesting exhibits with staff on hand to chat and answer questions. A permanent facility is planned for 2018. 
• 2 Sandown Castle. A device fort built at Sandown by Henry VIII in April-September 1545. A French attack (during construction in July 1545) stalled, but by 1627 coastal erosion had undermined the castle's walls. The ruins were dismantled in 1631 and a new Sandown Fort built further inland. Possible remains of the foundations of the original castle remain visible along the shore at low tide.  

Do

• 1 Shanklin Chine. The Isle of Wight's most well-known chine. Take a walk and gape at the lush vegetation. There are also birds including cockatiels and macaws, as well as koi carp. Additionally there is a World War II museum as the US Navy trained here in 1944 before D-Day, the chine is also part of the Pipe Line Under The Ocean (PLUTO) which supplied fuel to Cherbourg in Normandy, France. Tickets (as of 2020 and valid for 7 days): adult (15-60) £6.95; child (5–14) £5.30; infant (0-4) free; concessions (OAP, disabled) £5.95; mobility-impaired £3.95; family A (2 adults + 2 children) £22.00; family B (2 adults + 3 children) £24.95. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Isle of Wight Zoo, Yaverland Seafront, Sandown, PO36 8QB, ☏ +44 1983 403883. Mid-Feb to end of Oct: 10AM-4PM; Apr-Sep: 10AM-5:30PM. A privately-owned sanctuary inside a fort on the coastline of Sandown. Shop, café, play area. No pets, no service dogs. £12.10/person, parking £3.  
• 3 Shanklin Theatre, Prospect Road, Shanklin, PO37 6AJ, ☏ +44 1983 868000. Isle of Wight Dance Festival, Christmas Pantomime, a professional summer season and local amateur dramatics. 
• 4 Amazon World Zoo Park, Watery Lane, Nr Arreton, PO36 0LX, ☏ +44 1983 867122. 10AM-5:30PM. £10.95/adult, £8.95/child.  

Eat

• 1 Pavarotti's Italian Restaurant, 105 High St, Shanklin, PO37 6NS, ☏ +44 1983 863528. 
• 2 Pendletons, 85 High St, Shanklin, PO37 6NR, ☏ +44 1983 868727. 
• The Black Cat, 83 High Street, Shanklin, PO37 6NR, ☏ +44 1983 863761, bookings@blackcatrestaurant.co.uk. M-Sa 6-10PM, Su closed. In Shanklin Old Village does good Thai cuisine. (updated May 2022)
• Vernon Cottage, 1 Eastcliff Rd, Shanklin, PO37 6AA, ☏ +44 1983 865411. In Shanklin Old Village is good for lunches. (updated May 2022)

Drink

• 1 King Harry's Bar, Old Village, 6 Church Rd, Shanklin, PO37 6NU, ☏ +44 1983 863119. noon-11PM daily, Su noon-10:30PM. A thatched pub built in 1854 with a pair of Tudor bars, function rooms and Bed & Breakfast accommodation. Live rock-and-roll on Friday nights. 

Sleep

• 1 Sandown Manor, Yaverland Road, Sandown, ☏ +44 1983 402266. 16-room bed and breakfast, bath or shower en-suite, outdoor pool, Wi-Fi in common areas.  
• 2 Rylstone Manor, Rylstone Gardens, 10 Popham Rd, Shanklin PO37 6RG, ☏ +44 1983 862806. Welcoming B&B in Victorian house above the village. Open Feb-Oct, no children under 16, assistance dogs only. B&B double £140. (updated Jul 2020)
• 3 Haven Hall, 5 Howard Rd, Shanklin PO37 6HD, ☏ +44 7914 796494. Gorgeous upscale Arts & Crafts hotel open Apr-Oct, no children under 12. B&B double from £420. (updated Jul 2020)

Go next

• Ventnor
• Bembridge
• Newport (Isle of Wight)

Routes through Sandown and Shanklin

Ryde ← Brading ←

N  S

→ END