Coastal Visitors Centre

Dudley Road, Ventnor, PO38 1EJ (view map)
Telephone: 01983 857220
Website: www.coastalwight.gov.uk

Opening times: All year, closed on Sundays
Admission prices: Free

The centre provides a fascinating insight into the Island's Internationally important coastal and marine environment. A themed display helps visitors to decide where to visit around the 110km coastline and what can be found of interest at each particular location.

The Centre shows the Island's coast to be a dynamic, ever changing land and seascape which creates a wealth and diversity of plant & animal life. The complex geology & varied habitats present coastal management problems in some areas as a result of cliff falls, landslides, coastal erosion and flooding.

The centre also provides the opportunity to see a video of the exploration of the Pomone, a ship wrecked off the Needles in 1811, and how our ancestors have moved settlements as a result of sealevel rise. A small aquarium enables you to come face to face with the locally caught sealife.