Sandown Sandown bay © IW Tourism
A superb position on sweeping Sandown Bay makes the sparkling resort of Sandown a favourite family holiday resort.
In the mid 19th century Sandown's potential as a seaside resort was recognised and it soon became popular with many well-known visitors including Lewis Carroll, Charles Darwin, John Keats and Henry Longfellow. Many of the large hotels along the esplanade reflect this popularity, still retaining their fine Victorian and Edwardian facades with terraces, balconies and ornamental wrought ironwork.
A stroll along Sandown's high street will reveal a range of cafes, restaurants and individually owned shops where you can be sure of a personal service. Every Sunday the High Street becomes the Island's high street market and you can savour the traditional market atmosphere as you wonder between stalls and shops.
A visit to the Sandown Geology Museum will reveal millions of years of the Island's geological history through an unusually large collection of fossils found on the Island, many of them rare. In Melville Street there are daily demonstrations of glass blowing and sculpturing at a glassmakers studio.
To the north of the town in Granite Fort is a zoo and big cat sanctuary. Other amusements and facilities on offer include an 18-hole golf course, The Heights Leisure Centre with indoor swimming pool, and Sandham grounds with tennis, bowls and putting. There is a rail way station with connections to Shanklin, Lake, Brading and Ryde. There is also a cinema nearby in the small town of Lake.
From a magnificent, safe sandy beach you can enjoy great swimming and all kinds of water sports including surfing, boating, water skiing and jet bikes. With its gentle slope and find golden sands, Sandown is a favourite beach destination for families. For added piece of mind the Isle of Wight Council operates a Kid zone scheme in selected areas.
On the pier there is entertainment, arcades and a fun fair. The Dotto train will take you all along the seafront and into the town centre. From the southern end of the esplanade, the seawall and promenade now extends for two miles, all the way to Shanklin.
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