ISLAND EXPLORER
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  • Home
  • About us
  • Guided Island Tours
    • Island Winter Tour
    • Round The Island Tour
    • Island Ghost Tour
    • Terms & important info
  • Mainland VIP Excursions
    • Goodwood Festival of Speed
    • Terms & important info
  • VIP and Corporate Charter
    • Terms and conditions
  • Tour Guide Services
    • Terms
  • Web Cams
  • Client feedback
  • Island Attractions
    • Bus and Coach Museum
    • Butterfly and Fountain World
    • Godshill Model Village
    • Steam Railway
  • Island Pubs
    • Sportsman's Rest
    • Bonchurch Inn
    • The Solent Inn
    • The Bugle Inn (Brading)
    • Buddle Inn
    • The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Newport
    • Fisherman's Cottage
    • Folly Inn
    • Hare & Hounds
    • Pilot Boat Inn, Bembridge
    • Returns policy
    • Coach driver's CD
    • Poll
  • Island Towns & Villages
    • Brading
    • Godshill
    • Newport
    • Ryde
    • Sandown
    • Shanklin
    • Ventnor
  • Blog
  • DVD trailers
    • Brian May clip
    • Ryde Diamond Jubilee Parade & Fireworks
    • Local events
    • Carnivals
  • Contact us

ISLE of WIGHT

Guided Tours, Tour Guide Services
​& VIP/Corporate Coach Charter



Welcome back to 

​ISLAND EXPLORER 

Incorporating

Picture


​The Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is situated off the central south coast of England and is separated from the mainland by The Solent.  It was always regarded as an important maritime feature as it provides a natural 'defence' of Portsmouth, Britain's most important Naval base. 

Often described as ‘England in miniature’ the island today has a population of 150,000 and is 147 square miles in area and has just under 60 miles or 100 km of coast line. From east to west between The Needles and Forelands at Bembridge is around 23 miles and north to south between Egypt Point at Cowes and St. Catherine’s Point is just over 13 miles. The Island was named ‘Vectis’ by the Romans when they invaded Britain in 43 AD and the name remains today on the island’s buses.

Perhaps the most famous resident was Queen Victoria who made the island a fashionable holiday destination from 1846 when her husband, Prince Albert, the Prince Consort & building contractor Thomas Cubitt built Osborne House at East Cowes. Osborne became her favourite holiday retreat and following the premature death of her beloved Albert in 1861, she spent most of her remaining life in recluse at the house. The Queen died at Osborne in January 1901.

Queen Victoria is not the only royal associated with the island of course as King Charles 1st was imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle between 1647 and 1648 prior to his trial and execution in 1649. 

We hope you enjoy browsing our website and that we can assist you in some way to enjoying the Island to the full!
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Island Explorer is a registered trade mark; UK 03029653
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​Island Explorer is a registered trade mark; UK3029653..
  • Home
  • About us
  • Guided Island Tours
    • Island Winter Tour
    • Round The Island Tour
    • Island Ghost Tour
    • Terms & important info
  • Mainland VIP Excursions
    • Goodwood Festival of Speed
    • Terms & important info
  • VIP and Corporate Charter
    • Terms and conditions
  • Tour Guide Services
    • Terms
  • Web Cams
  • Client feedback
  • Island Attractions
    • Bus and Coach Museum
    • Butterfly and Fountain World
    • Godshill Model Village
    • Steam Railway
  • Island Pubs
    • Sportsman's Rest
    • Bonchurch Inn
    • The Solent Inn
    • The Bugle Inn (Brading)
    • Buddle Inn
    • The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Newport
    • Fisherman's Cottage
    • Folly Inn
    • Hare & Hounds
    • Pilot Boat Inn, Bembridge
    • Returns policy
    • Coach driver's CD
    • Poll
  • Island Towns & Villages
    • Brading
    • Godshill
    • Newport
    • Ryde
    • Sandown
    • Shanklin
    • Ventnor
  • Blog
  • DVD trailers
    • Brian May clip
    • Ryde Diamond Jubilee Parade & Fireworks
    • Local events
    • Carnivals
  • Contact us