The Isle of Wight is a separate county of England, lying four miles off the Hampshire coast, known for its mild climate, coastal scenery and verdant landscape. The lozenge-shaped island has begun to shake off its old-fashioned image and attract a younger, livelier crowd, with a couple of major annual rock festivals and a scattering of fashionable hotels. Despite measuring less than 23 miles at its widest point, the island packs in a surprising variety of landscapes and coastal scenery. Its beaches have long attracted holiday-makers and the island was a favourite of such eminent Victorians as Tennyson, Dickens, Swinburne, Julia Margaret Cameron and Queen Victoria herself, who made Osborne House, near Cowes, her permanent home after Albert died.

Osborne House, one mile southeast of Cowes, was built in the late 1840s by Prince Albert and Thomas Cubitt in the style of an Italianate villa, with balconies and large terraces overlooking the landscaped gardens towards the Solent. The state rooms, used for entertaining visiting dignitaries, exude formality as one would expect, while the private apartments feel homely in a manner appropriate to an affluent family holiday residence that Osborne was.

Following Albert’s death, the desolate Victoria spent much of her time here, and it’s where she eventually died in 1901. Since then, according to her wishes, the house has remained virtually unaltered, allowing an intimate glimpse into Victoria’s family life. The island became a fashionable holiday resort, including for Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Julia Margaret Cameron, and Charles Dickens (who wrote much of David Copperfield there), as well as the French painter Berthe Morisot and members of European royalty. Until then, the island had been rural, with most people employed in farming, fishing or boat-building. The boom in tourism, spurred by growing wealth and leisure time and, by Victoria's example, led to significant urban development of the island's coastal resorts.

As well as Osborne House, attractions and places to visit are in plentiful supply on the Island, with something to suit everyone. You can get a taste of the Isle of Wight’s history and culture by visiting one of the many museums, galleries and historic sites.

Possibly the island's most recognisable landmark is the Needles Rocks and Lighthouse, nearby to which the Needles Landmark Attraction is full of things to entertain all the family.

To keep the children entertained, you could visit a fun park like Robin Hill Adventure Park and Gardens, taking a ride on the excellent steam railway or by visiting one of the animal attractions such as the Isle of Wight Zoo. The island also has the highest number of award-winning beaches in England, all managed to the highest standards and inspected daily. If it’s retail therapy you need, there are plenty of shopping opportunities, with many locally owned shops offering clothing, giftware, goods for the home and other treats and surprises. The island is well-endowed with numerous vintage, antique shops and collectable stores, together with a range of goods available from local artists and craftspeople.

There is also a range of fantastic locally-produced food and drink available, with local restaurants, farm shops and the weekly Farmers’ Market catering for all your needs.

Walking, cycling and horse-riding are freely available for those of all abilities, with more than 500 miles of footpaths and established walking routes, and 165 miles of bridleways waiting to be discovered. In fact, the Isle of Wight was recently crowned one of Lonely Planet's "Top 10 Cycling Destinations in the World". If you’re after something a little more extreme, you can try your hand at one of many adventure activities such as tree climbing, paragliding or sailing with knowledgeable guides, with several top class events taking place throughout the year.

You’ll find a whole host of local wildlife including red squirrels and some unique butterfly species and you can also see a great variety of birds which take advantage of the many different habitats on the Isle of Wight.

One of the best ways to see the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight is from off-shore, and there are a number of sailing and boat charters available throughout the year. You can also get some great views from the Isle of Wight Ferry and hovercraft services. For fishing enthusiasts, there are also charter boats available.

Title Image Credit: Matt Kieffer (Image Cropped)