Sandown in Isle of Wight

Situated on the south east coast of the Isle of Wight, Sandown is home to miles of sandy coastline and is an ideal holiday destination for families, foodies, walkers, cyclists and beach lovers. Boasting a wealth of Victorian charm and an historic pier, the town provides all you need for a traditional seaside holiday as well as lots of things to see and do.

Sheltered in a beautiful bay, Sandown's long stretches of golden sands are simply glorious. The main town beach stretches all the way along the Esplanade where it meets with Yaverland Beach, regarded as one of the best beaches on the island. It's here that you'll find a number of local watersport centres including windsurfing and kayaking, perfect for those not content with lazing around on the sands.

The Isle of Wight has been dubbed Dinosaur Island and the area around Sandown Bay is a fun place for fossil hunting, so keep your eyes peeled for a very special, very old souvenir to take home with you. Sandown is also home to the UK's first purpose-built dinosaur museum and attraction, Dinosaur Isle, with life-sized models, skeletons and interactive displays.

One of the town's most well-known features is Sandown Pier, which dates back to 1879 and is packed full of amusements, children's play areas, 10-pin bowling and fairground rides. The town also has crazy golf, tennis courts, bowls club and a leisure centre with indoor pools, squash courts and a fully equipped gym. Further along the seafront is the Isle of Wight Zoo, which is housed in an old fort, while just a short distance from Sandown is Amazon World, which also has a huge range of animals.

The miles of coastline and surrounding countryside also attract walkers and cyclists, with the elevation of Culver Cliff providing stunning views over the bay and pier. There are cycle routes to suit everyone, including the 12 mile Sunshine Trail, that can be started in Sandown and passes through Newchurch, Godshill and Shanklin.

When it comes to eating out, both the main High Street and the Esplanade are lined with pubs, restaurants, cafes and ice cream shacks filled with seaside favourites.