These two resorts on the east coast share the sandy beach and sparkling waters of Sandown Bay and form the major tourist holiday area on the Isiand.  Sandown is often recorded as Britians’ sunniest spot and is popular with families.  Its home to the only remaining pleasure pier on the island, its festooned with arcades, cafes, dodgems and a large theatre.  Early Victorian visitors were so taken with the town that the steam railway was built to bring them over from Ryde in 1864.

Attractions include Dinosaur Isle, an interesting exhibition of locally found dinosaur bones and fossils, along with robotic model displays.  Nearby the Tiger and Big Cat Sanctuary and the Isle of Wight Zoological Gardens is home to a wide selection of rare felines as well as monkeys, snakes, and spiders.

The town of Shanklin is separated from the shore by 100ft cliffs. This, along with the old village area complete with picturesque rose-clad thatched cottages, has helped to create slightly more sophisticated aura compared to neighbouring Sandown.  The sheltering cliffs make an ideal suntrap and there is safe bathing from the sandy beach as well as a variety of watersports on offer. It’s a short walk from the village to Shanklins famous Chine, a dramatic 45ft waterfall that cascades through fissures in the rock. You can walk between Shanklin and Sandown along the cliff-top path – it gives great panoramic views around the bay.

The first week in August is traditionally carnival week in the town, and later in August is the Shanklin regatta.