Sandown Tourist Information

Sandown Tourist Guide

Sandown is the main centre on the island for a traditional seaside holiday. It first became popular with the Victorians who came to take the sea air. The railway link from Ryde made visiting the resort much more accessible and it was so popular that four European monarchs stayed on the town in 1847!

Sandown Bay is lined by a fantastic stretch of beach. The Esplanade backs the beach and is lined with shops, pubs and restaurants. In the summer a road train runs between the town, the Esplanade, Culver Parade and Yaverland. At Yaverland a footpath leads to Culver Down where you can see panoramic views of Sandown Bay.

Sandown has a tourist information centre which is open April-October Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm. Sunday 10am-3.30pm.

Sandown Tourist Information, High Street, Sandown. PO36 8DA.

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Sandown Bay and Beach

Sandown Bay is lined by a long stretch of sandy beach. It's a Blue Flag beach with lifeguards and zoned recreation areas. As it slopes gently into the sea it is ideal for paddling and swimming. Sandown is often cited as one of Britain's sunniest locations. All this makes it ideal for a family seaside holiday.

If you're feeling a bit more energetic you can take the coastal walk along the coast path or the sea wall prom that stretches for two miles along the coast to Shanklin.

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Sandown Pier

Sandown also has a traditional pleasure pier with amusements, arcades, cafes, dodgems and a theatre. It stretches for 305 metres and is open all year round.

It was opened in 1887 and was once where paddle steamers would moor. In the 1930s a pavilion was added and was used as a ballroom and theatre. It escaped bombing during World War II although it was sectioned as a defence measure which led to some deterioration in the structure. In 1968 redevelopment and restoration works began with the demolition of the pavilion at the seaward end as it was modernised. Lord Mountbatten performed the re-opening ceremony on 22nd July 1973.

Despite a fire in 1989, the pier has continued to be a popular attraction in Sandown with a host of amusements and attractions including Magic Island Playground, a snake slide and the Lost World Indoor Adventure Golf Course. Pleasure cruises continue to run from the pier and it is also popular with fishermen where mackerel, bream, scad, garfish, pollack, mullet, small pout, painted ray and the occasional tub gunard can be caught.

Sandown Pier Amusements, Sandown Pier, Esplanade, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8JT. Tel: 01983 404122.

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