Sandown

Golden sand stretches for miles along this classic Victorian resort, where deck chairs still dot the promenade and fish and chips taste better with sea salt in the air. Sandown's wide beach remains one of the island's finest, backed by traditional seafront hotels and amusements that have entertained families for generations.

The town centre feels properly seaside without the tourist tat overload you'll find elsewhere. Glory Art Glass catches the eye with its colourful creations, while Sandham Crazy Golf provides that essential seaside entertainment. Brown's Golf Course offers a more serious round for those wanting proper links action.

Beyond the beach, Adgestone Vineyard produces some surprisingly decent English wine on the island's sunny southern slopes. The railway still runs through Sandown station, connecting you to the rest of the island without the hassle of driving narrow country lanes.

Borthwood Lynch offers woodland walks when you need a break from the sand, though honestly, the beach here is good enough to keep you occupied for days. The swimming's safe, the sand's clean, and there's enough space that it never feels crowded, even in peak summer.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring both Sandown and the wider island. You're central enough to reach anywhere within half an hour, yet close enough to pop back for lunch or an afternoon kip. Isle of Wight Coastal Park gets consistently good reviews from families who appreciate being this close to such a cracking beach without the town centre crowds.