Towns on the Isle of Wight
This is a list of towns and villages in the county of Isle of Wight, England.
This is a list of towns and villages in the county of Isle of Wight, England.
There are nine main towns, most located along the north and east coasts. By greater area population, Ryde is the largest with a population of 32,072. Newport is the centrally located county town, with an area population of 25,496. Most settlements link to Newport by road, which is a hub for island services. There are no settlements with city status; the nearest city is Portsmouth, five miles north-east, then Southampton, ten miles north of Cowes.
| Town | 2011 Population [1] | OS Grid Reference | Post town | Postal code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | 25,496 | SZ502893 | NEWPORT | PO30 |
| Brading | 1,800 | SZ607870 | SANDOWN | PO36 |
| Cowes | 10,405 | SZ496962 | COWES | PO31 |
| East Cowes | 7,010 | SZ502957 | EAST COWES | PO32 |
| Ryde | 32,072 | SZ591923 | RYDE | PO33 |
| Sandown | 12,302 | SZ600843 | SANDOWN | PO36 |
| Shanklin | 9,072 | SZ584816 | SHANKLIN | PO37 |
| Ventnor | 5,976 | SZ562775 | VENTNOR | PO38 |
| Yarmouth | 865 | SZ356896 | YARMOUTH | PO41 |
Places that describe themselves as villages are as follows:
The Isle of Wight is an island, English county and unitary authority in the English Channel, 2 to 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire, across the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island in England. Referred to as "The Island" by residents, the Isle of Wight has resorts that have been popular holiday destinations since Victorian times. It is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland, and chines. The island is historically part of Hampshire. The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With a land area of 380 km2 (150 sq mi), it is about half the size of Singapore.
The Isle of Wight is rich in historical and archaeological sites, from prehistoric fossil beds with dinosaur remains, to dwellings and artefacts dating back to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman periods.
The Diocese of Portsmouth is an administrative division of the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England. The diocese covers south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The see is based in the City of Portsmouth in Hampshire, where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury.
The 1st Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers, later the 8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, but known informally as the 'Isle of Wight Rifles', was an auxiliary unit of the British Army formed to defend the Isle of Wight after a mid-19th Century invasion scare. During World War I it fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, taking part in the calamitous attack at Suvla Bay, and later at the battles of Gaza and Megiddo in Palestine. Between the wars it was converted to coast defence artillery and served in this role on the Isle of Wight throughout World War II. One battery was sent to reinforce the garrison of Tobruk, where it was captured in 1942. Postwar the unit converted to the air defence role, then reverted to infantry, and its successors continue in today's Army Reserve.
The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is a circular long-distance footpath of 70 miles (113 km) around the Isle of Wight, UK. It follows public footpaths and minor lanes, with some sections along roads.
Percy Goddard Stonefsafriba was an English architect, author and archaeologist who worked extensively on the Isle of Wight, where he lived for most of his life. He designed and restored several churches on the island, designed war memorials and rebuilt Carisbrooke Castle. His "passion for archaeology" led him to excavate the ruins of Quarr Abbey, and as an author he wrote about the churches and antiquities of the Isle of Wight and contributed to the Victoria County History.
Newport and Carisbrooke, formerly just Newport, is a civil parish on the Isle of Wight, in the county of the Isle of Wight, England. The parish includes the settlements of Newport, Carisbrooke, Apesdown, Barton, Bowcombe, Clatterford, Cross Lane, Fairlee, Forest Side, Gunville, Hunny Hill, Pan, Parkhurst, Rowridge, Shide and Staplers. In 2011 the parish had a population of 25,496. The parish touches Arreton, Brighstone, Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield, Chillerton and Gatcombe, Havenstreet and Ashey, Northwood, Shorwell, Whippingham and Wootton Bridge. There are 338 listed buildings in Newport and Carisbrooke. The community council is based in The Granary in Newport.
Isle of Wight East is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election, since when it has been represented by Joe Robertson for the Conservative Party.
Isle of Wight West is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election, since when it has been represented by Richard Quigley for the Labour Party.