Attraction in Isle of Wight

Welcome onboard the Isle of Wight Steam Railway Inspiring, surprising and award-winning… Equally appealing to adults and families, your visit to The Isle of Wight Steam Railway will charm, engage and captivate, leaving you with some lasting memories of a special day out. Step back to a bygone era when steam power was the order of the day. Thrill to the sight and sound of powerful majestic steam engines and breathe in the evocative smells of a real steam railway. Soak-up the rhythm of quiet rural stations while enjoying the friendliness of traditionally uniformed staff. Travel in style Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and discover an idyllic view of the Island’s unspoilt countryside ... or hop off at one of our stations and just watch the trains go by. Keep an eye out for a red squirrel or deer darting away from the train as you pass through ancient woodland. Our Locomotives and Carriages have all been painstakingly restored to pristine condition and are the hallmark of our delightful railway. Our oldest locomotive was built in 1876 and carriages date back to 1864! Lots to see at Havenstreet Station The railway is more than just a train ride - most visitors spend at least 4 hours with us; some stay all day. Explore our Train Story Discovery Centre, our interactive indoor museum which brings the story of the Island's railways to life. Discover our oldest carriage, built for the opening of the Ryde to Shanklin line in 1864, and the Underground trains that ran on the line until January 2021. You can also visit our children's playground, railway shop, station café, and our barn café. A special experience Make your visit extra special by booking one of our VIP Experiences: Hamper Experience - Add a touch of class to your celebrations with exclusive use of a luxurious first-class compartment, with their polished brass handles, gleaming woodwork, and immaculate hand-made upholstery, you’ll be transported back to the romantic age of steam. Waiting for you will be a hamper with sandwiches, cake, and Prosecco to enjoy as you make a complete round trip along the line. Whether you’re planning a romantic treat, or birthday celebration with all the family, a ride in our 1st class carriages befits any special occasion. Other VIP Experiences include a Footplate Experience and hiring our Ryde Pier Railcar or Victorian Train saloon carriages, see our website for details.

Brading Roman Villa preserves the remains of a remarkable Roman villa discovered at Brading in the 1880s. The inhabitants of the villa had farmed on the fertile soils beneath the chalk ridge that runs east - west to form the spine of the Isle of Wight. There had been continuous settlement around Brading since before the Roman conquest of Britain in the first century AD. Mosaics Brading was furnished with exceptionally fine mosaics during the fourth century. The craftsmen who laid the floors in the West Range probably worked from pattern books using materials that were sourced from the Island itself. Cafe The Forum Café offers a range of homemade cakes, including gluten free and vegan options. We have freshly made scones which are available individually, or as part of a Clotted Cream or Savoury Tea. Our lunch menu offers a selection of jacket potatoes, sandwiches, baguettes or panini. We have homemade soup daily and our macaroni cheese is always on the menu. We offer a daily special. We are open to everyone in addition to our museum visitors. If visiting as a group of 8 or more we recommend calling us to make a table reservation. 01983 406223 Nature Trail - Explore the landscape We have a Nature Trail around the perimeter of the Brading Roman Villa. The trail takes advantage of our wonderful location. You will see outstanding views at the information points. Follow the trail and explore the countryside, the local wildlife, wild flowers and grasses. The nature trail has been open to benefit the whole community and visitors to this important location. Over the main school holidays we have the Nature Trail Word Search for £2 and we have an Explorer Bag to help you discover clues about the wonderful landscape outside then claim a prize at the end. Remember to look all around you when you're on the trail too. Notice the differences in the landscape, you can see chalk which is the remains of millions of small animal shells which lived in the sea. Flint is also made from shells of dead organisms

Guided tours are generally available from our volunteers who, with their varied experiences and anecdotes, really contribute to the enjoyment of the displays. There is also an air rifle range to test your shooting skills and a fully stocked gift shop with some very unusual items. When that is all done, enjoy refreshments in Churchills Tea Rooms, our on-site tea room. Call (01983) 305 555 for more details. Dog-friendly site, pets welcome everywhere including the tea rooms, when kept on a lead. So come on everybody, come along to the Wight Military and Heritage Museum where you will be welcomed with open arms by our volunteer team. The museum is a registered charity number 1159529 and any profit made will go to Armed Service and related charities or to assist the less fortunate in our Community