The Isle of Wight: getting to know your new county
The Isle of Wight is a relatively small island county in the English Channel, off the south coast of mainland UK. Benefitting from its own microclimate, a move to the Isle of Wight means you’ll enjoy more sun than the rest of the UK – perfect for enjoying the beautiful beaches all around you. And with every point of the island just 25 minutes from the centre, it will never take you long to get to the sand.
The entire county has a population of just 139,395, and the Isle of Wight’s ‘capital’ is the town of Newport. The relaxing pace of life and scenic surroundings here draw movers year on year. However, if you require a good internet connection this might not be your dream location, with much of the island suffering with poor signal.
If you’re looking for a smooth transition to the Isle of Wight, we can help store your belongings in Santa Fe’s secure London facility. This can be especially helpful if you want to take some time to explore the county before choosing a new home.
What’s the history of the Isle of Wight?
Originally its own Kingdom, the Isle of Wight went on to be owned by the Norman family until 1293 and is now a beloved part of the UK.
For a small island, it’s full of historical sights and places of interest. Walk along any of the Isle of Wight’s beautiful beaches and you may stumble across one of the fossils and dinosaur bones discovered amongst the pebbles and sand every year.
There is a myriad of important historical buildings on the isle: Osbourne House was Queen Victoria’s prized summer home, and the motte-and-bailey Carisbrooke Castle was where Charles the first was imprisoned before trial.
The island has a proud heritage of boat building, which is now expressed through art and culture. And to this day you can take a ride on heritage Victorian and Edwardian steam trains around the County.
The Isle of Wight: the culture of the county
As a small island with incredible beaches and a warm climate (for the UK!), there is a real beach culture. So you can expect to get involved in some kind of seaside activity, be it surfing, paragliding, or beach walking.
The pace of life is slower than on the mainland. Perhaps that is why the Vineyards on the Isle of Wight produce such excellent wines? And wine is not the only homegrown treat, with the Isle of Wight famed for producing excellent quality garlic and tomatoes.
Our local experts can arrange a personalised tour of the Island, with carefully picked highlights to help you live like a local as soon as you’re unpacked in your new home. At Santa Fe Relocation, we pride ourselves on providing a personalised, seamless removals experience.
What is there to do on the Isle of Wight?
Once we’ve unpacked the last of your things, and you’re nicely settled into your new home, it’s time to explore. No move to the Isle of Wight would be complete without trying out some of our favourite activities:
• A visit to the Ventnor Botanic Garden – the botanic garden, founded in 1970 by Sir Harold Hillier, showcases subtropical trees and plants from around the world.
• The Isle of Wight festival consumes the island in the summer for 4 days, celebrating the British music scene and showcasing world famous artists.
• V-Dub Island is a family friendly camping and music festival, with a special focus on ‘V-Dub’ cars and vans. Expect to see hundreds of beautiful Volkswagen campervans, and a relaxed festival experience.
• Ventnor Fringe festival celebrates comedy and gigs, in a week-long pop-up festival that takes over every conceivable space in the Isle of Wight’s southernmost town.
• Whether you’re equip with a good handicap, or a complete novice, anyone moving to the Isle of Wight must go for a round of golf at one of the Island’s scenic greens.
Where’s best place to live on the Isle of Wight?
The county offers city living, homes in small towns, and rural peace and quiet. It just depends on what you’re looking for. With the average detached home for sale at around £360,000 (accurate as of March 2019), prices are competitive. However, it’s important to factor in that living costs are high compared to the rest of the UK.
Our favourite places for those relocating to the Isle of Wight are Yarmouth, Bembridge and Totland Bay. But if you’re unfamiliar with the island, we suggest getting the help of a local expert who can find your dream home quickly and simply. At Santa Fe, we are proud of our local expertise.
Is it easy to find a good school on the Isle of Wight?
Despite the size of the county, there’s a wealth of schools for under 18s on the Isle of Wight. Operating a two-tier education system, there are 41 primary and 7 secondary schools to choose from. Due to the sparse population in many areas of the Isle of Wight, many of the primary schools are rural and therefore very small.
There are also two private schools: The Priory School, and Whippingham and Ryde School with Upper Chine, where boarding is available. There is also one college available for further education students based in Newport: the Isle of Wight College offers campus accommodation and degree level courses.
If you need help with your Isle of Wight school search, our local experts can help. At Santa Fe Relocation we have the local knowledge to help you with all aspects of your move. We make moving home easy for you.
Travel information: How to get to and from the Isle of Wight.
Despite the island location, the Isle of Wight has surprisingly good transport links.
The ferry from the port of Cowes takes you to Portsmouth or Southampton in under a hour, making both these cities commutable locations for work. Equally, it’s just a 2 hour journey by ferry and train straight into the heart of London.
How can Santa Fe Relocation help my move to the Isle of Wight?
No move should be stressful. That’s our belief. We can take care of finding your ideal home or school, a full removals service (including valuation, storage and unpacking), and even a local area orientation. We guarantee you unrivalled quality in removal services.
