On England's Isle Of Wight Is A Scenic Coastal Town With An Award-Winning Beach, Fresh Seafood, And Tea Houses

For a picturesque seaside escape in the U.K., hop on a ferry and head to Shanklin on England's Isle of Wight. It's a town with a long, golden-sand beach with room to throw down a few towels at the height of summer. The rugged cliffs behind give a natural vibe, while the promenade is classic for an English resort town, with arcade games, seafood restaurants, beach shops selling floaties, and more. British daily newspaper The Times even crowned Shanklin Beach the regional winner on its list of the U.K.'s 50 Best Beaches for 2026. Shanklin as a town, meanwhile, has a historic charm and thatched-roof tea houses that have been attracting writers, painters, and visitors for over 100 years.

Sitting just 2 miles off the coast of Hampshire in the south of England, the Isle of Wight might ring a bell for non-Brits as the place with a massive summer music festival (where Jimi Hendrix played a legendary show in 1970). Beyond that, it might blend in with the other 80-plus islands around Britain. But the Isle of Wight has around 65 miles of coastline dotted with beaches and nostalgic, visit-worthy seaside towns, few more famous than Shanklin.

Getting to the island requires a few steps, but it's pretty straightforward. London connects well to the southern city of Portsmouth (two hours and 15 minutes by car or one hour and 40 minutes by train), and regular ferries cross from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. You can take the ferry with a rental car, but getting around without a vehicle is doable, and there's a regular train service connecting the Isle of Wight towns. Shanklin is worth the effort, with its top-rated beach and esplanade emanating vintage vibes most Americans would associate with Coney Island.

At the southern end of High Street is Shanklin's Old Village, with traditional thatched buildings and original fishermen's cottages turned into tea houses. Pencil Cottage got its name over a century ago when it was a bazaar supplying artists and writers like John Keats with materials. Today, it's a cozy tea house with a large garden and a full menu beyond cream teas and coffee. Just next door, Old Thatch Teashop is in a building from around 1690, painted bright pink. Full of mystery and delight, with a smuggling tunnel underneath and an alleged female spirit wandering the grounds, Old Thatch Teashop has tables in a whimsical garden, offering scones and small plates with its warm beverages.

A stroll north from the tea houses on High Street reveals a number of Shanklin eateries offering British classics, burgers, and Indian cuisine. But being on an island in the English Channel, seafood is a must. Spots like AJ's Takeaway offer the U.K. take-out fish and chips experience with breaded cod, haddock, and jacket potatoes. On the esplanade, The Steamer Inn has the sea views, large terrace for sunny days, and anchor-on-the-wall aesthetic that fits its seafood-forward menu. It also does breakfast, and Rick Steves recommends tourists order a "fry-up" when visiting Great Britain.

Fisherman's Cottage sits at the south end of the esplanade, in a stone building with a thatched roof that dates back to 1817. Tucked at the base of a cliff and a stone's throw from the sea, Fisherman's Cottage has a little terrace, a traditional yet renovated interior, and a menu featuring herb-crusted hake, mussels in a creamy white wine sauce, and a signature fish pie. Restaurants don't get more quaint, and Fisherman's Cottage holds the top spot for Shanklin seafood restaurants on Tripadvisor.

There's a reason Shanklin Beach was dubbed one of the best in the U.K. It's over a mile of golden sands, with the esplanade running parallel, backed by tall hills and towering cliffs. When the weather is warm, you can spend an afternoon lying on a towel and cooling off in the sea. If the clouds roll in, it's easy to take advantage of all the amenities lining the shore. There are ice cream parlors, arcades, and multiple mini golf courses, along with restaurants, cafes, and gift shops selling anything you might need on your beach vacation.

You could take advantage of the beach's length and go for a long, ambling stroll along the water's edge. To the north, you can walk to Small Hope Beach and the Lake Cliff Path, all the way to the next Isle of Wight beach town, Sandown. It's 3 miles north and home to one of England's best piers for ocean views and seaside fun. At the south end of Shanklin Beach, there's a row of small huts and the entrance to Shanklin Chine, a historic nature park tucked in a gorge, and the island's oldest attraction. Since 1817, visitors have been drawn to the dramatic stone walls and rushing waterfall of Shanklin Chine. It's an exceptionally lush little valley with a walkway weaving through it and, tucked into the steep hill, a Victorian-style cafe and gift shop with a terrace. On summer nights, the paths, streams, and waterfall of Shanklin Chine have a whole different magic when illuminated by 200 lights. To continue exploring the Isle of Wight, Cowes is a town on the northern shore steeped in nautical charm and coastal elegance.