Newport Town

Newport is the principal town of the Isle of Wight, which is located in the centre of the Island and often referred to as its capital.

This historic town centres on two elegant squares with Georgian and Victorian architecture surrounding them, with the town’s quay a short distance away.

The Isle of Wight Festival takes place every June at Seaclose Park in Newport, which runs adjacent to the River Medina.

Newport offers plenty of things to do and is a great place for shopping with a number of well-known chain stores mixing with smaller independent shops across the two main squares, Newport High Street and the side streets.

There is a regular market which is based across the town on a Tuesday, with a highly rated farmers market (which is a regular stop on The Queen’s Isle of Wight visits) selling a good range of local produce on Fridays.

There are also a good selection of attractions around Newport with the Museum of Island History, Quay Arts Centre and the Newport Roman Villa all within walking distance of the centre.

Swing on by to Monkey Haven – the happiest attraction in town! You’ll meet all kinds of wonderful creatures at this popular animal sanctuary, including the singing Lar Gibbons, cheeky Meerkats, slithering snakes and the cutest owls.

Newport Minster is the church in the centre of Newport. Whether you like history, church buildings, concerts, exhibitions, services of worship or simply a place to be quiet the Minster has something to offer you. With fascinating historical links, Newport Minster is also part of the Victoria's Island Trail.

Newport also offers a good range of entertainment both during the day and most evenings.

There is a multi-screen cinema just outside the town centre, with the Medina and Apollo Theatres both offering a range of shows at various times of the year, and there are also a number of late night venues located on the High Street.

A short distance outside of Newport you can find some of the most popular attractions on the Isle of Wight.

Carisbrooke Castle to the West of the town centre is the 12th century fort most famous for imprisoning Charles I after his defeat in the English Civil War.

Set in 88 acres of beautiful countryside, and with some incredible day and night time experiences to be found throughout the season, Robin Hill Country Park is the perfect destination for visitors of all ages (open from April 2025).

There are a lot of great options for eating out in Newport, with a range of world cuisines on offer both during the day and in the evenings at restaurants around the town.

During the day Newport buzzes with shoppers and there are a lot of places to grab a bite to eat and some refreshment, with cafes and sandwich bars located in and around the main squares.

There are also several lovely independent and chain restaurants and food outlets around the town.

The Isle of Wight Festival is one of the key events in Newport’s events calendar!

In addition to this famous event, there is also a regular programme of events taking place at Newport’s theatres and the Quay Arts Centre.

The International Classic Car Show spends one of its 2 days on the Island at Newport Quay and there are regular meets in Newport as part of the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally’s.