The Guide to the Isle of Wight

Who owns the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight is owned by the United Kingdom and therefore, a passport is not required when travelling from the mainland. The Island was part of Hampshire County until 1890 when it became a county in its own right. Queen Victoria was a common visitor to the Island in her time. She owned a house which she visited every summer. Today, the house is open to the public.

Where is the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight is a county, the largest and second-most populous island of England. It is located south of England between two and five miles off the coast of Hampshire. It’s separated by a body of water called the Solent. The Solent is a major shipping land for passengers and cargo for the Isle of Wight.

The population of the Isle of Wight was last recorded in 2019 and was recorded at 141,606 people. The population has stayed around the same with a slight increase in the last ten years. The population in 2010 was 138,338. The first year on records was 1801 where the population was an estimated 22,097.

Isle of wight seasons

Like mainland UK, the Isle of Wight has four seasons in the year. In Winter temperatures have a low of around 4°C or 5°C. The highs can reach 9°C or 10°C in the wintertime. If you are from up north, then you may not be used to the warmer spring and autumn times the Isle of Wight has. Temperatures in these seasons average a low of 9°C and a high of 15°C. Finally, moving onto the summer, the average temperature in July and August is around 22°C. However, 30°C heatwaves are not uncommon with the Island being so far south. The Isle of Wight is considered one of the sunniest places in the UK.

Busiest towns

There are nine main towns in the Isle of Wight and the biggest and busiest is Ryde with a population of 32,072. The second most populated is Newport which has a population of 25,496. The other 7 main towns are Brading, Cowes, East Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Yarmouth. As well as this there are over 70 areas which describe themselves as villages.

House prices and move process

One of the reasons why the Isle of Wight is a great place for newcomers is that house prices are among some of the lowest in the UK. It has therefore been attracting more people who are looking to move home. The average price for a house was around £229,000 in 2018. This is lower than the national average of £232,000 which means you can buy a bigger or better property on this island.

The process for buying a house on the Isle of Wight is quite straightforward. All you need to do is set up an appointment with one of our Estate Agents and come along with your finance documents and ID. We will then take you through some properties that suit your needs and requirements before you decide on one.

If you are wanting to move to the Isle of Wight, Lee Atkins Removals can assist you in your move. Whether you’re moving from Mainland UK or moving house within the Isle of Wight, we can do your removal in the Isle of Wight.

Jobs

If you are an enthusiastic, hardworking individual who is looking for a job to satisfy your ambitions, the Isle of Wight could be the place for you to work. There are plenty of jobs on offer in this area, with many different industries offering employment opportunities. Some of these include hospitality, retail, events management and even accountancy. There are also plenty of towns in which you can live to cater to your specific needs. For example, there’s Ryde for families, Newport for commuters and Cowes if you want to be near the sea or outdoors.

Schools, colleges and universities in the isle of wight

The Isle of Wight has a number of schools and colleges to further your education. The most notable school in the area is a state school that was started in the year 1859. This school is available for all ages from 4-19 and offers a broad range of curriculum. The other schools in the area include an independent preparatory school, a private day nursery and a Montessori nursery.

There are also three colleges on the island including Newport college, Island college and Ryde school sixth form college. In addition to these, there are other universities such as Southampton Solent University, Bournemouth University, the University of Portsmouth and Winchester university which offer different courses to students from across the UK or abroad.

Activities

There are plenty of activities to do in the Isle of Wight ranging from arts and culture, outdoor pursuits or just relaxing by the water.

  • See a show at Cowes festival theatre which offers unique shows throughout the year, such as Le Boheme and Swan Lake.
  • Visit Ryde Pier for an authentic taste of UK seaside life with its candyfloss stands, amusements and even pirate cruises!
  • Rent a bike from one of our many bike shops in Newport and cycle along the promenade to see some breathtaking views over Sandown Bay.

If you are looking for a removal company to move you to the Isle of Wight, Lee Atkins have over 20 years of experience and are 100% committed to satisfying our customer’s needs. Contact us today to discuss your move.