What is the Isle of Wight known for?
The Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England, known for its beaches, the Needles rock formations, Osborne House, dinosaur fossils, sailing and the Isle of Wight Festival.
The island is separated from the mainland by the Solent and is reached by ferry or hovercraft from Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington.
The Needles are three chalk stacks rising from the sea at the western tip of the island, with a lighthouse at the end. Alum Bay, nearby, is famous for its multicolored sand cliffs.
Royalty and festivals
Osborne House was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's holiday home. Victoria died there in 1901. Visitors can see the royal apartments and the private beach.
Cowes, on the north coast, hosts Cowes Week, one of the world's oldest and largest sailing regattas, every August.
The Isle of Wight Festival, first held in 1968, is one of Britain's best-known music festivals. The 1970 festival, featuring Jimi Hendrix, drew huge crowds. The island is known as one of the best places in Europe to find dinosaur fossils.