Ferries to the Isle of Wight
Basicall the only way to get to and from the Isle of Wight is by ferry and there are two services to choose from: Wightlink and Hovertravel.
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Wightlink operates from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde and between Lymington and Yarmouth, while the 10-minute Hovertravel crossing from Southsea to Ryde is every half an hour.
The Isle of Wight surged in popularity in the Victorian era, mainly due to the fact that Prince Albert designed Osborne House for Queen Victoria and it became her summer residence.
As a result the small south coast island with its dramatic cliffs and wide beaches became fashionable with the aristocrats and celebrities of the day.
There are attractions for all ages, including the Blackgang Chine, a towering walkway to the sea until is was destroyed by landslides and since 1843 an amusement park (enjoyed by my own children - ed).
Sightseeing
Do not miss Osborne House, which is fully open to the public. And another must is The Needles - snow-white rock formations that come out of the sea like giant spikes.