From blissful summer days listening to incredible live music acts to nights spent camping under the stars, festival season is so much fun. And as one of the UK’s longest running music festivals, the Isle of Wight Festival is a firm favourite of many, making it a great weekend activity or family day out.
The Isle of Wight Festival takes place each year around mid-June. Since it first opened its doors in 1968, the UK music festival has welcomed some huge stars to its stages, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols.
This family-friendly music festival promises you four days of quality music, delicious food and fun activities to keep everyone entertained, whether you’re here as a family, a couple or a group of friends. Read on to find out more about the Isle of Wight festival, including how to get there and what you can expect from the weekend.
The Isle of Wight Festival takes place in Seaclose Park in Newport, on the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight can be accessed from the mainland by catching a ferry from one of the ferry ports at Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea or Lymington.
The address is: Seaclose Park, Fairlee Rd, Newport PO30 2EL.
There are four different mainland ports that will take you to the Isle of Wight. The train stations near the ports for the Isle of Wight are:
Once you arrive on the island, catch the festival shuttle bus from the ferry ports to the campsite, or get off a stop earlier at Newport and head straight to the festival if you’re not camping.
Things to do at the Isle of Wight Festival
From entertaining live acts to wider activities perfect for the whole family, there’s so much to do at the Isle of Wight Festival. Tickets for this fun-filled weekend activity can be purchased online, where you can choose between adult, student, teen, islander, children and infant tickets, as well as day and weekend options. And to help you before you go, we've put together our top 10 festival tips.
Line up and music
Festivals are all about the live music, and with five incredible stages to choose from at the Isle of Wight Festival, it’s simply a case of ‘where first?’. With its impressive line up, you can expect more than a few big names at Isle of Wight Festival.
To enjoy performances by some of the UK’s leading artists and bands, head to the Main Stage and the Big Top, or for breakthrough talent, check out either the River Stage, Platform One Stage or This Feeling. If 80s and 90s music is your thing, take a trip down memory lane at the Electro Love tent, where an exciting selection of top DJs will be playing throughout the long weekend.
Hipshaker Lounge
A cool meeting place during the day and a party venue by night, Hipshaker Lounge is one of the best places to grab a drink and have a boogie. Expect to see a range of DJs and bands perform in the lounge, and with genres including Funk, Soul, Disco, Ska, Reggae, Indie, Punk, New Wave, Britpop, Rock and Motown, there’s something for everyone!
Kidzone
If you’re planning on bringing the kids along, then with its fun, games and creative activities, Kidzone is a must-visit. Here you can find a range of activities to entertain festival-goers young and old, including magic shows, street theatre, storytelling and more.
Little festival-goers can also get stuck in with fun workshops in the craft tent, or join the Creative Kids Team to take part in dance sessions, circus skills and ukulele workshops.
Cirque De La Quirk
For an exciting mix of live music, circus skills workshops and daring performances, Cirque De La Quirk is the area for you. These amazing circus performers take their tour around many UK festivals, so you can be certain that they know how to put on a good show.
Strongbow Yard
If pop-up pianos and impromptu singalongs are up your alley, then make sure you check out Strongbow Yard. Sip on a refreshing cider as you tap your toes to live music chosen by you — and if your song gets played, you will win a free drink!
Old Mout Cider Kiwi Camp
This quirky camp is full of interactive entertainment, so why not get stuck into some Disco Yoga and Rockaoke? Alternatively, kick back and relax on one of the many upcycled sofa swings and take it all in — with a drink in hand, of course.
Food and drink
All that singing and dancing will leave you feeling peckish, and thankfully, there’s something for all festivalgoers at Isle of Wight Festival. You’re allowed to bring your own food and drink into the festival with you, or you can make the most of the many food stalls and bars situated throughout the festival grounds – including a Co-op for all the essentials.
Grab a refreshing drink at the Kashmir Café, or indulge in some delicious tea and cake in the Intoxicated Tea Rooms. Those with VIP tickets can make the most of the bar and food stalls available in the VIP Lounge, as well as a cosy seating area to relax in.
Places to stay in and around the Isle of Wight Festival
Camping is the best way to get the full festival experience, and with three different camping areas to choose from, you can settle down in a spot that’s perfect for you. If you’re bringing your own tents or campervan, head to The Campsite, which is free to camp in with your festival ticket.
For boutique camping, you have several choices. The Pink Moon Village has a range of pre-pitched tents and Harvest Moon Boutique offers a wide range of Deluxe Yurts, Lotus Bells, Emperors and Airstreams. Alternatively, try Eve's Tipis & PodPads, which gives you the unique opportunity to camp out in anything from a cosy Luxpad to a gigantic Tipi. Each campsite has plenty of toilets and showers and its own a bar, so you’ll feel perfectly at home during your stay.
If you don’t fancy camping, take your pick from a number of hotels around the area. Those on a budget should check out Premier Inn Newport or Travelodge Newport, while One Holyrood Hotel and Classic Cottages offer a more luxury stay. Family-friendly hotels include The Wheatsheaf Hotel and Newport Quay Hotel.
Isle of Wight Festival accessibility
The Isle of Wight Festival aims to provide an accessible environment for all festivalgoers, and is happy to help those with additional needs with anything from getting to the festival and accessing the campsite to finding accessible facilities and more.
