Isle of Wight Festival

The Isle of Wight is an island off England's south coast, so you will need to cross by ferry or air to reach Newport. Most visitors drive or take trains and coaches to one of the south coast ferry ports. Direct trains run from London and other cities to Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton Central in roughly 90-120 minutes. If driving from London, follow the M3/M27 toward Southampton or the A31/M27 toward Portsmouth to reach the docks. In all cases, plan to arrive at a ferry port such as Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton, from which boats cross regularly to the island. Some coach services also run direct routes to these piers.

From the ferry terminal, you can select your crossing to the island. Wightlink operates routes from Portsmouth to Fishbourne (about 45 minutes) and from Lymington to Yarmouth (about 40 minutes). Red Funnel ferries sail from Southampton to East Cowes (about 55-60 minutes for car ferries) or as a fast Red Jet service to West Cowes (about 20 minutes for foot passengers). For a quick trip, Hovertravel's hovercraft runs from Southsea (Portsmouth) to Ryde in around 10 minutes. Keep in mind that Newport is inland on the island, so you will then need a short onward journey, such as a local bus or taxi, from the port to reach the town. Ferry crossings run frequently but can be busy on festival weekends, so booking in advance is recommended.

Once you are on the Isle of Wight, getting to Newport is simple. Southern Vectis runs island-wide bus routes that connect the main ports to Newport. Direct buses from Cowes, Yarmouth and Ryde take about 30-45 minutes to reach Newport. Taxis and rideshares also operate on the island, which can be convenient if traveling in a group. If you are driving, just follow road signs to Newport or Seaclose Park – the trip from any ferry port to Newport takes under an hour. The island's roads and roundabouts are well-signposted, but note they can be narrow and busy on peak days, so allow extra time.

For air travel, the closest airports are Southampton (about 40 miles away) and Bournemouth (about 70 miles). Both have regular flights from UK and European cities, and from there you can connect by train or car to the south coast. Alternatively, flying into London (Heathrow or Gatwick) is an option if you do not mind a longer transfer, as all major airports have frequent trains and coaches to the ferry ports. The Isle of Wight also has a small airport at Sandown with limited local flights, but most festivalgoers fly to the mainland. When deciding where to stay, plan ahead as Newport (postcode PO30 2DN) and nearby towns fill up fast during festival weekends. Newport has some hotels and B&Bs, and areas like Cowes or Sandown offer more lodging, including guesthouses and vacation rentals. The festival itself sells on-site camping and glamping passes (which sell out early), and there are several campsites and caravan parks on the island. In general, booking your travel and accommodation early will ensure the smoothest journey to the event.