When King Writes

I often enjoy the benefits of off-season travel: no overwhelming crowds, lower prices, and an overall more peaceful experience.

When I had some free time in Portsmouth, I figured it was the perfect chance for a spontaneous trip to the Needles on the Isle of Wight. I’d heard it’s usually crowded—but not in the fall—so I thought this would be a good time to check it out.

Sure enough, there were no crowds. The prices stayed the same, but whether it was worth it or not? I’ll let you decide in this short blog.

Quick Snapshot

The Needles are a row of three chalk stacks rising about 30 metres (98 feet) out of the sea off the western tip of the Isle of Wight. It’s a world-famous landmark—a dramatic, jagged formation that people ride ferries just to catch a glimpse of.

Fun fact: Despite their name, the Needles don’t actually resemble needles. The name comes from a fourth pillar, called “Lot’s Wife,” which collapsed in a storm in 1764. The area is also home to a decommissioned military battery and some of the best coastal views in southern England.

What’s Open vs. What’s Closed

On the day I visited, there was no announcement that the chairlift would be closed. But with the strong winds, I suppose they had to shut it down without notice. Unfortunately, that meant I could only view the Needles from afar.

Some of the stores were open, including the souvenir shop—officially called the Sand Shop. I’m guessing you already know what you’ll find. 😅

You can fill a glass or plastic container with layers of colorful sand, choose handcrafted designs by sand artists, and browse the usual tourist-friendly items like fridge magnets and keychains.

A few of the children’s rides were also running, including the Dino Jeep Safari, the carousel, and the Tea Cups.

Other than the rides and shops, there wasn’t much else open. What I thought would be a full-day trip ended up being more like 30 minutes of walking around and browsing—after admiring the Needles from a distance, of course.

Weather Conditions

What started out as a calm day and a peaceful ferry ride from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight turned into moody skies. And by the time I was ready to ride the chairlift, strong winds and a “closed” sign greeted me. That’s British weather for you! 🤣

If I were a photographer, I’d probably appreciate the dramatic, moody skies. It definitely added some coastal character.

How I Got There

I caught the Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. It was roughly a 45-minute ride—and an enjoyable one, too. The ferry had several cafés, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and ample entertainment on each level.

I barely noticed the travel time because I was so caught up admiring the views and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere. There weren’t many people onboard, which probably made the whole experience even more relaxing. I imagine it would be far more crowded during summer or peak season.

Once we landed on the Isle of Wight, we hopped in the car and drove to The Needles. There was plenty of parking with barely any other vehicles—though again, that’s likely thanks to the off-season timing.

We made the return trip to Portsmouth later that same day, and the ferry ride back was just as smooth.

Where I Stayed

The Isle of Wight was just a detour. We were based in Portsmouth as part of our England trip, so we stayed at a hotel there.

I didn’t check if there were hotels on the Isle of Wight, but staying in Portsmouth felt more convenient. There are definitely more places to eat and explore compared to the Isle, unless you’re planning to spend more time exploring that side.

Maybe if more attractions were open—which is usually only the case during peak season—it would make sense to stay there overnight.

Other Adventures

Since we had more time, we decided to drive to nearby Osborne House, a former royal residence located in East Cowes.

It was the summer home and rural retreat of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, designed by Prince Albert himself in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo.

But that’s a story for another blog, which I’ll probably post after this. Stay tuned. 🙂

Final Thoughts

There’s a certain beauty to experiencing the Needles—or many other attractions—during the off-season. For me, it’s always a win when I get to enjoy a place with as few people around as possible.

That said, this particular trip would’ve been better if the chairlift had been open. It just so happened that it was closed the day I went due to strong winds. I heard it reopened the next day. Just my luck, haha! Oh well. We can’t have it all.

Still, I’m grateful I was able to view the Needles from afar and wander the area hand in hand with my partner. And in a way, it was a blessing in disguise. We had time to visit Osborne House, which we probably wouldn’t have seen if we spent more time at the Needles.

As they say, make the most of what you have, and you might just find the universe surprising you with something even better than what you planned.