The Isle of Wight is an island and unitary authority in the English Channel, located 2 to 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire. It is the largest and second-most populous island in England, known for its resorts, mild climate, and beautiful scenery. Historically part of Hampshire, the island became a separate administrative county in 1890 and is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Famous residents include poets Algernon Charles Swinburne and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, while Queen Victoria built her summer home, Osborne House, there. The Isle of Wight has a rich maritime tradition and hosts the annual Isle of Wight Festival, once the largest rock music event ever.
Urban development increased in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to tourism, now the island’s primary industry. Public transport to the mainland includes hovercraft and ferries that connect to Southampton, Lymington, and Portsmouth.
