Treat the special lady in your life to a day trip or a stay away on the Isle of Wight this Mother’s Day. 

You’ll find an abundance of places to catch up over a long lunch, indulge in Afternoon Tea or sip fancy cocktails with dinner. While away the hours together wandering through historic homes and elegant gardens. And finally retreat to one of the Island’s many holiday cottages, B&Bs and hotels. 

For those in need of a little vitamin sea, the Isle of Wight offers 70 miles of idyllic coastline. At just 23 miles east to west, wherever you end up, you’ll never be far from the beach! With 500 miles of footpaths through country and along the coast, the Isle of Wight is a dream destination for time spent walking and talking while taking in the views… and you’ll find plenty of pit stops for a cuppa or a glass of wine along the way.

Just 1 hour from Southampton, ferry travel to the Island starts from just £29.50 each way with a car and up to 7 people. Travelling on foot? Make the most of our Super Off Peak Day Return at just £12.90pp, when two or more people travel together after 11am. Benefit from £2 single bus fares once on the Island, or purchase a 24 or 48 hour rover for unlimited travel.

Start your visit in style with an upgrade to the Signature Lounge. Sit back and relax in our exclusive lounge with a choice of complimentary snacks and drinks, table service and panoramic views of the Solent. There’s a fully stocked bar, complete with the Island’s signature Mermaid Gin, a good selection of chilled wine and prosecco. 

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the perfect place to stay. Whether you’re after royal elegance, or cool villa vibes, the Isle of Wight’s boutique hotel scene offers a variety of choice – most with spectacular views of coast or country. Save 25% on vehicle ferry travel when you book your accommodation through Red Funnel Holidays. 

For classic elegance, visit The Royal. Offering sunny south facing gardens with wonderful views of the bay, this stylish hotel is situated just minutes from the vibrant town of Ventnor and the beach. Visiting for the day? The Royal also offers a luxury Royal Afternoon Tea experience, made popular by Queen Victoria herself. It also boasts a great fine dining restaurant, The Geranium, open to diners as well as guests. 

For lovers of luxury and wine, a stay at The Terrace Rooms and Wine is the perfect treat. Built in 1840 and recently restored, this seaside villa overlooking Ventnor Bay offers a real taste of luxury. The hotel boasts its own wine cellar and shop, making it the ultimate destination for connoisseurs. It is beautifully decorated throughout, honouring the heritage of the building, with a twist of modern luxury. 

The award-winning Luccombe Hall Hotel guarantees a luxurious stay and the warmest of welcomes. Wake up to stunning sea-views over Shanklin beach and a spectacular sunrise, the hotel just a stone’s throw from the shoreline below. You’ll find plenty of walking trails along the seafront towards Lake and Sandown, and from the popular Shanklin Old Village nearby.

For lunch and spa date, Lakeside Hotel & Spa’s stylish brasserie offers a refined lunch menu and great options for Afternoon Tea. Relax in the dining room with views across the lake before an afternoon in the jacuzzi and steam rooms. 

A beautiful Grade II listed building once part of the Royal Osborne Estate, Albert Cottage is a dream setting for lunch or Afternoon Tea. Nibble and natter in the hotel’s elegant dining room, or in the pretty two acres of English garden. 

For a tasty breakfast, brunch or lunch try Cook + Baker, a delightful cafe serving up delicious (and stunningly presented) cakes and dishes in the heart of the chocolate-box village of Godshill. For lunchtime treats with unrivalled waterfront views, head to The Lifeboat in East Cowes, The Dell at Appley or Finns Beach Café in Sandown.

There is a never-ending list of incredible places to book an evening meal. For relaxed dining and great food, book a table at The Blacksmiths in Calbourne, The Crown & Bear or The Yarbridge Inn, both in Brading. For the ultimate IOW burger and far-reaching countryside views visit The Cow at Tapnell Farm – a great place to visit with little ones – or Harbour Kitchen in Cowes. 

And finally, if seafood is your favourite, book the Smoking Lobster in Ventnor or Cowes offers a tasty Pan-Asian inspired menu. For the catch of the day book into the Best Dressed Crab floating café in Bembridge harbour, or check out for the popular Crab & Lobster for impressive seafood platters with views of the sea.

The Isle of Wight boasts a rich and interesting heritage, beautiful gardens aplenty and an abundance of landmarks and attractions to discover. Save up to 25% on entry prices to popular Island attractions and 15% on ferry travel when you book attraction packages with us. 

Ventnor Botanic Gardens lies at the heart of a unique micro-climate on the south coast of the Island, which on average is 5 degrees warmer than the rest of Great Britain - this literally makes VBG Britain’s Hottest Garden! Discover rare and exotic plants collected and curated into geographically themed gardens. 

Explore the charming Mottiston Gardens surrounding Mottiston Manor, a grand Elizabethan house and estate in the south west Wight. Discover hidden pathways and ancient trees in the historic gardens, as well as 20th century Mediterranean-style planting thanks to the Island’s warmer climes. 

Walk in the footsteps of royalty at Osborne, Queens Victoria’s holiday home by the sea. Absorb the incredible history of the Queen’s beloved holiday home by the sea, an elegant Italian inspired palace with Mediterranean gardens and a rolling country estate. Stroll through the sweeping lawns and pretty woodland to discover the Queen’s own private beach, Osborne Bay. Here we recommend sinking into a deck chair with a hot chocolate and watching the day go by. 

For animal lovers, a visit to the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is a must, located in Sandown’s historic Granite Fort opposite the popular Yaverland Beach. The Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of animals including lions, tigers, lynx, lemurs, monkeys, wallabies, reptiles, farmyard animals and many more species from around the world, enjoying their forever home in the sanctuary by the sea.