Discover Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Well-preserved houses (The Old Thatch Tearoom, Pencil Cottage and The Crab Public House) in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_moment_to_treasure_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1432219.jpg
Author: John Webber


Shanklin is a town and seaside resort on the east coast of the Isle of Wight, England. The town, which has a population of 8,500 people (2012 estimate), has an esplanade where most of the hotels and restaurants are concentrated.

The main shopping area in Shanklin is on Regent Street and High Street. This is where you find most of the shops catering to both tourists and residents. The town has two main supermarkets, the Co-op and the Lidl. It has a theater, the Shanklin Theatre, at the top end of the High Street.

Shanklin was named after Shanklin Chine, a wooded coastal ravine where there are waterfalls and lush vegetation. The area has been documented as early as 1086, when it appeared in the Domesday Book as Chynklyng Chine.

The town of Shanklin goes down in history through its association with Charles Darwin, who wrote the Origin of Species during an 18-month-long visit here.

Perhaps the most charming part of Shanklin is the row comprising The Old Thatch Tearoom, Pencil Cottage and The Crab Public House. These lovely cottages seem to spring right out of a fairy tale book.

Eastcliff Road, Shanklin: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastcliff_Road,_Shanklin,_Isle_of_Wight_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1708768.jpg
Author: Christine Matthews

Visiting Shanklin

You can reach Shanklin by taking the A3055 road from Ryde.

Places of Interest in Shanklin