December is the Isle of Wight at its most festive and least crowded. The headline event is Illuminate at Robin Hill, from 4 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. Around it are Christmas markets (mostly on the weekend of 5 and 6 December), Santa trains on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Boxing Day swims and pubs with log fires. Plan your crossing carefully: almost no ferries sail on Christmas Day.
Illuminate at Robin HillSection titled Illuminate at Robin Hill
Robin Hill Adventure Park, near Newport, hosts Illuminate Isle of Wight from Friday 4 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. It is a 60 to 80 minute walk after dark through light installations in the woods and gardens, with a festive village along the route serving hot food, mulled wine, hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast.
- Book ahead. Spaces are limited each evening and tickets are sold through the Illuminate website, linked from Robin Hill's event page. The event is run by an outside company, with Robin Hill as the venue.
- Wear proper shoes. The route is outdoors on park paths and can be muddy after rain.
- Getting there: Robin Hill is just outside Newport, on Southern Vectis route 8.
Robin Hill's other winter event is the fireworks night in November.
Christmas markets 2026Section titled Christmas markets 2026
The island's markets are small and local: crafts, island food and drink, and music, usually for a day or a weekend.
| Market | Date | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic Farm Christmas Market | 5 and 6 December 2026, 9.30am to 4.30pm | The Garlic Farm, Newchurch | Free to visit. Island artisan stalls, food and live music. |
| Wight Brainy Bunch Christmas Market | Saturday 5 December 2026 | Lift Ryde, Pell Lane, Ryde | Moved from Ryde Fire Station because of building works. Stalls, food and family entertainment. |
| Wildheart Wonderland | 4 and 5 December 2026 | Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Sandown | A Christmas event at the sanctuary. Check its website for times and tickets. |
| Quarr Abbey Christmas shop and markets | Check the abbey's website | Quarr Abbey, near Ryde | The abbey runs a Christmas shop in its Courtyard Gallery and hosts Christmas markets in the grounds. |
Ryde's Merry and Bright Festival of Light, a lantern parade with the town's Christmas lights switch-on, was held on Friday 5 December in 2025. Its 2026 date hadn't been announced when we checked; look out for it on Ryde Town Council's website.
Santa specials on the steam railwaySection titled Santa specials on the steam railway
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet runs Santa Specials every December: a steam train ride with a visit from Father Christmas and a present for children. In 2025 they ran on 13 and 14 December and daily from 20 to 24 December, with a New Year's Day special on 1 January. The 2026 dates hadn't been published when we checked. They usually sell out, so book as soon as they go on sale at iwsteamrailway.co.uk.
Boxing Day and New Year swimsSection titled Boxing Day and New Year swims
Hundreds of people go into a cold sea for charity over Christmas. In 2025 the swims were:
- Ventnor: Boxing Day, 12pm from Ventnor Esplanade (its 45th year), raising money for Ventnor Carnival and Patch.
- Shanklin: Boxing Day, gathering at Small Hope Beach by the Salix at midday, in the water at 12.30pm.
- Gurnard: Boxing Day, into the water at Gurnard Sailing Club at 11am.
- Sandown: New Year's Day, 10.30am opposite Pebbles Beach Café, £2 entry.
They are volunteer-run, so check local news nearer the time for 2026 details. Spectators are welcome at all of them.
What's open over ChristmasSection titled What's open over Christmas
| 24 Dec | 25 Dec | 26 Dec | 27 Dec to 1 Jan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osborne (ground floor and grounds) | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open daily, 10am to 4pm |
| Tapnell Farm Park | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open, 10am to 4pm |
| Wildheart Animal Sanctuary | Open | Closed | Closed | Open, 10am to 4pm |
| Amazon World Zoo Park | Open | Closed | Open | Open from 10am |
| Caddyshack indoor crazy golf, Shanklin | Open all year, including Christmas and New Year |
Up to 23 December, Osborne is open Wednesday to Sunday. Amazon World's winter closing times vary, so ring the park on 01983 867122. For everything else open through the season, see our Isle of Wight in winter guide.
Many pubs open for part of Christmas Day and serve Christmas lunch, but you'll need to book well ahead. Check each pub's own hours. A log fire and a pint in a village pub is hard to beat; the Crown Inn at Shorwell and the Castle Inn in Newport are two of our favourites.
Ferries over ChristmasSection titled Ferries over Christmas
- Christmas Day: in 2025 Red Funnel was the only operator crossing the Solent, with vehicle ferries from Southampton at 9am and 12pm and from East Cowes at 10.30am and 1.30pm. The Red Jet, Wightlink and Hovertravel didn't run.
- Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve usually have reduced timetables.
- All three operators publish their Christmas timetables in late November or early December. Check before you book, and book early for the days either side of Christmas.
For which crossing suits you, see can you drive to the Isle of Wight?
SourcesSection titled Sources
- Robin Hill: Illuminate Isle of Wight, checked October 2026
- Visit South East England: Isle of Wight Garlic Farm Christmas Market, checked October 2026
- Isle of Wight County Press: Christmas market moves venue due to works
- Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and visit page, checked October 2026
- Quarr Abbey, checked October 2026
- Ryde Town Council: Merry and Bright Festival of Light 2025
- Visit Isle of Wight: Santa Specials at Isle of Wight Steam Railway (2025 dates)
- Isle of Wight Radio: Boxing Day and New Year's dips (25 December 2025)
- English Heritage: Osborne FAQs, winter opening 2026 to 2027, checked October 2026
- Tapnell Farm Park: opening times, checked October 2026
- Visit Isle of Wight: Amazon World Zoo Park
- Red Funnel: Christmas Day sailings are back (25 November 2025)
- Isle of Wight County Press: road and sea transport options limited over Christmas (2023)
