After seeing Osborne House on the English Heritage Instagram page at the start of 2017, I’d been dying to pay it a visit (I have a soft spot for a good Stately Home). The palatial building was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s holiday home on the Isle of Wight, featuring stunning gardens and a private beach. For non-English Heritage members it’s about £18 for a day ticket to the house.
Like the eager beavers we arrived before opening time, so we would hopefully see the terrace gardens before they’re overrun with people, and we did! We literally had the whole upper and lower Mediterranean terraces to ourselves, which was incredible as the lower terrace has only just been restored after been closed to the public for decades.
After wandering the gardens we head round into the house itself.
The front of the house made me feel like I was turning up for a ball or something.
I was in awe of the ornate rooms, I’d visited fancy state rooms before but nothing quite like these, fit for a Queen.
Room goals.
Overlooking the terraces and down to Victoria’s beach and the Solent.
Queen Victoria was also known as the Empress of India, so she added an Indian Wing to the house, including this insane Durbar Room.
The costumes from the film Victoria and Abdul starring Dame Judi Dench, she’s teeny tiny!
After the house we headed to the walled gardens.
Tallest sunflowers ever!
Petting some cute bumblebee’s going about their business.
Now… onto the beach!
Of course in true British fashion, as soon as we got down to the private beach it clouded back over and went chilly.
My lunatic of a boyfriend decided the -1,000,000 degree water was inviting for a swim…
A traditional Punch and Judy show down by the beach to entertain the children.
We didn’t get chance to visit the Swiss Cottage on the grounds too due to wanting to explore the rest of Isle of Wight, but if you ever find yourself on the island, please go and visit this stunning, historical home.
Click here to see more from our day on the Isle of Wight.