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We've compiled the best of the best in Alum Bay and the Needles - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
In addition to being famous for sailing and its connections to Queen Victoria, the Isle of Wight is renowned for its glassmaking. Local craftspeople have given live demonstrations of glassblowing here since 1972. The perfume bottles, vases, bowls, doorknobs, ornaments, and other items they create are available for sale in the showroom.
The home of Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–79), the eminent Victorian portrait photographer and friend of Lord Tennyson, has a gallery that includes more than 60 examples of her work, including striking images of Carlyle, Tennyson, and Browning. In addition, there's much here that will appeal to fans of decorative textiles and wall coverings. Another room is devoted to documenting the Isle of Wight rock festival, most famously the five-day event in 1970 that featured the Who, the Doors, Joni Mitchell, and Jimi Hendrix. The ground floor holds a shop and a good Alice in Wonderland–themed tearoom for snacks, hot lunches, and a traditional cream tea.
