Osborne House in East Cowes is one of the Isle of Wight’s most famous landmarks, built as a private retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 1840s. Designed by Prince Albert himself in the style of an Italianate palace, the house was created as a family home where the royal couple could escape the formality of court life and enjoy time with their nine children.

Queen Victoria loved Osborne deeply, calling it her “paradise.” She spent long summers here, walking in the gardens, painting, and enjoying the sweeping views across the Solent. After Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Osborne became even more important to her. She returned year after year, finding comfort in the home they had created together. She also received visiting royalty and statesmen here, turning Osborne into a place of both family life and state affairs.

Today, Osborne House is open daily to visitors during the main season, with slightly reduced hours in winter. Guests can explore the lavish state rooms, the private royal apartments, the nursery where the children were raised, and the terraced gardens designed to reflect Italian style. The Swiss Cottage, built for the royal children to learn cooking and gardening, is also open to view.

Highlights include Queen Victoria’s bedroom, where she died in 1901, and the private beach where the royal family bathed and relaxed. The estate also offers walking trails, a café, and exhibitions that bring the Victorian period to life.

A visit to Osborne House offers a unique chance to step into the world of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, experiencing the place they cherished most as a family retreat.