Queen Victoria’s beach opens to the public

Join in traditional Victorian seaside games and celebrate the first opening to the public of Queen Victoria’s private beach at Osborne House, East Cowes.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent many enjoyable hours on the beach at Osborne. From 27 July 2012 visitors to Osborne House can see the very place the Royal children learned to swim and enjoy the same magnificent views across the Solent.

Prince Albert believed in the health-giving properties of sea bathing and encouraged the Queen and his children to do so. The children used the beach as a much loved playground, spending long hours collecting shells or digging in the sand. A tent was pitched along the shore each year to give them shelter whilst they played.

The beach also had a more practical use; offering a convenient means of arriving at and departing from Osborne, as well as receiving visiting dignitaries.

English Heritage now manage the Osborne estate and have planned some family summer fun on Queen Victoria’s beach. Laugh out loud at an authentic reproduction of an 1850s’ Punch and Judy show, challenge the family to a game of quoits or skittles and try your hand at the hoop and stick. Tickets will be available to purchase at the event site on the day and are not available to book in advance. “Family Summer Fun at Osborne” runs from 27 July to 31 August.

Find out more about the beach at Osborne here.