Osborne House

Enjoy an unforgettable visit to the former home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. 

Highlights: 

• The lavish state rooms where Queen Victoria entertained guests. 
• Family rooms, including the sitting room and bedroom. 
• The private beach where the Queen taught her children to swim.

Things to see during your visit to Osborne House 

This was the private home where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert raised their nine children. Each area of Osborne House gives an intimate look into how they lived their lives away from public view. 

The Swiss Cottage is an Alpine-style chalet where the royal children played and grew up. Today it’s an interactive exhibition showcasing the role the home played in the children’s lives. 

Within the house you can view the state rooms where Queen Victoria hosted heads of state, princes and princesses. The opulent rooms and corridors were once the centre of the British Empire. Also accessible inside the house are the private family rooms which witnessed both the life and death of Queen Victoria. From her bathtub to her bed in which she died in 1901, the private rooms offer a fascinating look behind the curtain into the family’s lives.  There are thousands of objects still displayed in the house and Swiss Cottage which were collected throughout their lives and are still owned by the Royal Family. You’ll see paintings, natural history specimens and antiques throughout your visit.  

Outside the sandy and shingle beach where Queen Victoria taught her children to swim is a lovely place to enjoy a paddle or stroll. You also can’t miss the gardens which are full of colour year-round. 

Facilities at Osborne House  

Parking at Osborne is free and the Orangery Coffee Shop, Petty Officer’s Café and Gazelle Cake House are just a few of the options for refreshments during your visit.