The Isle of Wight is not particularly well-known for Roman archæological sites, which is a pity, since the Roman Villa at Brading is a gem where you would not expect to find one. Discovered in the Victorian era, its mosaic floors and what remains of its walls have been carefully preserved to reveal a plethora of mythological scenes that provide a glimpse of an ancient world. We do not know who lived here, since no records of the settlement have survived; this, to my mind, makes it all the more intriguing. Brading Roman Villa is relatively easily reached by bus. It is open until 4PM, last admissions being at 3PM. The complex has a tea-room and is well air-conditioned, which is a boon on a hot summer’s day.

We visited for £1 on Isle of Wight day which was obviously great value! We were instantly greeted by the very friendly and enthusiastic volunteer who was most engaging. I found looking around and reading all the information far more interesting than I thought I would and I actually learnt something. Not sure I would have paid full price though.

This was a good hour and a half visit with well preserved Roman artefacts, including some impressive mosaics. The Villa has volunteers around to help and David did a really excellent introduction to the history of the Isle of Wight and Roman influence I would highly recommend visiting. It is no more than a 10 minute bus ride from sandown and close to brading as the name would suggest. As a blind visitor, there is not a great deal to interact with, but as I said above David really does a good talk and make sure to provide extra description for myself and had a roof tile that had been unearthed for me to touch as well

What a brilliant place. Really interesting Roman villa remains well presented along with an excellent cafe. We went back twice it was so good. Enjoyed making mosaic tiles.

Some impressive mosaics and other Roman archaeological artefacts. The villa has volunteers to help you with any questions you might have. David gave an excellent introduction to the history of the villa and the Roman influence. There are also explanatory videos around the site. I would recommend a visit for those interested in archaeology and history.

Met by a friendly face at reception . On entering the villa were met by a lovely informative guide who brought everything to life with her knowledge and enthusiasm .Absolutely fascinating ,what did the romans give us answer so very much and it was all there.in the villa . Well worth a visit if you like history . The cafe was clean and again friendly staff an enjoyable trip..

Really enjoyed our visit to Brading Roman Villa. The modern building means the facilities are very good and the information about the site is comprehensive and well-presented. On entering the Villa we were given a wonderful overview by the volunteer on duty, which really added to our experience. The mosaic floors are impressive and by the end of our tour we felt we had a real understanding of the history and significance of the complex.

A most fascinating site. The car parking is pretty good and the building covering most of the excavated site is fantastic. The museum is run by volunteers and they are most friendly and welcoming. The ones on interpretation duties are really knowlegeable and help explain the site is a really exciting way. There is a good cafe on the site offering a wide range of food and drinks. We were there for about half a day and found it most interesting. Being in a wheelchair can make visting places like this difficult but there was level access to most parts of the site - lots of ramps but with shallow slopes. Toilets were good. Highly impressed.

We have visited the IoW for many years and my young son requested we visit as he loves history. We walked through the Downs from the viewpoint to get there which was very pleasant. This place is a hidden gem! The staff were welcoming and very informative. They were able to interact with the kids and make it relevant to their ages. There were activities for the children and it was fascinating to see the work that has been done to preserve the parts of the villa. A lovely couple of hours, thank you!

This is a real find - and one of the few things to make the horrifically expensive ferry crossing worth considering. Perhaps because it was excavated relatively recently, the scale and quality of mosaic flooring here is quite a surprise, and the presentation makes it easy to imagine how different Vectis would have been a couple of millennia ago. Skip the nearby vineyard, and come here for inspiration - you won't regret it.