The Needles
The Needles
3.5
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Large chalk rock formations off the western tip of the island.
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38 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
4,675 reviews
Excellent
1,451
Very good
1,323
Average
987
Poor
510
Terrible
404
Anonymous
5 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I read the reviews before travelling so decided the best option would be to go on a day the weather was not great, a Monday, late afternoon...it paid off yes it was raining when we arrived but no queues for chairlift we went straight on. It brightened up at the bottom on the beach spent half hour taking pics and boys skimming stones then got the chairlift back up again no queue. It was £30 for 3 adults and 1 child return but we thouroughly enjoyed it so no complaints over price. We went to the sand shop which 9 year enjoyed filling a map of IOW. Also went in the gift shop i thought was reasonably priced for such a prime tourist location. Found similar priducts in different shops over the island more expensive. Parking was also free on the day we went. We enjoyed the needles, the chairlift was 9 year olds highlight of our holiday.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
186400Caroline
Warwick, UK2,349 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
We went direct from the ferry queued for parking for about 20 minutes but it was worth it, £6 for the day card payments. We did the chair lift and really enjoyed it, got off at the bottom to take pictures. The beach was very clean but very pebbly and most folks were down there for the boat.
We lunched in Marconi’s which was inexpensive and a lot of variety sandwiches or hot food. Shame there weren’t more tables outside as it was a really nice day.
The shops were predominantly tacky particularly the coloured sand, the emporium and sweet shop. The glass shop was great, walking through the area where they are blowing glass into the show room, some really pretty glass vases.
We did notice a lot of booths shut due to not having sufficient staff but we enjoyed it and would recommend it.
We lunched in Marconi’s which was inexpensive and a lot of variety sandwiches or hot food. Shame there weren’t more tables outside as it was a really nice day.
The shops were predominantly tacky particularly the coloured sand, the emporium and sweet shop. The glass shop was great, walking through the area where they are blowing glass into the show room, some really pretty glass vases.
We did notice a lot of booths shut due to not having sufficient staff but we enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Written September 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kingchef101
190 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
The beauty of this place is amazing, and was worth the visit, but what is a beautiful place to come has been turned into a poorly run money making scheme for those involved. Firstly the charge of £6 just to park your car is ridiculous, queuing up a steep hill, with one car being served at a time very slowly. Then £8 for a return on the chairlift, £6 for a game of golf, and £4 for a 5 minute cinema viewing, really is extortionate, especially if you have a larger group visiting. On arrival only one woman selling tokens, with a large queue formed, when more than one window could have helped this, as it’s not really clear how the token system works at first, and many people were confused, but you buy tokens with money, to hand over as money but not actual money, but as a value of how much money they are charging. If that makes sense. The restaurant I would avoid too, unless you have a few hours spare, one queue in for everything so you have to queue and wait in a very long line no matter what you want, there was nothing in the fridges at 1pm, and only 1 till open to make the queue worse. 20 minutes we spent just waiting to be served. The one highlight of the day was the boat trip. The slow boat (20 mins) was very entertaining and the man with the hat was very funny on the tour. But as for the rest, it may be better to park up for free a bit further away and get the bus in, or walk to the beach instead.
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lauren C-O
London, UK37 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
I do (did!) like to visit The Needles. We love filling a little plastic shape with sand and we like to see the sweets being made.
BUT it has become VERY pricey. £8 per adult and £6 per child to go on the chair lift. Plus the £6 is costs to park.
Hook-a-duck is now £4 a person with no more allowance for 1 free turn in that little booklet you get when you pay for your parking. The waltzing things have gone too.
Rides are 3/4 tickets each or £3/4. Drinks are expensive as are ice creams. The sweet demonstration is also now £2 per person. Doesn't seem much, but when you are a family of 9 it is!
We left an hour or so after arriving because we didn't really have anything else left to do without spending more money. Plus the sweet demonstration had been shut down for a school visit.
Staff all look pretty miserable, they are probably fed up with complaints at how expensive things have become.
It's a shame, it has all become very greedy. We came with people who had never been and I was quite embarrassed as I had raved about it so much.
It's sad that the owners have chosen greed over customer satisfaction. It's wrong to advertise ir a "free to get in to" when you pretty much require a small loan to then do anything. It's highly unlikely that we will visit the Needles again.
BUT it has become VERY pricey. £8 per adult and £6 per child to go on the chair lift. Plus the £6 is costs to park.
Hook-a-duck is now £4 a person with no more allowance for 1 free turn in that little booklet you get when you pay for your parking. The waltzing things have gone too.
Rides are 3/4 tickets each or £3/4. Drinks are expensive as are ice creams. The sweet demonstration is also now £2 per person. Doesn't seem much, but when you are a family of 9 it is!
We left an hour or so after arriving because we didn't really have anything else left to do without spending more money. Plus the sweet demonstration had been shut down for a school visit.
Staff all look pretty miserable, they are probably fed up with complaints at how expensive things have become.
It's a shame, it has all become very greedy. We came with people who had never been and I was quite embarrassed as I had raved about it so much.
It's sad that the owners have chosen greed over customer satisfaction. It's wrong to advertise ir a "free to get in to" when you pretty much require a small loan to then do anything. It's highly unlikely that we will visit the Needles again.
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Scottington
England, UK357 contributions
Sep 2021
We visited the Needles while staying on the island and paid for the car park although the queue was massive when it actually wasn't that busy. We then paid for the cable lift down to Alum bay and were told that because of rough waters there would be no boat tours today. We were disappointed but understood that some things can't be prevented. The cable cart ride was really fun and gave you some great views of the cliff edges.
We then walked along the beach and then head back up on the cable cart return as there wasn't much else to do.
There is a coastal walk across the cliffs to Totland where we had lunch at a sea front restaurant and then got the tour bus back which took us up to the Needles batteries. We managed to see the needles closer up than on Alum Bay and finished the day walking back down to the car park.
Overall the walks and views were beautiful but bare the weather in mind for the boat trips and be prepared to pay a fair bit for not allot in return.
We then walked along the beach and then head back up on the cable cart return as there wasn't much else to do.
There is a coastal walk across the cliffs to Totland where we had lunch at a sea front restaurant and then got the tour bus back which took us up to the Needles batteries. We managed to see the needles closer up than on Alum Bay and finished the day walking back down to the car park.
Overall the walks and views were beautiful but bare the weather in mind for the boat trips and be prepared to pay a fair bit for not allot in return.
Written October 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Derek C
Market Harborough, UK31 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
The Needles attraction is terrible. Really terrible. Ok, the cable car trip is ok, but is expensive for what it is. The rest of the place is a huge disappointment. Queued in the coffee shop for half an hour for service without a smile or word. Poor quality coffee dumped in front of me without a word. The whole place is a throw back to the 1970’s. Yes car parking is cheap at £6 for a full day but there are no other options and it is doubtful we would spend more than 3 hours here. Very expensive for low quality, they are capitalising on a captive audience. In what has been a lovely holiday to the Isle of Wight, this has been the only disappointment. All the staff are so slow, miserable and unfriendly they must hate being here. Personally give this place a miss, or alternatively eat in a country pub before coming here, pay the £6 parking and then walk down to the beach. Avoid all shops, rides and tea shop. One star rating is generous
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tom B
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
The Needles is a very nice location to visit, however it is a massive shame that everything revolves around money. Last time we visited in August 2018, there was a small cafe near the viewing point by the New Battery. They have removed that cafe and the only one at that end is in the Old Battery, which you have to pay to go in. We didn’t want to go into the old battery, we only wanted to buy some water as it was 30C weather. The woman at the booth said we had to pay to enter, even though we literally we going to buy water and leave. I just think it’s disgraceful that we have to spend an extortionate amount of money just to simply enter the shop buy some water in the middle of a heatwave. Will not be returning any time soon.
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alison G
Exmouth, UK55 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Get there early is the best advice I can offer if you are planning on going here. If you arrive after 11 then you can pretty much expect at least 1 hour queue for every activity here! We arrived about 10:20 and was disgusted that they have the nerve to rip you off by charging £6 for all day parking for absolutely no reason whatsoever unless it’s to justify the few people in the car park telling us where to park…! You then have to buy the tickets for the activities you want to do while there - so I would advise looking at what you want to do first so you know how many tickets you need. The chair lift down to the needles is the main attraction but only do this if you don’t mind heights and don’t worry about the safety of the old thing! There is a cliff path you can walk up and down with the dog if you take one. We had a dog with us which was inconvenient as very limited in what you can actually do with one there!! The dog wasn’t allowed anywhere apart from on the beach basically! Very frustrating! It was as excepted stupidly busy and the queues take up a lot of the space available so if you are still COVID worries don’t go here! We were there for only 3 hours as managed to do most activities before it got too busy so didn’t have to waste time in queues. Could be better organised for the sand making plastic ornaments this took the most time as only 3 staff running the whole thing which was letting people in and chose their ornaments then explaining what to do with the sand then when you have done this a massive queue again to have it corked this defo needs more staff helping to make it run more smoothly. I just felt sorry for the people with younger kids who were stuck in the queue for probably about what would have been 2 hours! Most annoying was the paying £6 for parking all day when we were only there for 3 hours!! This charge is criminal!!! 😡😡
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gwen P
Windsor, UK42 contributions
Jun 2022
I had my reservations about this place but it brought back memories for my parents who were keen to share it with my 9yr old.
First the parking. We arrived at nearly 2 out of season and were informed that we would have to pay for a full day parking. After reluctantly doing so we saw less than 5 minutes later the man at the booth clock out and change the sign to free parking! Not good customer service.
All the rides were closed and the price for the chair lift down to the beach was very pricey. Most of the shop but one was closed. The sweet shop had literally a shelf of sweets on it! The glass shop had seen better days as well.
This was particularly upsetting for my elderly parents as they had fond memories being at the needles and whilst the world has moved on the needles hasn’t apart from increasing the price.
I haven’t been there in 30 years and it would be longer for me to return unless something changes
First the parking. We arrived at nearly 2 out of season and were informed that we would have to pay for a full day parking. After reluctantly doing so we saw less than 5 minutes later the man at the booth clock out and change the sign to free parking! Not good customer service.
All the rides were closed and the price for the chair lift down to the beach was very pricey. Most of the shop but one was closed. The sweet shop had literally a shelf of sweets on it! The glass shop had seen better days as well.
This was particularly upsetting for my elderly parents as they had fond memories being at the needles and whilst the world has moved on the needles hasn’t apart from increasing the price.
I haven’t been there in 30 years and it would be longer for me to return unless something changes
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your review, please contact us on info@theneedles.co.uk if you’d like to discuss your visit with us.
Written June 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Myles and Linda Breary
22 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
By building the shopping area to access the needles this area has been over commercialised and spoiled. If you must visit cheapest way is by public bus and walk down the 168 steps to the beach. Take photos from there. £7 for a short trip on the chair lift to and from the beach and £8 to go on a boat to the needles and back is not worth it. If you travel by car your likely stuck in queues and then have car park charges on top. Not worth wasting time going!!
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Heather
Totland, UK3 contributions
I see the breezer bus has stared up can anyone tell me what’s open at the needles please
Nellylondon5
London, UK130 contributions
Hi, roughly how much time should I plan for Needles if we plan to walk down the steps, take slow boat to Needle, and come back up in the Chairlift? (I will separately adjust time for photos.... :) )
BadgerSteve
Cardiff, UK375 contributions
An hour or so should fo it boat is only 20 mins
Maliha H
Greater London, UK
hi we are planning to visit needles park with our 3 kids aged 6 yrs plus, 4 years plus and 1 year.
if I take my 1 year old in a front facing harness with me can me and husband take other two kids each of them with us on the chairlift.
Lizzie R
United Kingdom6 contributions
Not 100% but I think a babe in arms counts as one person, even if it is forward facing in a harness, and there is a maximum of 2 per chair. There are steps that you can walk up and down, also you don’t have to get off the chair lift at the bottom so you could just have a ride round and take it in turns? There isn’t a lot to do down there unless you were planning on going on a boat ride, it is rocky down there and difficult to walk on. You’re not allowed to take sand from the beach (although I didn’t see any sand there anyway!) they have the sand workshop open which you can make your sand souvenir in. If you’re members of the national trust you can walk to the cliff edge at the Old Battery and see the needles up close, you also get discounted parking at the needles as they share the same car park.
Aisha Ahmed
London, UK1 contribution
Will this attraction still be open in two weeks when we come? When does it close?
Anne J
33 contributions
Only the chair lift was open when we went at the beginning of October, the village was closed. There are hostelries and eateries within driving distance.
Vonnywarren
Christchurch, UK
Can small dogs go on the chair lift?
Rediffusion
London, UK159 contributions
Dogs aren’t allowed on the ski-lift and the steps going down are not always open (as was the case this week). It’s not a particularly dog friendly place.
Does anyone know if step access down to the beach is open again following the dispute with the council?
Henri K
Aldermaston, UK17 contributions
Path to beech under chairlift is open if this is the one you mean, not aware of any other.
Kellyfishy
Birmingham, UK15 contributions
Hi is everything open in the winter? Like now?
WarleyWasp
Warlingham, UK219 contributions
Normally the IOW closes down after October for the winter. However I think the would be a limited number of attractions open but not the water ones. The shop and coffee probably. Sorry can't help anymore
Shamqazi
Abingdon, UK1 contribution
Hi, is getting on and off the cable car easier with the children as I guess the cars do not stop completely and you have to get on the moving cable. Thanks
Catherine L
Barrow Upon Soar, UK40 contributions
Yes it's very easy. There were lots of children on them would say though make sure shoes and hat's are on properly, the shoes can come off as feet are dangling and the breeze can blow hat's off as you will see as you pass over the cliffs there are quite a few lost items!
The Needles (Totland) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about The Needles
- The Needles is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- We recommend booking The Needles tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 The Needles tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near The Needles:
- (0.05 mi) NEEDLES COTTAGE, coastal views, woodburner, Totland, Ref 942245
- (1.26 mi) Weston Manor Bed & Breakfast
- (1.40 mi) Sentry Mead
- (1.95 mi) Rockstone Cottage
- (0.05 mi) NEEDLES COTTAGE, family friendly, with open fire in Totland
- Restaurants near The Needles:
- (0.05 mi) Marconi's Tea Rooms
- (0.57 mi) Warren Farm Shop & Tea Garden
- (2.07 mi) The Freshwater Coffee House
- (1.26 mi) The Waterfront Bar & Restaurant Totland Bay
- (4.03 mi) Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant
- Attractions near The Needles:
- (0.08 mi) Alum Bay Glass
- (0.09 mi) The Needles Landmark Attraction
- (0.28 mi) Warren Farm
- (0.60 mi) The Needles Battery
- (1.11 mi) Tennyson Down