Name: Osborne
Address: York Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6JT
Telephone: 0370 333 1181

The ground floor of the House, grounds and gardens of Osborne are now open for you to visit. You now need to book your timed tickets in advance. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. There are other new steps in place to ensure everyone’s safety, so your visit will be a little different.

How to Book your visit

Read our FAQ

Keeping you Safe

What to expect on your visit

Summer Adventure Quest 18 July - 30 August

Download your trail map

Open Daily 10am - 5pm

See full prices and opening times

Address

York Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6JT

Book your Visit

Welcome to Osborne

We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. To book your visit, click here.

Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

Please click here for more information about the safety measures you can expect when visiting as well as our FAQs.

Gardens and Grounds - The wide acres of the Osborne estate, including the beach, woodland walk and terraces will be fully open for you to enjoy.
Mini bus service - We are operating a limited mini bus service between the house and Queen Victoria’s Beach. As the service is running at reduced capacity, we kindly ask that visitors who are able to explore the site without making use of this service do so. Please speak to a member of staff for more information.
House - The ground floor of the House will be open with social distancing measures in place. The Grand corridor, State Rooms and Durbar Wing will be open as usual with a one-way system in place but some areas including the Exhibition Room, Council Room Corridor and Table Deckers will be closed to ensure social distancing.
Swiss Cottage and Museum - The Swiss Cottage and Museum remain closed.
Summer Adventure Quest - This summer, from 18 July, take your family on a free fun adventure quest with a historical twist. Download your trail map here and learn more below.
Café - The Beach Café will be open for takeaway service offering snacks and refreshments. An outdoor takeaway service offering refreshments will also be available on the Durbar lawn. The Orangery is open for hot and cold drinks, beer and wine and takeaway cakes, hot sausage rolls and pasties. The Gazelle house cake stop adjacent to Swiss Cottage is also open for takeaway drinks and snacks.
Playgrounds - The play areas will remain closed.
Shop - Osborne’s shop will be open with a one way system in place.
Toilets - Toilet facilities will be available in the gardens. Additional hand sanitising stations will be available in various locations.
Face coverings - Face coverings must be worn in Osborne's indoor shop, café, tea room and all other indoor spaces. We won’t be able to give you a face covering, so please come prepared so you don’t miss out.

Book your visit

Summer Explorer Quest

This summer, from 18 July, take your family on a free fun adventure with a historical twist. Follow the trail though the gardens and track down the clues - crack them all to claim your adventurer's certificate. Kick off your quest at Osborne every day of the school holidays. Standard admission applies.

Download your trail map

Things to see and do

Hire Osborne

Inspirational and intimate, Osborne is a venue that will welcome and wow your guests. Hold your event in rooms bursting with colour and regal splendour, or down in the wood-fringed private beach. A marquee over-looking the sea is a memorable setting in which to hold your reception and celebrations, emanating the extravagant events hosted by the Queen herself.

Find out more

Osborne Timeline

1774-81Blachford Family

Robert Pope Blachford extends and adapts an existing house into a three-storey residence, with a walled kitchen garden and a brick stable block.

1844-5Victoria and Albert

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert lease Osborne House from Lady Isabella Blachford.

1845A Brand New House

The royal couple buy Osborne. Albert commissions architect and master builder Thomas Cubitt to advise him on an extension. Cubitt recommends they build a new house.

Find out more about the history of Osborne

1846Pavilion Completed

The first phase of building, the Pavilion, is completed. It houses the private rooms of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the royal nurseries.

1848Household Wing Completed

The second phase is completed, including the wing for the royal household. The old house is demolished.

1851Main Wing Completed

The main wing, initially used by the royal children, is built on the old house site and is linked to the household wing by a long corridor.

Read a description of Osborne

1850sGardens and Beach

An extensive network of new walks and drives is created, including routes around the perimeter of the park and to a private beach.

1853-4Children's Swiss Cottage

A timber Swiss Cottage is built for the royal children in their own garden, nearly a mile to the east of the house.

1861Stables and Servant Facilities

Stables for 50 horses and carriages are completed to the south. The former stables are transformed into kitchen facilities and servants' accommodation.

1861Tragedy Strikes

Prince Albert dies unexpectedly at Windsor Castle, leaving Victoria overwhelmed with grief.

1887Indian Servants

The male dormitory, first built in 1850, is extended to accommodate the Indian servants introduced to the royal household.

1890-91Indian Wing

The Durbar Wing is built to provide a large reception or dining room, as well as a private suite for the queen's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, and her family.

1901Queen's Death

Queen Victoria dies at Osborne.

1902Given to the Nation

Against Victoria's explicit wishes, her successor, Edward VII, gives the estate to the nation.

1903-4Royal Naval College

Part of the grounds become the Royal Naval College Osborne. The ground floor of the Pavilion and the council and audience rooms are opened to the public. Other areas are converted into a convalescent home for officers.