Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, an idyllic old village within the sunniest towns in the UK, is imbued with quintessential English charm and D-Day history. A small part of Shanklin town that is frozen in time has a patchwork of thatched buildings that make you feel as though you have time travelled to the 18th century.
The peaceful streets are interspersed with adorable village boutiques, tea rooms, and traditional country pubs, all set against the tranquil sounds of the sea lapping in the distance. The Tourist Information Point within the Vernon Cottage Gift Shop stocks a range of leaflets and guides containing useful information to help you during your stay. More intimate and tranquil than some of its more popular neighbours on the island, Shanklin Old Village offers visitors a short yet captivating amble through its calm byways.
It is this peaceful and endearing quality that seems to have won over its visitors.
Many have remarked on the village’s unchanged appearance, with one saying “How well they’ve preserved it…..all the monuments and land marks.”
Another commented: “I remember being there and noticed little signs in front of homes, like ‘Happy Cottage,’ ‘Ocean View,’ or ‘All Ours.’ My favorite was a slightly run down place with a sign that read, ‘It’ll Do.’”
A wistful comment on the All About Great Britain Facebook page read: “The proof that Brits revere their antiquities!” Another shared: “What an enjoyable scene!. I wish I could sit in a chair in the corner and sip a cup of hot coffee with two biscuits of Huntley and Palmers!!”
For the culture vultures, Shanklin is not just a pretty face. It was also once the home of English Romantic Poet John Keats and it also played an important role in World War 2.
The tiny town was prepared for potential invasion as it was at the coal face of the Channel. It also became a key site for the PLUTO (PipeLine Under The Ocean) project, which supplied fuel to allied forces in France.
Shanklin Chine, which you can visit today, was used by the Royal Marines for training exercises in the run up to D-Day.
The Chine was used in preparations for the Dieppe Raid of 1942 and the D-Day invasion of 1944, according to the Isle of Wight History Centre.
One Tripadvisor review of the historic Shanklin Chine read: “The stunning tree lined Chine cuts its way from Shanklin Old Village to the sandy beach and Esplanade far below.
“Visitors can enjoy the splendour of Shanklin Chine by day and wonder at its mystical beauty from dusk, when hundreds of lights illuminate the narrow paths, streams and waterfalls.”