Once hailed as one of the Isle of Wight’s most beautiful coastal spots, Sandown Beach is now facing criticism, as visitors say it’s being let down by the visible decline of its seaside town. Located on the island’s southeast coast, the five-mile-long beach has long been known for its soft golden sand and clear blue waters. However, recent reviews paint a less than rosy image of the area, with reports of abandoned buildings, rundown hotels, and a neglected town centre.
Multiple reviews describe a dilapidated town centre, hotels left in ruins after several fires, and a lack of basic maintenance. The once busy High Street now reportedly resembles a ‘ghost town’, and many say the buildings have been left in a rundown state along with abandoned shops.
One TripAdvisor user called it the “worst seaside” in the UK and wrote : “Sandown used to be a beautiful place. Now it is full of derelict hotels and the High Street is full of derelict shops.
“Ferry Companies charge extorninate ferry fares to visit an Island that is sadly becoming a Dump. I would say Sandown is the most rundown seaside in the UK. Totally shocking, no one is cleaning up Sandown. On the recent TV Show showing Sandown they did not show the derelict.”
Someone else said: “Lovely beach but town in need of renovation.”
Milly from Lincoln also wrote: “Derelict hotels, partly destroyed by fire, all along the seafront. Litter strewn beach. Groups of alcoholics monopolising the benches at all hours of the day and night and using the beach as their toilet. The high street is like a ghost town. Not what we were expecting at all.”
Despite the criticism, not everyone is ready to write off Sandown Beach, and some recent visitors have shared positive experiences, highlighting the beach’s peaceful atmosphere, and beauty.
The beach is currently the only beach on the Isle of Wight to hold a Blue Flag award, and in 2019, Countryfile Magazine named it as the best British beach, praising it as ‘a traditional bucket and spade beach on the east coast of the Isle of Wight with miles of golden sand, a pier and eclectic seafront – and just a short walk to peace, fossil-rich cliffs and stunning coastal wildlife.’
One person wrote this month: “We loved this beach so much that we came back a second time during our holiday to Portsmouth! Great food and drinks from the beach cafe, parasols and deckchairs can be hired.”
A Reddit user also said: “Sandown makes me feel a little sad when I go to the high street, but to be fair it’s got a lovely beach and some great walks, good parks, dinosaur hunting and rock pooling.”