We all know the dangers of too much sun. But getting a decent dose of sunshine can boost your mood, your immune system and, according to one study in Sweden, even your lifespan. Sunshine can be hard to come by in the UK. So why not maximise your vitamin D intake by moving to the sunniest place in the country?
Where is the sunniest place in the UK?
You might assume the sunniest place in the UK would be found in Cornwall or Devon, or maybe down in Kent. In fact, the most rays can be soaked up on the Isle of Wight. Located a few miles off the coast of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight measures just 147 square miles with a population of around 150,000 people. According to Met Office data, the Isle of Wight is the only place in the UK to enjoy an average of over 5 hours of sunshine per day.
NEXT READ: Yes! You can live by the sea and commute to London
Where are the best places to live on the Isle of Wight?
Towns on the north coast of the island are best if you need a convenient connection to the mainland. Cowes and Ryde are connected by ferry to Southampton and Portsmouth and are both popular choices for those calling the island home. Lively Cowes is famous for the annual Cowes Week sailing regatta, while Ryde boasts a quaint historic charm. The island’s capital, Newport, is located toward the centre of the island. A bustling town with all the high street staples, Newport is a good option for those seeking all the amenities close at hand and with easy access to all the island has to offer. If you want to experience “getting away from it all” then head south to Ventnor, which enjoys a microclimate several degrees warmer than the UK average allowing for the cultivation of Mediterranean plants at the captivating Botanic Garden. Or head west to the charming harbour of Yarmouth, which boasts some of the oldest buildings on the island.
What are house prices like on the Isle of Wight?
House prices on the Isle of Wight are lower than average for the south-east of England at £265,000 according to the ONS. Newport, Ryde and East Cowes are particularly good value options, while you will pay a little more to live in Ventnor and Yarmouth.
What is it really like to live on the Isle of Wight?
The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place to live with stunning beaches, dramatic coastline and mouthwatering local produce. It also pays host to world-class events including the Isle of Wight festival. There are downsides to island life however. Many jobs on the Isle of Wight are linked to tourism and therefore seasonal. The cost of shipping items to the island can be higher due to the cost of taking goods across on the ferry, and it might take your delivery a little longer to arrive. Though the Isle of Wight’s towns offer a good range of amenities and things to do, living on an island might feel a little too dislocated from the hubbub of city life for some.
Can you commute from the Isle of Wight?
The passenger ferry from Ryde connects the island to Portsmouth in just 22 minutes, making the port city a good option for employment opportunities. If you opted to live on the southern side of the island you would need to factor in taking the train up the east coast or making your way to the ferry by road or bus. Cowes also has a ferry connection to Southampton but, unlike Ryde, Cowes is not served by a railway. Commuters heading to London could take a train from Portsmouth Harbour into London Waterloo in under 1 hour 50 minutes. Combined with the ferry crossing, your commute could top 2.5 hours. This makes the Isle of Wight a stretch for commuting regularly into the capital but if island life really appeals and your office attendance is flexible then it might be worth the stretch.
The Hattie 