Shanklin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shanklin
Shanklin Old Village
Shanklin
Population	7,200 (2021 Census)
OS grid reference	SZ584816
Unitary authority	Isle of Wight
Ceremonial county	Isle of Wight
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SHANKLIN
Postcode district	PO37
Dialling code	01983
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Isle of Wight
Ambulance	Isle of Wight
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Isle of Wight
List of places UK England Isle of Wight 50°38′00″N 1°10′30″W / 50.63333°N 1.17500°W / 50.63333; -1.17500

Shanklin is a fun seaside resort town on the Isle of Wight, England. It sits on Sandown Bay, which is a beautiful sandy stretch of coast. Shanklin is the most southern of three towns along this bay, close to Lake and Sandown.

People love Shanklin for its sandy beach, its charming Old Village, and a special wooded valley called Shanklin Chine. The area along the beach, known as the esplanade, has many hotels and restaurants. It is a popular spot for visitors. The Old Village, located at the top of Shanklin Chine, is another favorite place for tourists.

Shanklin, along with Lake and Sandown, forms a larger area with about 25,000 people. Shanklin itself is home to around 7,200 residents.

Shopping in Shanklin

Regent Street, a main shopping area.

Shanklin has a busy shopping area made up of two streets: Regent Street and High Street. These streets offer the biggest selection of shops in the south of the Isle of Wight. They are important for both tourists and local people.

Near Regent Street, you can find the town's two main supermarkets, the Co-op and Lidl. Regent Street has many local shops, including places to buy arts and crafts, clothes, and sports gear. You can also find newsagents and bakeries there. The High Street also has some local shops, but it is mostly known for its tourist shops and restaurants.

Getting Around Shanklin

Shanklin has its own Shanklin railway station. This is the end of the Island Line railway, which starts in Ryde. The railway line first opened on August 23, 1864. It used to go further south to Ventnor, but that part closed in 1966. Today, the line from Ryde to Shanklin uses old London Underground tube trains!

Buses are a great way to travel to nearby towns and areas. Southern Vectis runs these bus services, mainly on routes 2, 3, 22, and 24. You can usually catch them from the bus stops near the Co-op supermarket. Buses go to places like Newport, Ryde, Sandown, and Ventnor. In the summer, there is a special open-top bus route called "The Sandown Bay Tour." This tour takes you to the main tourist spots in Shanklin and Sandown.

Shanklin's Culture and History

Shanklin Theatre, a place for shows.

Shanklin has a theatre called Shanklin Theatre, located near the top of the High Street. Many shows and performances happen here.

Over the years, famous people have visited Shanklin.

• In 1819, the poet John Keats stayed in Shanklin. He finished part of his poem Lamia here.
• In 1868, the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visited. He even wrote a poem about his stay at the Crab Inn.
• The 1980s indiepop band Trixie's Big Red Motorbike came from Shanklin. They recorded some of their music in the town.
• Colonel Henry Gore-Browne, a brave soldier who received the Victoria Cross, lived in Shanklin before he passed away in 1912.

Shanklin has even appeared in stories and TV shows!

• In Joseph Jacobs's famous 1890 version of The Three Little Pigs, the pigs and the wolf live near Shanklin.
• The town was also mentioned in the TV comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Beaches and Esplanade

Shanklin beach, a popular spot for visitors.

Looking along Shanklin Esplanade.

Shanklin (closest to the camera) on Sandown Bay.

Shanklin is right on the coast of Sandown Bay. This means it is part of a very long beach that stretches from Yaverland in the north to Luccombe in the south. The beach area next to Shanklin is divided into Small Hope Beach and Hope Beach.

Above Hope Beach is the esplanade, which is a lively area with many fun things to do. You can find:

• An amusement arcade with games.
• A crazy golf course.
• A children's play area with slides, ball pools, and bouncy castles. These can even be hired for birthday parties!
• Several hotels right by the sea.
• A cliff lift that takes you from the seafront to the top of the cliff.
• A putting course, cafes, restaurants, and pubs.
• A large, clean beach perfect for relaxing.

Shanklin used to have a pier, but it was sadly destroyed in the Great Storm of 1987. The pier once had a theatre where many famous performers appeared.

The Summerland Amusement Arcade on the seafront has an interesting history. It used to be a seaplane hangar located in Bembridge. It held Fairey Campania seaplanes for a special squadron. During World War II, parts of the seafront were damaged by Bombing raids. However, they were quickly rebuilt after the war. This is why the seafront today has a mix of old Victorian buildings, buildings from between the wars, and newer buildings.

The Shanklin Sailing Club is at the north end of the Esplanade. It started in 1931 and has many Sprint 15 catamarans. The club holds races three days a week during the sailing season.

Further along the beach, you will find the Fisherman's Cottage pub. This pub is at the bottom of Shanklin Chine. The town of Shanklin actually gets its name from this Chine! In old times, it was called "Chynklyng Chine." The Chine is a beautiful wooded valley that you can explore for a small fee. It goes up to Rylstone Gardens in the Old Village. Inside the Chine, you can see a small part of a pipe from "Operation Pluto." This was a secret pipeline used during D-Day in World War II to supply fuel to the beaches where soldiers landed.

Nature and Wildlife Around Shanklin

America Wood is a special natural area located between Shanklin and Whiteley Bank. It is owned by the Woodland Trust. Getting into America Wood can be a bit of an adventure, as there is not much parking. However, if you enjoy walking, you can use the public footpaths and bridleways that lead into the wood. The wood feels quite open because storms in 1987 and 1990 knocked down many trees, creating clear areas. One very large open space is slowly growing back after these storms.

The wood is located just west of Ninham.

Dunnose is a large, tall piece of land southwest of Shanklin. It is a very noticeable geological feature. It has been used to help make maps of the United Kingdom. Sadly, it has also been the site of several shipwrecks. The most famous one was HMS Eurydice, which sank with about 300 people on board.

Shanklin is also a place where the famous scientist Charles Darwin spent time. He visited the town for 18 months and it is believed he wrote parts of his important book, Origin of Species, during his stay here.

Shanklin's Climate

Shanklin has a mild oceanic climate (Cfb). This means it has mild summers, cool nights, and rainy winters. Shanklin is known as one of the sunniest places in Great Britain!

Churches in Shanklin

St Blasius Church, also known as Shanklin Old Church.

There are three Anglican churches in Shanklin.

• St. Paul's Church on Regent Street has a special bell. This bell came from HMS Eurydice (1843), the ship that sank off Dunnose Point.
• St. Blasius Church, Shanklin is also known as Shanklin Old Church. It is located south of the town and has bell ropes hanging inside. It also has a lovely lych-gate, which is a covered gateway to a churchyard.
• The Church of St. Saviour-on-the-Cliff, Shanklin is the largest church in town. You can find it on Queen's Road.

Shanklin also has the Isle of Wight United Reformed Church.

Twin Town

Shanklin is twinned with Coupvray. This is a town in the Île-de-France region of France. Being "twinned" means the two towns have a special friendship and often share cultural exchanges.

Images for kids

• 

  The seafront at Shanklin in 2003.

• 

  Shanklin Esplanade around 1910.

• 

  Shanklin Old Village.

• 

  The Clock Tower on Shanklin Esplanade.

See also

In Spanish: Shanklin para niños