osborne house virtual tour

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Virtual Tour of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House Europe Art Local Interviews Armchair Travel Virtual Tours Virtual Tour of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House Armchair Travel , Art , Europe , Local Interviews , Virtual Tours Virtual Tour of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House

• December 14, 2022

Osborne House tells the story of love, dedication and resilience from the perspective of Britain’s second-longest-reigning monarch. Located on the Isle of Wight, about 90 miles southeast of London, Osborne House was built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and used as a private family retreat from court life. Since its creation between 1845 and 1851, this richly decorated seaside estate remains largely intact, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the royal couple’s personal lives, interests and art collection. From the children’s nursery to the bedroom where Queen Victoria died in 1901, each room shares a bit of Britain’s royal past. Uncover the secrets on a virtual tour of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House with help from Michael Hunter, curator at English Heritage .

What do you think attracted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to the Isle of Wight?

The quiet and privacy of the Isle of Wight attracted Victoria and Albert. It was away from the official worries and cares of state that they had to deal with in London or Windsor. It was another world, somewhere apart. The development of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century meant that they could get to the island from London in about 4 hours. The use of their own private train and yacht did help to shorten the journey time … no boarding a public ferry for them!

Detail of Portrait of Queen Victoria on Papier Mâché Face Screen, 1840. Courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust.

What makes Osborne House unique compared to other royal residences in the UK?

Osborne is unique as a royal residence because it was created from scratch by Victoria and Albert. It was the first home they made together, when they were both in their mid-twenties, already with a young, growing family. Victoria and Albert spent around 4 months a year at Osborne and it is a monument to their love, taste as collectors and a vibrant insight into their lives.

Courtesy of English Heritage

Can you describe Osborne House and its size?

Osborne was designed by Prince Albert and built by Thomas Cubitt. It is in the Italianate style and with its terraced, formal gardens, it takes advantage of a spectacular setting, overlooking the Solent. It has around 250 rooms and has four distinct, though connected, parts; the Pavilion in which Victoria and Albert had their own rooms; the Household Wing used by the member of the royal household who travelled with Victoria and Albert; the Main Wing where the royal children had their rooms; and the Durbar Wing which was a late addition to the house which was built to provide a large entertaining space. The outside of the house has two distinct towers, very much as one would see in any old public square in Italy, one for the clock and one for flying the royal standard. The Osborne estate was around 2,500 acres – it is now around 600 acres after parts of the estate were sold after Victoria’s death.

How much time did Queen Victoria and her family spend at Osborne House?

Queen Victoria and her family spent around 4 months of each year at Osborne. They always celebrated their birthdays at Osborne and after Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Victoria always went to Osborne for Christmas.

Can you describe design trends that influenced the style and evolution of Osborne House?

The Italianate style of architecture – a style inspired by the architecture of the classical world – was popular in the mid-nineteenth century and this was Albert’s choice.

Can you describe a few major changes made to Osborne House during Queen Victoria’s lifetime?

The most noticeable change was the addition of the Durbar Wing in the 1890s. This was built to provide Queen Victoria with a large dining/entertaining space as well as an apartment for her daughter Princess Beatrice, her husband and children. The size of the estate and the number of buildings (farm buildings, servants’ cottages, etc.) increased during Victoria’s time.

What is your favorite room at Osborne House? And, why?

My favourite room is the Queen’s Sitting Room with its floor to ceiling windows that open out onto a balcony where there are spectacular views across the terraced gardens, down to the private beach and over the Solent towards Portsmouth. It is quite a thought that in this modest room Queen Victoria and her ministers controlled a mighty empire.

How did Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children prefer to pass the time at Osborne House?

The royal family preferred to spend as much of their time out of doors in the fresh air. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert swam off their private beach (Queen Victoria using her bathing machine which can still be seen on the beach today) and all their children were taught to swim in a large floating bath that Prince Albert designed. They walked and rode a lot around the estate and went on excursions on the water around the island on their yachts. Queen Victoria did a lot of painting in watercolours in the gardens and around Osborne, many of which are still in the Royal Collection.

What is your favorite piece of artwork on display at Osborne House? And, why?

My favourite art work is a life-size marble statue by J. Edgar Boehm of “Noble”, one of Queen Victoria’s favourite collie dogs. The sculpture was done when the dog was 14 years old and it sits in the Grand Corridor alongside many sculptures in the classical style. The fact that it is so prominently displayed shows Victoria’s great love of her pets. She commissioned many images of them, just as many in fact as she did of her family. A bronze cast of the marble sculpture at Osborne was put over Noble’s grave at Balmoral, Victoria’s home in Scotland.

Are there any items on display that offer clues about the royal couple’s relationship and/or parenting style?

By all accounts Victoria and Albert had a passionate relationship and many of the artworks at Osborne have an erotic charge. For example, the large painting by France Xaver Winterhalter that Victoria gave Albert as a birthday present one year shows an abundance of naked female flesh … and it hangs directly opposite their writing desks in Victoria’s sitting room. The bronze statue of Andromeda that stands in the middle of a fountain in the garden shows a beautiful young girl, in a very sensual pose, chained to a rock waiting to be rescued by Perseus. The statue was bought by Victoria and Albert at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and placed at Osborne soon afterward. Queen Victoria has a bad reputation as a mother but the fact that the nurseries at Osborne are immediately above her own rooms indicates that she wanted to have the children close by rather than pushed off into a completely separate part of the house. Although the children were in the care of staff nevertheless she and Prince Albert were able to see as much of their children when at Osborne as possible.

What might surprise visitors about Osborne House?

Visitors might be surprised by the intimate, family feeling that Osborne still has. The rooms are comparatively modest by royal standards. Unlike other residences associated with Victoria and Albert that are open, Osborne is the one that gives an intimate glimpse into their lives.

Have there been any recent updates to the visitor experience at Osborne House?

The most recent major addition to the visitor experience was the opening a few years ago of the private beach. There is also a recent exhibition about Victoria and Albert’s birthdays at Osborne and the gifts they gave to each other, many of which can be seen in the house.

Visitor Information Click here for more information.

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Friends of Osborne

360 Degree Tour - NOW FULLY BOOKED

Friday 21 st july 2023, 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, at osborne house roof terrace      -        now fully booked.

Come and join us at our exclusive 360 Degree Guided Tour to the Pavilion roof top, adjacent to the flag tower of Osborne House. Enjoy stunning views of the Clock Tower, with its newly refurbished weathervane, the Andromeda Fountain and Gardens, the Broad Walk all set against dramatic views of the Solent. Share with us a glass of ‘Summer Cup’ and tasty nibbles at this unique location, which is not open to the general public.

As numbers for this event are limited for health and safety reasons, there will be 2 tours, one at 6.00pm and one at 7.00pm, therefore this is a  members only event.

You will be escorted though the house to the top of the Pavilion but access to the roof is via a short but steep wooden staircase.

Ticket price for this exclusive escorted tour, including drinks and nibbles on the roof, is £12.

If you do not wish to use the online booking form below, you can select the printable form option.  Please complete and post to the address given for cheque payments, to arrive no later than Friday 14 July 2023.

Osborne House

20% off entry when you show your bus ticket*.

Built between 1845 and 1851, Osborne House was initially constructed as a 'holiday home' for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and today it stands as one of the Isle of Wight's most popular tourist attractions. Take an intimate glimpse into Queen Victoria’s family life as you tour the nursery and private rooms of Victoria and Albert's Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Marvel at the magnificence of the Royal Apartments including the sumptuous drawing and dining rooms and the richly decorated Indian-inspired Durbar Room. Admire the stunning view from the terraces across the Solent and stroll through Osborne’s extensive grounds. Don’t miss the miniature Swiss Cottage, built to teach the royal children the art of household management! Explore Queen Victoria's private beach, open to the public for the first time. If visiting Osborne House is part of a day-out itinerary, we have other ideas on how to spend your day trip to the Isle of Wight . 

• Plan Your Visit
• Find Osborne House  prices and opening times.  
• Southern Vectis number 4 bus service goes hourly from Ryde Esplanade bus station, a few minutes walk from our Ryde terminal. Osborne is an approximate 25 minute bus journey. Please visit the   Southern Vectis   website for more information.
• View our flight   timetable  and book your Hover Rover Bus ticket below, show your Hover Rover Bus valid ticket at the entrance and receive 20% off Osborne House entry until 28th March 2024.

Osborne House Estate East Cowes Isle of Wight PO32 6JX

Enjoy a full day exploring Osborne House, the stunning gardens and private beach.

Getting there

• 09:30 Flight departs from Southsea hoverport
• 09:40 Flight arrives at Ryde hoverport
• Short walk from our Ryde hoverport to Ryde Bus Station
• 09:50 Southern Vectis Bus Service 4 departs Ryde Bus Station
• 10:15 Southern Vectis Bus Service 4 arrives Osborne House
• Enjoy a full day at Osborne House

Return journey

• 16:30 Southern Vectis Bus Service 4 departs Osborne House
• 16:57 Southern Vectis bus Service 4 arrives Ryde Bus Station
• Short walk from Ryde Bus Station to our Ryde hoverport
• 17:15 Flight from Ryde hoverport
• 17:25 Flight arrives Southsea hoverport

Please note: this is an example itinerary. Please check our flight times and Southern Vectis bus times ahead of your journey.

• 20% discount is applied to participating site walk up tickets when travelling to site by Hover Rover Bus ticket .
• Discount is valid only from 01/09/23 – 28/03/24
• Discount is only valid for Osborne House.
• Hover Rover Bus ticket will be checked at the point of purchase. If there is no proof of travel you will be asked to pay the ticket price in full and the discount will not be applied. Tickets should be valid for the day of your visit. 
• Discount is valid during normal site operational hours, including daytime events.
• Discount is not valid in association with any other offer and no cash alternative value will be offered.
• Discount is not valid for any evening events or concerts.
• Discount is not valid for group travel or for advance ticket purchases online.
• English Heritage has the right to remove this offer at any point in time.
• For full terms and conditions please visit here  

© Photo Visit Isle of Wight, credit Cam of Sam / Visit Isle of Wight.

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