Sandown, seaside resort town and civil parish on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England
Sandown is a seaside town on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, facing Sandown Bay with a wide sandy beach that stretches at low tide. The town has a pier, a fossil and dinosaur museum, a small zoo, and a seafront lined with cafes, amusement areas, and places to stay.
Sandown grew into a popular holiday destination during the 19th century, when sea bathing became fashionable among British travellers. The pier and many of the seafront buildings date from that era and still define the look of the town today.
The name Sandown comes from an Old English phrase meaning sandy hill. Along the seafront, visitors and locals share the same cafes, beach huts, and seasonal stalls, giving the place a relaxed, everyday feel.
Sandown is reached by ferry from the mainland, with ferries running from Portsmouth and other nearby ports. Once in town, the beach, pier, and main attractions are all within easy walking distance of each other.
The cliffs around Sandown are among the most productive sites for dinosaur fossils in Britain, and new finds are made regularly after storms erode the rock. Many of the specimens on display at the local museum were collected within a short walk of the town.
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