Activity Detail Page

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's seaside holiday home. Swiss Cottage where royal children learnt cooking and gardening. Victorian carriage rides on the estate. View all the rooms used by Queen Victoria and house staff, which remain almost unaltered. Since the Queen died in 1901 Osborne allows a rare glimpse into royal family life in the 19thC. Osborne offers extensive walks in the grounds that take in the ice house and many trees planted by Queen Victoria. View the terraced garden overlooking the Solent and the walled garden. The new visitor centre is set within the former Petty Officers' quarter, once part of the Royal Naval College which for the last 18 years trained 4000 boys, including 2 future kings, as naval cadets. Carefully restored to its original external appearance, the visitor centre houses a new exhibition, spacious shop and visitor reception. It also features a smart new cafe, decorated with images illustrating life at the naval college in the early 20thC. Displayed for the first time in the exhibition are intimate objects once used by the Victorian royal children, including miniature tools, sun bonnets and tiny shoes. Nearby Pavilion Cottage, once the college cricket pavilion, has ben converted into stylish, 2-bedroom self-catering accommodation with a verandah overlooking the pretty private garden.