The Needles Old Battery

The Needles Batteries are on the westerly point of the Isle of Wight and were constructed between 1861-95 for the coastal defence of England.

The overlook the Needles, a famous coastal and played a really important part in both world wars. The new Battery has been used more recently to test the Black Knight and Black Arrow space rocket engines and in recent times were given to the National Trust and opened to the public in 1982 giving visitors the most superb views of Dorset, the Solent and Hampshire.

While you can drive right up to the Batteries there is also a great open top bus that runs every half hour on a circular trip via Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay, the Needle Pleasure Park and TotLand allowing you to step off at the Battery to see the remains of the rocket site and enjoy a snack and walk to the New Battery before rejoining the bus.

Car parking is charged per day and it’s an easy walk to the Old Battery. The Needles Pleasure Park offers everything from ice creams to restaurant facilities and has public toilets.