Welcome Beach (Shanklin) (Lake beach)

Welcome, also known as Lake Beach is a sandy beach on the eastern shore of the island, overlooking Sandown Bay. The beach is very popular for all sorts of water sports and there is a designated water sports zone. Sailing, canoeing and jet skiing are all popular here, and fishing equipment and pedalos are available for hire.

Many visitors come just to relax on the beautiful, long, golden sands or to go for a cooling dip in the summer. The spectacular red cliff scenery behind the beach adds to the scenic beauty of the surroundings. The beach is divided up by a number of wooden groynes.

There is a choice of car parks along the esplanade that runs along the Shanklin sea front. The beach is reached either down some stairs or down a slipway. There are also public toilets here, and plenty of hotels, pubs and restaurants overlooking the beach, as well as shops, a crazy golf, and an amusement arcade.

North of the esplanade there is a slightly quieter section of the beach, which leads towards the town of Sandown. There is a walking and cycle route alongside the beach connecting the two towns.

Set back from the esplanade is Shanklin High Street, which, combined with Regent Street makes up the largest retail area on the Isle of Wight. The town also boasts a railway station, with services across the island to Ryde. 

Shanklin is the town where Charles Darwin wrote ‘The Origin of Species’ when he stayed here for 18 months in the 1850’s.