Model Village Godshill
High Street, Godshill
A detailed miniature recreation of Godshill and Shanklin Old Village set within landscaped gardens, including scale buildings, tiny streets and a model railway.
MODEL VILLAGE INFOWRWIGHTRIDES
Historic Villages in the Heart of the Island
GODSHILL &
ARRETON
Isle of Wight
Godshill and Arreton combine two of the Isle of Wight’s best-known historic village settings. Godshill is famous for its thatched cottages, medieval church, Model Village, shops and tearooms, while Arreton brings together rural scenery, traditional buildings, arts and crafts, maritime history and one of the Island’s most distinctive visitor destinations at Arreton Barns.
Godshill at a Glance
Thatched cottages, village history & one of the Island’s classic visitor stops
Set in the Isle of Wight countryside, Godshill is instantly recognisable for its historic buildings, thatched cottages and church above the village. Its attractions, independent shops, food stops and traditional village setting make it a popular destination for visitors exploring the Island.
All Saints Church
Church Hill, Godshill
The medieval church stands prominently above Godshill and is one of the village’s defining landmarks, visible from the surrounding countryside.
The Old Smithy & Village Shops
Godshill
Godshill has a strong visitor shopping area, including the well-known Old Smithy and other independent outlets along the village’s main road.
OLD SMITHY INFO
Tearooms & Village Character
Godshill Village
Traditional cottages, tearooms, pubs and places to browse give Godshill the postcard village character for which it has become so well known.
Historic Arreton
Arts, crafts, countryside & maritime history
Arreton sits in the rural Arreton Valley between Newport and Sandown. At the heart of its visitor attractions is Arreton Barns, a large arts and crafts centre bringing together local artisans, shops, traditional buildings, food and historic surroundings.
The site also includes the Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum, while the neighbouring historic church and rural landscape give Arreton a very different character from Godshill.
ARRETON BARNS INFODiscover Arreton
Arreton Barns, local crafts, history & Island heritage
Arreton Barns brings together artists, craftspeople, traditional buildings, shops and historic surroundings in the Arreton Valley. It is a useful destination for visitors who want to browse locally made products, watch craftspeople at work and explore some of the Island’s maritime history.
Arreton Barns
Main Road, Arreton
The Island’s largest arts and crafts centre, with a collection of studios, shops, local artisans, traditional buildings and visitor attractions in a countryside setting.
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Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum
Arreton Barns
A major collection of shipwreck artefacts and maritime exhibits, including items connected with historic wrecks, diving, smuggling and the Island’s relationship with the sea.
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Studio Glass & Crafts
Arreton Barns
Arreton Barns showcases a range of Island craftspeople, including glass, ceramics, leatherwork, art, jewellery and other locally made products.
Artists & Artisans
Arreton Barns
Visitors can browse individual workshops and studios and see a variety of traditional and contemporary Island crafts represented around the site.
Historic Arreton
Arreton Village
The historic village setting includes an old church, village green, traditional buildings and countryside that help give Arreton Barns its distinctive character.
Arreton Valley
Central-East Isle of Wight
Arreton lies among open countryside between Newport and Sandown, making it a natural stop while travelling between the centre of the Island and the east coast.
More Around Arreton
Food, local produce & nearby attractions
The wider Arreton area includes farm shops, countryside food destinations and family attractions, while the A3056 provides a direct route towards Newport in one direction and Sandown in the other.
Arreton Valley is surrounded by open countryside, farms and small rural businesses, giving visitors plenty to combine with a visit to Arreton Barns. Food stops, local produce, craft workshops and heritage attractions can easily turn a short visit into a relaxed half-day or longer stay.
The village also makes a convenient central meeting and pickup point for people staying in nearby cottages, farm stays and countryside accommodation. From Arreton, journeys can continue towards Newport, Sandown, Shanklin, Godshill and other parts of the Island.
For visitors exploring several places in one day, WightRides can provide pre-booked point-to-point travel, agreed collection times and return journeys to accommodation or ferry connections.
Arts & CraftsLocal studios, makers and independent shops.
Maritime HistoryShipwreck stories, artefacts and museum displays.
Village HeritageHistoric buildings, church, green and rural surroundings.
Taxi ConnectionsPre-booked journeys towards Newport, Sandown and across the Island.
Visiting Arreton Barns or exploring the valley?
WightRides provides pre-booked taxi travel to and from Arreton, Godshill and destinations throughout the Isle of Wight.
Village Food & Shopping
Tearooms, local produce, village shops & places to eat
Godshill is especially well known for its traditional tearooms and visitor shops, while the wider Godshill and Arreton area offers pubs, cafés, farm produce and countryside food destinations. It gives visitors plenty of options for combining sightseeing with lunch, shopping or an afternoon stop.
Godshill Tearooms
Godshill High Street
Traditional tearooms and tea gardens are a major part of Godshill’s visitor appeal, with cream teas, cakes, light meals and garden seating available around the village.
The Old Smithy
Godshill
One of Godshill’s best-known shopping stops, combining gifts and local-interest shopping with a café in the heart of the village visitor area.
MORE INFOIndependent Village Shops
Godshill High Street
The village has a varied collection of independent businesses, gift shops and places to browse, making shopping part of the Godshill visitor experience.
Godshill Orchards
Godshill
The surrounding area also has local fruit production, including cherries, plums and apricots, adding to Godshill’s connection with Island-grown produce.
Harvey Browns
Arreton Valley
A farm food destination in the Arreton Valley with a food hall, deli, butchery and café, showcasing a broad selection of Island and regional produce.
MORE INFOFood at Arreton Barns
Arreton Barns
Visitors to Arreton Barns can combine the craft shops and heritage attractions with food and refreshments on site, making it an easy half-day or longer countryside destination.
MORE INFOA Classic Godshill Stop
Browse the village, stop for tea and explore at your own pace
Godshill’s combination of historic buildings, shops, tearooms and attractions means visitors can spend several hours in the village without needing to travel between individual stops.
The village is especially well known for its traditional character, thatched cottages and attractive High Street. Visitors can browse independent shops, stop for a cream tea or lunch, explore the Model Village and enjoy the historic centre at their own pace.
All Saints’ Church sits above the village and forms part of Godshill’s distinctive skyline, while the surrounding lanes and countryside give the area a very different feel from the Island’s busier seaside towns. Godshill is also easy to combine with Arreton, Ventnor, Shanklin and other central and south-Wight stops.
For passengers staying elsewhere on the Island, a pre-booked WightRides pickup can provide an easy return journey after shopping, sightseeing, afternoon tea or an evening meal, with an agreed collection point and time in the village.
GodshillTearooms, gifts, village shops and traditional visitor stops.
Local ProduceIsland fruit, farm food and locally sourced ingredients.
ArretonFarm shop, café and food alongside countryside attractions.
WightRidesPre-booked pickups for shopping, meals and return journeys.
Planning lunch, shopping or an afternoon in Godshill or Arreton?
Pre-book WightRides for village pickups and onward travel to accommodation, ferry terminals, Newport, Sandown, Shanklin and destinations across the Isle of Wight.
Eat, Stay & Relax
Village pubs, countryside dining & places to stay
Godshill and Arreton are both popular stops for food as well as sightseeing. Godshill has established village pubs and tearooms, while Arreton combines countryside dining with the attractions at Arreton Barns. The central location also makes the area useful for visitors staying in nearby cottages, inns and holiday accommodation.
The Taverners
Godshill
A traditional country pub in Godshill with a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, food and a relaxed village atmosphere.
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The Griffin
High Street, Godshill
A long-established family-friendly Godshill pub serving pub food and Sunday roasts, with outdoor space and a children's play area.
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The Dairyman's Daughter
Arreton Barns
A traditional pub at the heart of Arreton Barns, serving home-cooked food and making a convenient stop alongside the site's craft shops and visitor attractions.
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The White Lion
Arreton
One of Arreton's village pubs and another local option for visitors travelling through the Arreton Valley or staying in the surrounding countryside.
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B&Bs & Country Stays
Godshill & surrounding countryside
Bed and breakfasts and countryside accommodation provide quieter places to stay close to Godshill while remaining within easy reach of the rest of the Island.
Holiday Cottages & Farm Stays
Central Isle of Wight
Self-catering cottages and rural holiday properties are spread throughout the surrounding villages, creating regular taxi journeys for meals, attractions and ferry transfers.
Evening Travel
Enjoy the village and arrange the journey home
Godshill and Arreton are rural locations, so arranging transport in advance can make an evening out much easier. WightRides can provide pre-booked pickups for evening meals, local venues and return journeys to accommodation elsewhere on the Isle of Wight.
An agreed collection time means passengers can enjoy their evening knowing their return journey has already been planned. Pickups can be arranged from suitable meeting points in Godshill, Arreton and the surrounding countryside.
Return journeys can be arranged to hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, farm stays and other accommodation, as well as onward travel towards Newport, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and other Island towns and villages.
Pre-booking is particularly useful in these rural areas during the evening, when visitors may be travelling back from a meal or attraction after spending the day exploring the central Isle of Wight. WightRides can arrange a clear pickup point and agreed collection time for the journey home.
Village PubsPre-booked pickups after meals and evenings out.
AccommodationB&Bs, cottages, farm stays and nearby holiday properties.
AttractionsGodshill village, Model Village and Arreton Barns pickups.
Island-WideReturn journeys across the Isle of Wight.
Heading out for a meal or staying nearby?
Pre-book WightRides for Godshill and Arreton pubs, restaurants, attractions, accommodation and return journeys throughout the Isle of Wight.
Getting Around
Godshill & Arreton taxi travel, local connections & Island-wide journeys
Godshill and Arreton are well placed for journeys between Newport and the east and south-east of the Isle of Wight. WightRides provides pre-booked travel for village visits, attractions, accommodation, meals, ferry connections and onward journeys throughout the Island.
Key pickup areas
The map shows the Godshill and Arreton area together with the main visitor and taxi pickup areas covered throughout this page.
Godshill VillageHigh Street, Model Village, shops, tearooms, pubs and accommodation.
Arreton BarnsCraft village, Shipwreck Centre, food and visitor attractions.
Arreton ValleyLocal homes, countryside accommodation, farm shops and businesses.
Newport ConnectionsTown centre, bus station, shopping and onward Island travel.
East & South WightSandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and surrounding villages.
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Bus Connections
Godshill is served by regular Southern Vectis routes towards Newport and the east/south-east coast, while Arreton is served by Route 8.
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Attraction Pickups
Pre-book pickups from Godshill village, Model Village, Arreton Barns and agreed accessible locations nearby.
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Ferry Transfers
Travel between Godshill or Arreton and Island ferry terminals for mainland connections.
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Island-Wide Travel
Direct pre-booked journeys to Newport, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Ryde, Cowes, West Wight and beyond.
Central Island Location
A useful base for exploring more of the Isle of Wight
Godshill and Arreton sit within easy reach of several major Island towns and attractions. Visitors can combine a village visit with Newport, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor or other destinations without needing to return to the same starting point.
WightRides can provide pre-booked point-to-point journeys, attraction pickups and return travel to holiday accommodation or ferry terminals.
WightRides Godshill & Arreton
Pre-book your Isle of Wight taxi
Whether you are visiting Godshill Model Village, the village shops and tearooms, Arreton Barns, the Shipwreck Centre, a local pub or countryside accommodation, WightRides provides pre-booked taxi and private-hire travel throughout Godshill, Arreton and across the Isle of Wight.