Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a small town, port and civil parish on the west coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It has about 865 residents (2011). The town grew around a river crossing; a ferry used to operate there, but a road bridge was built in 1863. The name means a muddy or gravelly river mouth.
Yarmouth has a long history. It’s one of the island’s oldest settlements and is mentioned as far back as 991. The Normans laid out the streets in a grid that is still visible today. It became a town in 1135 and was a parliamentary borough until 1832. The town faced raids from France, and Yarmouth Castle was built in 1547 by Henry VIII to defend the Solent. The castle is now cared for by English Heritage. Yarmouth Town Hall dates from 1763. In St. James’s Church there is a monument to Admiral Sir Robert Holmes, who raided a French ship.
In 1784 most of Yarmouth’s ancient charters were lost when a ship’s captain threw what he thought was a case of wine overboard and found it was books instead.
The town has a notable pier. Yarmouth Pier opened in 1876 and is the longest timber public pier in England. It is a Grade II listed structure and serves as a docking point for historic ships Balmoral and Waverley.
Today Yarmouth remains a busy, small port town with shops, pubs and restaurants. It has boatyards and chandlery to support boating activity. The Wightlink car ferry runs from Yarmouth to Lymington in Hampshire, and Southern Vectis buses connect the town with other parts of the island. Route 7 goes to Totland, Freshwater, Newport and Shalfleet.
The town is on the Isle of Wight Coastal Path, and the old railway nearby has become a walking and cycling route. The former Yarmouth railway station building reopened in 2014 as a restaurant.
Yarmouth hosts marine events, such as the Solent Amphibious Challenge at the marina. It used to hold the biannual Old Gaffers festival, but that event stopped in 2018.
With its rich history and pleasant harbor, Yarmouth remains one of the island’s small but special towns.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 03:19 (CET).