Shanklin adjoins Sandown to the south and is a resort much favored by artists. The town is idyllically situated in and around a valley, the Shanklin Chine, which is one of the main attractions. The picturesque Old Town is characterized by thatched cottages with enchanting little front gardens. Shanklin has a good beach, many sports and leisure facilities, and attractive promenade walks. The poet John Keats (1795-1821) lived in Englatine Cottage in the High Street in 1819, and the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) also liked to stay in Shanklin.
"Chine" is of Saxon origin and means a deep narrow ravine, formed by water cutting through soft sandstone leading to the sea. The Chine is famous for over 150 varieties of wild plants and more than 50 species of moss and liverworts as well as ferns, grasses, wild garlic, horsetails, golden saxifrage, wild fuchsia, and winter-flowering heliotrope. The aviary houses lovebirds, several species of finches and cockatiels.
Address: Shanklin Chine, 12 Pomona Road, Shanklin PO37 6PF, England