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.