We Three Kings Blog: Isle of Wight Day 7 - English Heritage Osborne House

The week has absolutely flown past and we have done so much fun stuff. After the success of Carisbrook Castle we decided to make the most of our English Heritage membership and visit Osborne house which is where Queen Victoria used to live. As with the castle yesterday we have the kids a task to learn some key facts such as how old the Queen was when she died (81), what she died of (old age although she had a few minor strokes), where in the house she died (her bedroom), what type of dog she had running around the house (a pug) etc.etc. As with the castle the kids loved learning the facts and were getting us to quiz them throughout the day.

The house is absolutely stunning and some of the statues are art work are just mind blowing. Although due to the period a lot of them figure naked or semi-naked people and Brandon just kept commenting about how wrong it all was.

The gardens out the back of the house are like nothing you have seen before and are just beautiful. From the house/garden you can see about 1/2 out towards the Solent where the Queen's private beach is located and if you look hard enough you can even see Portsmouth on the opposite side.

Whilst exploring the gardens Brandon was walking around one of the round pond/fountain things and he only went and fell in. Now there were some fountains that had nice clear water in them, but no Brandon picked the one with yucky green water. We were all in absolute hysterics except for B who got very upset and hid behind a bush to stop me taking photo's. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of him in the pond as the parental instinct kicked in and I helped him out before thinking of getting the camera out, doh!

After this little fiasco we decided to walk down to the Queens private beach for a picnic, a swim and to watch the Punch and Judy show. This gave Brandon time to clean off in the sea and for us to rinse his clothes out whilst he wore his swimming trunks.

At the end of a nice day out we treated ourselves to a nice pub meal as it was our final night. Joshua ordered an adult meal and a child's pudding, Brandon did it the other way around and he won hands down on top pick with the pudding. I think we were all jealous but he didn't save any for anyone.

Exploring inside the stunning Osborne House which once housed Queen Victoria.

I can't remember exactly but I think they said this painting was given to the queen by a nephew or cousin as a present.

The corridors and walkways were endless with so many floors and rooms off of them.

This is the view from the rear of the house looking out over part of the gardens.

Another view of the beautiful gardens.

The kids found the old nursery really interesting. This is where Queen Victoria used to keep the grand children when they stayed at the house.

Us 5 inside Osborne House.

This paint hung above the large staircase and was absolutely huge. This is one of the many that Brandon thought was just so wrong because of the nakedness.

Looking down the stairs with a canon and statue on the ground floor.

I think this picture kind of puts the size of the building and the paintings in to perspective.

This is where Queen Victoria used to do her make-up and perfume.

And this is her bedroom with the biggest bed ever where she finally passed away at the age of 81.

The plaque above her bed was placed there by her children after the Queen had died as a tribute to their mother.

A rare occasion where all 3 kids were together and not running off down various corridors.

The decor and chandeliers are magnificent.

In the dining room they had various costumes on display that were used in the recent film about Queen Victoria.

Here is Holly with some of the costumes used on the Queen Victoria film.

Joshua and Holly outside exploring the gardens whilst Brandon swims in a pond!

Me and the kiddies, you can just about see the Solent in the background.

Tina and the kiddies with part of the house in the background.

More pictures of the garden.

Tina and the kiddies.

I think the colour in this picture is just stunning.

Now why couldn't Brandon pick this nice clean fountain to fall in to?

Joshua with a horse statue in the garden.

All 5 of us at the rear of Osborne House.

Tina and the boys in front of a lion statue.

Those little dots in the sea and me, Joshua and Brandon enjoying a swim in Queen Victoria's private beach. Not many people braved the cold water.

Holly down on the Queen's beach - she went nowhere near the cold water.

Brandon got so cold in the water that he had me carry him like this from out of the water and all the way up the beach.

Holly may not of went in the sea but as always she loved playing in the sand.

The morning was absolutely glorious but then just as the Punch and Judy show started a little rain cloud came over. We still stayed and watched it though.

Holly getting her picture take with the puppets.

This carriage had me baffled at first. It turned out that horses used to reverse this in to the see with the Queen inside when ever she wanted to bath in the sea.

In the house shop we picked up some little gems from the IOW Garlic Farm. Garlic beer, peach and mango chutney, strawberry and champagne jam (which the boys love) and then my favourite the garlic jam with red chilli.