Arranged in the core of the British Isles, the Isle of Man is not a portion of the United Kingdom, and regarded as an independent island that is dotted with old concrete chapels, Celtic castles, ancient fortresses, tramways and preserved architectural structures.
Do not miss a ride on the Isle of Man Bus and Rail;
it is one of the most beautiful attractions of the island and it is a must to go there.
The train is fully preserved and saved all the features of the old era.
It does not go fast and it gives you enough time to view the impressive sceneries around the island.
More than just an attraction, the Laxey Wheel is the largest water pump on the island.
It is seen as a marvelous feat of engineering since it serves as a pump to drain water from the nearby ancient mines.
In the Isle of Man, it is advertised everywhere and appears in many merchandising intended for tourists.
What are the Best things to do in Isle of Man?
Here is a rundown of all the exciting activities to do in here, in addition I will show you my favorite things to do and beautiful places to visit on your next holiday to Isle of Man.
Manx Museum
A nice experience and a great testament to the history of the island.
The best time to go is when the weather is capricious.
It has free admission and the museum is very well done.
A short tour will help you understand better the island, its history and its changes throughout the centuries.
Paintings, photographs, articles, and beautiful bikes are also exposed.
Be sure to watch the introductory film about the Isle of Man which runs about 25 minutes in length.
The museum is divided thematically and explains everything you need to know about the island.
It is an excellent means to deal with the history of the country and its people.
There is also an exhibit about 1st World War.
A visit here is one of the first things you must do before seeing other attractions on the Isle of Man.
My favorite stuff to do in Isle of Man
Manx Electric Railway
A great way to explore the island while you are seated.
You can have the opportunity to visit the island because there are many stops and you can meet lots of locals because it is their means of locomotion.
You can see breathtaking landscapes (the beautiful property of the inhabitants, plains, cliffs and the sea).
If you need to come to the Isle of man, you must take the Manx Electric Railway.
It is a pleasant and relaxing transportation.
In fact, this is the only way of transport to get to the highest point of the Isle of Man, a little expensive but it is worth it.
It is simply mounted on a trolley (with open wagons) that runs through the hills.
It is a very nice trip and it is important to check the schedules back and thus plan your next tramway visit in Laxey Wheel.
Fun things to do in Isle of Man
Laxey Wheel
The scale of construction of the Laxey Wheel is impressive.
Directly on the wheel, you can climb the spiral staircase and offers stunning views out to the island.
It is definitely worth the time.
It is a nice work of art where human ingenuity comes into its own.
Laxey is located near Douglas, about ten kilometers north of the city.
Therefore, be sure to spend some of your time to visit “Lady Isabella” and the mining complex in which the impeller (the largest in the world that is still in existence) fits.
You can also visit the Victorian style impeller called the “Belle”, built in 1854, and was used to pump water coming from the Laxey mines.
It is a must see and without hesitation, you can climb the spiral staircase to enjoy the beautiful panorama.
It is an interesting attraction built at a time when everything seemed possible despite limited technical resources but a desire which was rightly compensated.
The oldest and greatest activity in impeller of the world is worth a visit and worth the time to take some photos.
This is the attraction of Laxey, and the island that is not related to the famous Tourist Trophy.
The entrance fee should not be a hindrance, after climbing to the top of the wheel, go to the end of the walk;
a mine (beginning) awaits you at the Edge of the Park.
Popular Isle of Man tourist attractions
Isle of Man Bus and Rail
A railway that was built in the Isle of Man more than 100 years ago.
It has regular and scheduled operations with beautiful views and points of interest along the route.
The wagons of the first class section are great and each input has a separate compartment.
The drive through the countryside is a real pleasure.
The Isle of Man is already famous as a place of “magic”.
The short travel on this steam train to discover the peaceful green landscapes of the countryside is really relaxing!
The breath taking and incredible experience of travel on the old train is like being in a fairy tale.
The train, the railway station and the whole atmosphere gives an impression of how the Isle of Man looks a century ago.
What else to do in Isle of Man ?
House of Manannan
An interesting and interactive museum that provides an overview of the past Celts and later Vikings island and the maritime tradition of the town of Peel.
It has great ship reconstructions and movies, but not to be missed is the beautiful ship Viking-style (it is a reconstruction that is very well done) with which in 1979 a group of Manx and Norwegian retraced the route between Norway and the Isle of Man accomplished by the ancestors.
This is one of those places that you definitely have to see if you are in the Isle of Man.
Take two beautiful hours and enter the House of Manannan where you can really know the true essence of an island that is full of history.
The ticket is not expensive (£ 6) but worth every penny.
It opens at 10:00 am and closes at 17:00 PM and it takes a little time to see it.
It is highly recommended to go there in the morning when it has just opened.
A visit to the museum gives the impression that you have taken a ride into a time machine in the past.
It is so real and all the exposures are authentically decorated.
The museum takes you into an interactive journey to the land of the Vikings.
The scents and colors make it an even more attractive and almost scary adventure into the islands’ colorful past.
You will discover not only their culture and way of life, but also their sensitivity through everyday objects. It is very playful and surprising. It is a must to see this museum even if you do not have time, a quick visit will suffice.
Is Isle of Man worth visiting?
The answer is Yes. Isle of Man is worth visiting. This is because it is such a magical place
full of beauty and magic.
Don’t forget to visit the following incredible places:
Peel Castle
A nice place with a desk serving shop and washrooms with views. From this point you can see the famous shark island but apparently there are seals there.
There is nothing much to see here except the ruins, but you can go around via a path that bypasses. It can be accessed for free with the riser card and also take a quick visit to the open air museum.
It provides a good insight into life during the early times. The admission fee includes an audio guide that explains the castle and its predecessors.
The castle is huge and was used during the Viking times as a place of shelter. It has wonderful views and from the castle wall you can see a lot of sea lions resting on the rocky cliffs.
Castle Rushen
Worth a visit because it is a perfectly preserved medieval building. You can see various rooms or you can choose to go up to the towers of stone.
The decoration is interactive, but not indigestible, with the room of the king, the queen, the prison, the kitchen, etc. Mannequins dressed as policemen, soldiers and guardians make the visit even more interesting.
It is a strongly recommended visit especially on a rainy day, when you can go hiking on the coast or choose to stay at the beach area. The castle is located in the port of Castle town, and it can be reached by the legendary railway.
They have friendly staff and the visit is included in the entry pass called the Manx heritage. A visit to the nearby Nautical Museum is also a must.
Must see places in Isle of Man
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
You can enjoy a pleasant walk to the island or watch an on-road motorcycle racing, but a quick tour astride a horse in this part of the island is a must.
At the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway you can choose a relaxing ride on top of a beautiful horse and find a pace of yesteryear that the modern world seem to have forgotten.
If you are staying in Douglas near the promenade and want to go to the station serving the north of the island, leave your car and take the Horse Tramway.
You will not only see the ideal landscapes but you will also meet the caretakers and witness how the horses are treated in the best way. For tourists, it is ideal to get to the electric railway and chain by train from the Snaefell peaks.
What else to see in Isle of Man ?
Snaefell Peaks
While you’re here, you must take the train ride to the Isle of Man and feel like you’re on top of the world.
The island is very charming.
The museums with great exhibitions provide interesting documentation about the Norwegian Vikings time on the island.
There are also many buildings from the English Victoria time.
There is a steam train from the Victorian era and also the so called Thomas Train Ride.
The electric train is also from that era and exists up to these modern times.
You can travel up to Snaefell Peaks on board these trains and admire the great view of the entire island from above.
Popular places to visit in Isle of Man
A.R.E Motorcycle Collection
The top notch collection and museum is located at the exit of Kirk Michael.
There is no admission fee to gain entrance but it is up for you to decide the amount of your donation.
The small building houses a superb collection of motorcycles, mainly English, perfectly restored, and well aligned (maybe a little tight).
You can have access to the workshop and watch how a machine is restored.
Do not miss the room which includes all Greeves machines with a prototype.
It is a sensational site, welcoming, and beautiful;
do not miss it.
The collections are nice and represent the true spirit of a British biker.
Things to do in Isle of Man with kids
Segway Isle of Man
In less than five minutes you will learn how to operate this machine, be left on it, and feel very confident on this iron horse.
On this tour you can see fascinating animal species that are opened from the hills of the Isle of Man.
It is one of the most beautiful places in the world and where the visit is made much easier with the use of a Segway.
The instructors do their job confidently and friendly.
After the trip, they offer coffee, tea, chocolate and sweets, which is very handy during a cold weather.
The Segway tour is definitely worth the experience, time, and money.
Things to do around Isle of Man
The National Folk Museum at Cregneash
Offers a unique museum tour in the Isle of Man.
This open air museum and village is worth a visit.
You can see the typical sheep with 4 horns, visit the houses built from over 100 years ago, see how to create a patchwork (in this regard;
a special and kind lady gladly teaches the techniques and explains it to every guests who visit this place), and see the only cat (or better) a fabulous kitten of 15 years without a tail, perched on a rocking chair near the fireplace.
The tour here is like an experience fit for a movie;
be sure to visit.
Unique things to do in Isle of Man
Port Erin Railway Museum
Especially designed for fans of trains.
The museum tells the history of the railway from the Victorian era, from 1873 up to today.
It contains lots of preserved artifacts including the car used for the visits of Queen Elizabeth to the island in 1963 and in 1972.
The museum is open during the hours of operation of the Trano steam.
If you need to know more about the history of locomotive and evolution of the coaches, visit this museum in the Isle of Man.
My vacation activities in Isle of Man
Raven Pub
A great meeting place for motorcyclists and bikers alike because of its close proximity to the racing area in the Isle of Man.
Aside from being the perfect meeting point;
it is a pleasant dining place where the traditional food is more abundant.
In particular, the “Steak Pie”, is something addictive, delicious, served just right in a break between races and the other TT.
Also good are the served sandwiches and beer where most guests prefer the Longbow Ale.
The prices of the meals are reasonable and practical and the ambience is so inviting.
It has an excellent atmosphere.
Located in a strategic position and near the Ballaugh Bridge which allows you, if you’re on the inside, to see the jumps, eat at the pub (back entrance) and admire the “Bungalow” for the series of races of the day without the tail main path.
Tanroagan Seafood Restaurant
Being in close proximity to the sea, the Tanroagan Seafood Restaurant is one of the best dining places that is frequently flocked by tourists especially towards the evening.
It is the perfect treat that you can reward yourself with after going around all the interesting points and attractions in the Isle of Man.
The Tanroagan Seafood Restaurant offers great traditional food with average prices but not quite high.
The menu offers only solutions of fish products with sophisticated and high quality.
There is also a good choice of dessert.
The service, as in general and like anywhere else in the Isle of Man is friendly and professional.
The place is nice and the atmosphere is good.
This place is not hard to find and it gets really crowded after sunset, when most guests prefer to unwind and have a cold drink and freshly cooked seafood right in front of them.
The restaurant located close to the docks of the marina, and not far from the docks, you enter here, crossing the white door of this “small shop” appearance in the temple of the restoration of the sea, good food, quality and freshness.
The crab choices are endless (and “local” crab), the crab soup with roasted crab, you’ll also have the possibility to choose the Saint-Jacques shells that are divinely accompanied by tomatoes.
Everything here is just as enticing as the main attractions in the Isle of Man.
If you want an off the beaten path adventures and marvelous experience in both land and sea, a visit to the enchanting island of the Isle of Man is the perfect travel destination for you.
You will also get a peek of their colorful history from its old castles, ruins, and ancient museums.
