The Needles Battery
The Needles Battery
4.5
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
See what travellers are saying
  • HampshireUKPeter
    Overton, United Kingdom44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprisingly interesting historical site
    Whether you walk, drive or bus to view the needles it’s well worth also visiting the Old Battery. An amazing amount of work has gone into restoring this historical defensive gun battery by the NT and with the many artefacts and information you can visualise how it operated in the 19th century thru WW1 to WW2. Great views across the Solent to the mainland.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 March 2023
  • Carol H
    Brighton, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breath-taking views!
    Run by the National Trust. The Battery was fantastic to see. Fantastic views from it too. Great little cafe with outside seating if you have pets with you. If you want to see the Needles, this is the place to view them from.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 21 April 2023
  • LazyRizzo
    168 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely views, interesting historic place
    This was easily accessible on my mobility scooter, lovely views across to Alum Bay and lots of birds singing. As NT Members we got in free, and had free parking (blue badge). Plenty of signage to explain what you were seeing, and helpful guides there if needed. I guess seeing the chalk stacks of the Needles itself is a thing ticked off a list, who knows how long they will remain with climate change and sea & wind erosion.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 May 2023
  • DillonM1905
    Laramie, Wyoming443 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Old Fortificaiton
    This is a well preserved old fortification which served through several conflicts on the very edge of the island. I was very surprised this was also a rocket test location - very James Bond. A lot of old buildings and rooms preserved in the rock, including a tunnel out to the farthest lookout on the Needles. Excellent stop if you are in the area.
    Visited May 2023
    Written 23 May 2023
  • JohnCasey29
    Filey, United Kingdom634 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Old Battery
    From the main road take a long and slightly sloping climb adjacent to the cliff edge and come upon the Old Battery high above the Needles. An old gun emplacement used to protect the solent from marauders and invaders Admission a bit steep at £7.50 each but hey ho, it is what it is Well worth the climb to visit. It is usually quite windy dy up there so wrap up warm and don't wear a hat.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 July 2023
  • baileygeee
    Romsey, United Kingdom556 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely Needles
    Excellent visit, a tad windy, hold onto your hats! Nice exhibitions and view of the Needles from the underground passage. The cafe is lovely, excellent coffee and scrummy homemade cakes with fantastic views over the Solent. If you are a NT member and park at Alum Chine, show your membership card to get £2.00 off the parking charge.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 July 2023
  • Charles_and_Susan
    Nottingham, United Kingdom5,871 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting place with views over the Needles.
    We walked up from the Needles car park - phew! The Old Battery itself is well presented and you can visit the rooms used to store gunpowder and munitions. Going down a small spiral staircase takes you through a tunnel to the outer rim and, as well as the sighting equipment, you get a good view of the Needles. The New Battery was closed when we were there.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 July 2023
  • tracey b
    21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Full of history
    Amazing views. Full of history. Coffee shop. Bus up to it from Needles carpark If you are a NATIONAL TRUST member show your card at the carpark and you get £2 knocked off. Show your card on the bus going up to the Battery and you get up there for £3return ànd Old Battery free for members...well worth a visit
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 August 2023
  • LindaandIan
    Newark-on-Trent, United Kingdom9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An interesting afternoon
    This was quite an interesting site, with great views of the needles. The tunnel was particularly interesting. The cafe sells nice cakes. We hadn't realised that the only bus to go here was the open topped tour bus. It was far too hot to walk there on the day we visited.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 September 2023
  • Lucy T
    Isle of Wight, United Kingdom295 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always a joy to get as close as possible to the Needles
    We had lunch at the tea room. Only sandwiches available unfortunately. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze to order at the counter and then you have to walk downstairs to the tables. Lovely view from upstairs though. It’s always nice to walk down the tunnel and come out at the closest spot you can get to the Needles. I could stay there all day!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1 310 reviews
Excellent
754
Very good
420
Average
101
Poor
14
Terrible
21

Helen C
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Another beautiful visit to the Island, made use of the Needles Old Battery, just re opened after the winter. Don’t miss out on the tea rooms and great views.The weather was kind and the children enjoyed running around the gun placements and joining in with one of the guides Jane cleaning the soldiers boots. We were even allowed to try them on and told all about them.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FreddieJack
England83 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Travelled half way across island to get to car park at needles for 1000, shops just opening as been a rainy night, although now clear enough. So we walked to the old battery along the road/path from car park. Took about 40 mins as we’ve a 4 year old and he doesn’t walk too quickly! Pretty gutting when you get there to find it’s shut! Despite supposedly opening at 1030. Walked up to the top, great views, but tired 4 year old. Still shut about 1115 so we walk back. Later check back website then says late opening due to weather!! Just driven half way across the island and walked there with a 4 year old. Shame others couldnt have made the same effort as us - very disappointed child! And several,other families up there. Suggest repeatedly check website if there’s no other way of knowing it’s randomly shut.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy S
Clanfield, UK614 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
A bit of a hike from the nearest car park at Alum Bay but well worth it. One of the many Victorian fortifications scattered around the coast of the Solent to protect Southampton and Portsmouth. Amazing Victorian engineering. Worth climbing to the top of the hill to take in the WWII New Battery which contains the control rooms of the 1950s Rocket Test Site. Lovely views from across the site
Written 24 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JoeC
Hampshire, UK93 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We walked on the road which took around 20 minutes. There is an open top bus which also goes right to the Old Battery. The New Battery was closed but there is a view point there with amazing view of the Needles. The Old Battery is interesting and lovely cafe there. Well worth a visit and views are amazing.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alliej1
Newquay, UK53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Included the needles in our hike.

We walked from Tennyson Down (free parking) to the needles, and it was lovely! It's definitely worth the walk!

Dogs are welcome, too, but if you want to walk through the tunnel to the search light (great view!!) Best to take turns and leave the dogs up the top (as we did) due to the very tight, steep spiral staircase.

Loved the walk and the view. Not forgetting the luxury hot chocolate and cake 😋 in the tea rooms.

Would definitely visit again. Preferably on a brighter, less breezy day 😅.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nick
Nottingham, UK236 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Parking is discounted to £4 for national trust members. Its a 20 minute up to the Old battery, and then a further 10 mi utes to the New battery.
Unfortunutely the New Battery was closed, but there's great views from the top anyway over to the needles.

The Old battery has some rooms to look in with information about the site. There's also a guided tour too.

Facilities are good and lunch in the cafe gave impressive views over the sea and across the needles.
Good pram access, except for lunch upstairs, but we just took the papoose for that bit, which want a problem.

If you can time it for a sunny day, it's magnificent.

Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve L
6 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Lovely walk to the battery room
But once again to expensive to go in
Eight in party if the price had been about £4 we all would have gone in as it happens one of the party was a national trust member. So they went in and sent us pictures so 4x7=£28 lost 😕
By the national trust and l noticed seventeen people turn around at the entrance £7.50 much to expensive!!!
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John W
Croydon, UK48 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
The views are stunning. If you are disabled and driving phone up and get a parking place. There are 4. Otherwise you face a long walk and who wants to pay £6 to park at Alum Bay? There is a bus. Top marks for a real pot of tea at the cafe.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cherriesfan99
Cheltenham, UK849 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
There are two "Batteries " here at the Needles. The New, and maybe most interesting of the two, is the New Battery, the Cold War rocket firing site. Which has no detail shown, nor facilities, toilets, gift shop or cafe, maybe this was coincidental but by restricting people to the old Battery, it was certainly beneficial to National Trust profits. More than this the walk up the chalk heights would be a disappointing waste of time and effort, as there was no access to the New Batteries.
The Old batteries was interesting, with some indication as to why the cannon fire was never seriously used, but it was the views over the chalk cliffs and the Needles stacks that were to capture the eye and the imagination.
It is a bit of an uphill trek from car parks close to the concession that is the "Landmark Attraction" and the bus is a fun but expensive hop to the top.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dmaccallum63
London, UK595 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
A really well managed site in an iconic location. Great views of the needles and informative staff and posters to explain the historical significance.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,275
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

THE NEEDLES BATTERY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Needles Battery

The Needles Battery is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:30 - 17:00