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
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  • 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.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1 310 reviews
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420
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simongK7499QX
Rayleigh, UK276 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
A remarkable piece of British history. The battery dates from the 1890s and was used extensively in WW1 and WW2.
Expensive to get in but good value when you consider the views and history.
Written 29 July 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.

Charles_and_Susan
Nottingham, UK5 871 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 6 July 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.

baileygeee
Romsey, UK556 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 4 July 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.

JohnCasey29
Filey, UK634 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 4 July 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.

iamface
Cardiff, UK1 552 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
cycle trekking from freshwater to Needles of Battery. Landscape was impressive & sunset so pretty. enjoyable
Written 20 June 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.

DillonM1905
Laramie, WY443 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
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.
Written 23 May 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.

Keith C
Oxfordshire, UK16 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
Very interesting place to visit. The tearoom is very disappointing! It is on the first floor. It is extremely small and quite noisy.
Written 23 May 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.

LazyRizzo
Midlands168 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 22 May 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.

Mark P
Hampshire, UK1 722 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
Very interesting National Trust property. Take the trip through the tunnel for the best view of the Needles, although the spiral staircase will be a challenge for some.

Coffee shop is very nice too, with great views.
Written 17 May 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.

Angela c
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Really worth a trip to learn about history old and new, see the needles and make use of the (as always) lovely national trust tearoom. We went on a 30min tour with NT staff member John which was fascinating.
Written 3 May 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.

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