Newport has two elegant squares and many fine Georgian and Victorian town houses. The impressive colonnaded Guildhall was designed by John Nash and built in 1816, with the clock tower added in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It now houses the Museum of Island History and the Tourist Information Centre. To experience more Newport history, visit the 3rd-century Roman Villa and Carisbrooke Castle, on the outskirts of the town.
Shopping in Newport is a pleasure, with a variety of exclusive small shops, coffee shops and cafes all within easy walking distance. There is plenty of evening entertainment, with cinema, three theatres and a host of popular pubs and restaurants.
Newport Harbour is just a short walk from the town centre, with facilities for visiting yachtsman. Museums, crafts studios and the Quay Arts Centre are housed in former warehouses.