Discover England’s Dark Skies: Stargazing by the Coast

Look up and explore the galaxies above. Great for all ages, gaze at the Milky Way, lunar eclipses or Meteor showers and put planet earth in perspective.

As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with low light pollution and a mild southerly climate, the Isle of Wight is an excellent spot for stargazing with the whole family.  

Here you can expect to see The Milky Way, Cassiopeia, Orion and the Plough and for the best chance of spotting stars and meteor showers hunt out the most remote locations. Top spots with car parks include Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay, Brook and Whale Chines, Culver Down and Yaverland. 

Observing Jupiter or Saturn through a powerful telescope is ideal particularly for youngsters. Fort Victoria Country Park is a Dark Sky Discovery site ideal for families with level access, Vectis Astronomical Society in Newchurch opens its Observatory on Thursday evenings or join the pram and wheelchair friendly Solar System walk from Bonchurch to Ventnor. 

The Island has a huge choice of accommodation ideal for a stargazing break, choose from self-catering eco lodges at Calbourne Water Mill, sea view yurts at Puckaster Cove Hideaway Glamping or luxury cottages at Nettlecombe Farm. 

You only need your naked eye to peer at the heavens but to maximise your experience check out these top tips: 

• Choose a clear night! Head out from around 6.30pm in winter  
• Dress appropriately with warm clothing, hiking shoes and a windproof jacket and bring a camping chair  
• Bring binoculars and ideally a red torch, a specialised headlamp that emits a red light instead of white to protect your natural vision in the dark  
• Avoid anywhere close to street lights, download stargazing maps or an app like Star Walk 2 Plus to locate best locations and identify stars, constellations and planets. 

Explore star gazing on the Isle of Wight

The North York Moors National Park offers a host of events to light up autumn nights. Plan a visit in October to the Dark Skies Fringe Festival .

To immerse yourself in the night skies head to the North York Moors National Park which has not one but two Dark Skies annual events.  Its major Dark Skies Festival takes place in 5 – 21 February 2027 but coming up shortly is the Dark Skies Fringe Festival which takes place 23 October to 1 November. 

The North York Moors National Park is an International Dark Skies Reserve and one of the top places to appreciate celestial skies. The Park teems up with the Yorkshire Dales National Park for a line-up of events at the Fringe Festival. 

Events will take place at Danby Lodge Dark Skies Station with guided tours, there’ll be an UV Fungi foraging walk and the chance to join Mad Alice’s Ghost Train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.  

Why not stay and gaze? The North York Moors features a host of places to stay with Dark Skies-friendly businesses. All of the accommodation owners have gone the extra mile and provide equipment so you can stargaze from the comfort of your property. 

Check out the dark skies of the North York Moors National Park here

A little further north on the coast, head to North Gare or Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve for some of the best dark sky experiences near Hartlepool. Thanks to their coastal locations and relatively low levels of light pollution, both are ideal spots for stargazing and, when conditions are right, catching a glimpse of the spectacular Northern Lights.  

Seaton Carew makes an excellent base for your stay, offering a range of hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts to suit every taste and budget. 

With its low levels of light pollution and over half of the county comprising National Landscapes, Dorset is ideal for star gazing and events take place throughout the year. 

Cranborne Chase is an International Dark Sky Reserve, on a clear night you can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy. 

Dorset also has some incredible places to stay for budding astronomers. Spend the night under the stars in a yurt at South Lychett Manor, the Moroccan-style yurts feature a crown-wheel skylight for star gazing in bed. 

Or head to Dorset Forest Glamping for the Astronomer Shepherd’s Hut. Gaze up at the constellations through the panoramic roof window. Recharge in the private hot tub at twilight at this beautiful, sustainable sanctuary.

Explore star gazing in Dorset here