Queen Victoria's private beach opens to the public for the first time ever

In the world of swimwear, things have moved on since Queen Victoria's day. Then, she went for a dip dressed in a cap and voluminous black bathing dress, now we live in the age of the string bikini.

But even if any anti-royalists did want to take a rebellious stand by wearing a two-piece as a snub to the famously conservative monarch, when the beach and estate finally opens to the public on 27 July, the waters are likely to be far too cold to frolic in.

Then again, swimming is not the biggest draw here - Osborne House, her private seaside estate, is rich with history and has never been visited before by the public. "It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot," she wrote in 1845. It is where she famously took her first ever swim in the sea, and where her children learned how to swim.

Even how she swam was fascinating - she would ascend the steps of the bathing machine (pictured above), inside which there was a changing room and toilet.

The ornate contraption would then be pushed into the sea via a ramp, allowing her to serenely float into the water. It is currently being rescued from a rather undignified end - after her death in 1901, it was used as a chicken shed.

Osborne House and its accompanying beach is a fascinating addition to the portfolio of Britain's must-see sights.

It's open until November, and during summer, you can try your hand at Victorian games such as hoops-and-sticks and skittles.

There's even a specially commissioned Royal Punch and Judy show, as it was a form of entertainment enjoyed by the Queen.

Perhaps the most endearing aspect of the new attraction is that it reveals a much warmer, more human side to the monarch.

A highlight, for instance, is the restored covered seat called the Queen's Alcove, where she sat and sketched coastal views.

In 1902, Edward VII gave the house to the nation as a memorial of the Queen, and during World War II, the bay was used to train soldiers for D-Day. Now it is looked after by the English Heritage.

Entry to Osborne House is free for English Heritage members. For non-members it is £13 for adults, £7.80 for children and £33.80 for a family of four. Visit the website or call for more information on 01983 200 022.