Isle of Man Towns and Villages

Towns

Douglas

The capital of the Isle of Man, Douglas sits on the eastern waterfront and is home to a bustling business and financial sector. It is the most populous town in the Island and hosts countless eateries and shops. Near the town centre, you will find beautiful Victorian row homes and apartments, while traditional, larger homes sit on the outskirts.

Douglas is a lively town with tons of bars, entertainment and nightlife as well as many heritage sites including the horse trams and the Manx Museum.

Schools:

Anagh Coar School, Cronk y Berry School, Henry Bloom Noble Primary School, Kewaigue School, Manor Park School, Scoill Vallajeelt, Scoill yn Jubilee, St Mary's Roman Catholic School, St Thomas' Church of England School, Willaston School, Ballakermeen High School, St Ninian's High School

Places of interest:

Sea Terminal, Start and End of TT Course, Gaiety Theatre, Camera Obscura, Steam Railway

Current Population:

26,997

Ramsey

Ramsey is the 2nd largest town in the Isle of Man and the sunniest! That's because Ramsey sits in the Island's rain shadow with many clouds losing moisture before passing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Located in the northeast of the Island, Ramsey has miles of sandy beaches to explore and is a wonderful place to call home.

Nearest Schools:

Bunscoill Rhumsaa, Ramsey Grammar School

Places of interest:

Mooragh Park, Milntown Estate, Queen’s Pier

Current Population:

7,845

Peel

The beautiful town of Peel is nicknamed 'Sunset City' and for very good reason. Located in the west of the Island, Peel gets treated to gorgeous evening shows every night as the sun goes down behind Peel Castle.

Home to St. Patrick's Isle, kippers, and the House of Manannan, Peel has a rich history inclusive of Vikings, Bishops and fishermen.

Peel is the perfect village for a stroll on a sandy beach with an ice cream in hand!

Nearest Schools:

Peel Clothworkers School, Queen Elizabeth II High School

Places of interest:

Peel Castle, House of Manannan, Fanella Beach

Current Population:

5,374

Castletown

In the south of the Island lies Castletown, a picturesque town with historic buildings, beautiful harbour and one of the most well-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. As the ancient capital, Castletown has heaps of historic places to visit as well as newer homes and apartments.

Nearest Schools:

Victoria Road School, Castle Rushen High School, The Bunchan School (Independent/boarding), King William’s College (Independent/boarding),

Places of interest:

Isle of Man Airport, Castle Rushen, the Nautical Museum, Old House of Keys

Current Population:

3,216

Villages

Laxey

Located about 8 miles north of Douglas on the eastern coast of the Island is the village of Laxey. Home to the great Laxey Wheel, the largest working water wheel in the world, Laxey is set in a deep valley. From Laxey you’ll also be able to start your journey, either on foot or by rail, to the summit of the Island’s only mountain, Snaefell, where you’ll be afforded views of the Seven Kingdoms on a clear day.

Nearest Schools:

Laxey School

Places of interest:

The Laxey Wheel, Laxey Mines Railway, King Orry’s Grave

Current Population:

1,676

Port Erin

Popular with visitors since the Victorian era, Port Erin sits within a beautiful secluded bay in the South of the Island. The village of Port Erin is home to an internationally acclaimed arts venue, the Erin Arts Centre which hosts ground-breaking music and opera programmes.

Nearest Schools: 

Rushen Primary School, Scoill Phurt le Moirrey (Both in neighbouring Port St. Mary)

Places of interest:

Milner’s Tower, Port Erin Bay, Erin Arts Centre

Current Population:

3,484

Port St Mary

The village of Port St Mary is in the South of the Island next to Port Erin and has a pretty, sandy, sheltered beach. Port St. Mary has a small, but busy yacht harbour with fishing and sailing boats regularly coming and going. This quiet village is home to the Sound and Cregneash and the beautiful chasms.

Nearest Schools:

Rushen Primary School, Scoill Phurt le Moirrey

Places of interest:

Cregneash, The Calf of Man, Port St Mary Golf Course

Current Population:

1,916

Onchan

Onchan is the Island's largest village and is located at the north of Douglas Bay next to the capital of Douglas. The village is home to beautiful homes, lovely cafes and shops and has two primary schools- a perfect place for families!

Nearest Schools:

Onchan School, St Ninnian’s Lower School, Ashley Hill School

Places of interest:

Port Jack Glen, Onchan Park, King Edward Bay Golf Club

Current Population:

9,128

Parishes

Andreas

Andreas lies in the centre of the Island’s northern plain. Single family homes are nestled in Andreas’s lush, green fields and pastures.

Nearest Schools:

Andreas School

Places of interest:

Yn Thie Thooit, Brightlife Spa, Ballakelly Farm

Current Population:

1,397

Bride

With the smallest population on the Island, Bride is located at the most northerly point in the Isle of Man.

Nearest Schools:

Andreas School (In neighbouring Andreas)

Places of interest:

Point of Ayre, Winkie Lighthouse, Ballachrink Farmhouse

Current Population:

382

Lezayre

Nicknamed ‘Garden of the Island’, Lezayre is in the sheading of Ayre in the north of the Island. Its beautiful mountainous terrain includes the summit of Snaefell.

Nearest Schools:

Sulby School

Places of interest:

Snaefell, Sulby Resevoir, Tholt-y-Will

Current Population:

1,276

Lonan

A parish on the east coast, Lonan covers an area of 15 square miles. Lonan is home to many deep glens and cultivated land making for lush, beautiful foliage. This picturesque parish sits just outside Laxey offering tons of amenities right at your doorstep.

Nearest Schools:

Laxey School (In neighbouring Laxey)

Places of interest:

Ballannette Nature Reserve, Lonan Old Church

Current Population:

1,579

Maughold

The parish of Maughold is located on the northeast coast of the Island just south of Ramsey. With tons of glens and nature walks, Maughold is a natural gem with trails that open to expansive vistas across the Irish Sea.

Nearest Schools:

Dhoon School

Places of interest:

Ballaglass Glen, Dhoon Glen, Cashtal yn Ard

Current Population:

985

Braddan

Located just outside of the capital of Douglas, Braddan is a wonderful place for families. With a variety of housing types, schools, shops and cafes, Braddan is a great spot for families.

Nearest Schools:

Ballacottier School, Braddan School

Places of interest:

Braddan Bridge House, Joey Dunlop Foundation, business parks with shopping

Current Population:

3,621

Marown

Marown is the midland parish of the Island and the only one that does not touch the sea. With mountainous regions on either side of its boundaries, Marown is a perfect place to build family memories in a lush valley setting. This parish includes the villages of Crosby and Glen Vine.

Nearest Schools:

Marown School

Places of interest:

Crosby Cricket Club, Chibbanagh

Current Population:

2,246

Santon

Santon is the smallest of the parishes, encompassing 8 square miles of the Island’s southeast coast. Beautiful open fields, glens and small inlets characterise this parish. Santon is nearly equidistant to Douglas and Castletown.

Nearest Schools:

Ballasalla School (in neighbouring Malew)

Places of interest:

Port Soderick, Santon, Mann Cat Sanctuary

Current Population:

700

Arbory

The Parish of Arbory is located in the south of the Island and its main settlements are Colby and Ballabeg.

Nearest Schools:

Arbory School

Places of interest:

Colby Glen, Grenaby Studios

Current Population:

1,847

Malew

On the southeast coast, you will find the parish of Malew with its beautiful coastline and rich history. Encompassing the village of Ballasalla, Malew has a plethora of housing options from single family homes to apartments with proximity to Castletown.

Nearest Schools:

Ballasalla School

Places of interest:

Fort Island, Scarlet, South Barrule

Current Population:

2,167

Rushen

Rushen is characterised by slopey hills, sea cliffs, and overall interesting terrain. Located in the south of the Island, Rushen territory includes the Calf of Man.

Nearest Schools:

Rushen Primary School, Scoill Phurt le Moirrey (Both in neighbouring Port St. Mary)

Places of interest:

Spanish Head, Meayll Circle, Glen Rushen

Current Population:

1,537

German

German is a hilly parish on the west coast of the Island. Its lush fields and hilly geography make it a nature lover’s dream! Homes are spread out, allowing for privacy and quiet.

Nearest Schools:

Bunscoill Ghaelgagh (Manx School), St John's School

Places of interest:

St German’s Cathedral, Tynwald Hill

Current Population:

966

Patrick

Patrick is on the southwest coast, just south of Peel and north of Rushen. This parish is very diverse, encompassing beach houses and inland escapes. Patrick is home to the villages of Glen Maye and Foxdale.

Nearest Schools:

Foxdale School

Places of interest:

Glen Maye, Dalby Mountain, Archallagan

Current Population:

1,576

Ballaugh

About 5 miles long, Ballaugh is in the northwest of the Isle of Man. Most of the homes in Ballaugh are in the town centre with new estates being built.

Nearest Schools:

Ballaugh School (After year six pupils generally attend either Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel or Ramsey Grammar School in Ramsey.)

Places of interest:

The Raven, Curraghs Wildlife Park, Ballaugh Plantation

Current Population:

1,032

Jurby

Located in the northwest of the Isle of Man, Jurby is a low-lying area with coastal dunes. It is prized as an agricultural parish with centralised communities of single family homes.

Nearest Schools:

Jurby School

Places of interest:

Isle of Man Motor Museum, Jurby Transport Museum

Current Population:

776

Michael

Michael sits on the western coast and is surrounded by rivers, quiet beaches and hilly fields. A truly unique area to the Island, Michael is home to the village of Kirk Michael.

Nearest Schools:

Michael School

Places of interest:

Isle of Man Goats, Glen Mooar, Glen Wyllin

Current Population:

1,591

To learn more about individual neighbourhoods and to see what provisions and providers are central to each, please visit the interactive map feature on government website.

*Population stats are based on the 2016 Census.