Family Days Out on the Isle Of Wight

Theme Parks

Dinosaur Isle
Sandown
Dinosaur Isle – is a fantastic dinosaur museum housed in a spectacular pterosaur shaped building watching over Sandown’s blue flag beach. Walk back through fossilised time to the period of the dinosaurs and on a recreated landscape enhanced by sights, smells and sounds you will meet life sized dinosaurs including our animatronic Neovenator!

Blackgang Chine
Near Ventnor
Blackgang Chine 40 acres of Victorian cliff-top gardens with a range of fantasy activities including cowboy town, nurseryland, dinosaurland, and pirate fort. Cliffhanger roller coaster and waterforce family boat slide. Exhibitions about local rural and coastal life.

Fort Victoria
Yarmouth
Fort Victoria a Marine Aquarium, a Sea Bed Archaeology Exhibition, a Planetarium and a Model Railway

Robin Hill Country Adventure Park
Newport
Robin Hill Country Adventure Park The Islands favourite countryside attraction with something for everyone. The Islands biggest rides, loads of children’s play features and areas of space to run free.

Animals & Nature

Colemans Animal Farm
Porchfield
Colemans Animal Farm Fun On The Farm For The Whole Family! Feed and cuddle our friendly animals: Lambs, Goats, baby rabbits, guinea pigs, Highland cattle, pigs & piglets, cows & calves, donkeys, horses, ducks, geese, chickens and many more!

Butterfly & Fountain World
Wootton
Butterfly & Fountain World One of the Island’s leading tourist attractions. Butterfly World was opened in 1983 by Roy Lancaster and was then only the fifth Butterfly House in the world. In 1989 Fountain World was added to provide customers with a longer and more interesting visit.

Isle of Wight Zoo
Sandown
Isle of Wight Zoo The Isle of Wight Zoo is a favourite destination for all ages. Situated alongside Yaverland beach, the zoo provides a fun, educational and wholesome day out for all the family. Specialising in tigers and lemurs, the zoo works to make conservation fun for everyone with talks, small animal handling and children’s activities.

Amazon World
Newchurch
Amazon World An all-weather, family attraction! The Islands largest collection of rare and exotic animals! A great day out whatever your age!

Flamingo Park Wildlife Encounter
Springvale
Flamingo Park Wildlife Encounter There are three different species of flamingo at the Park ~ Chilean, Lesser and Caribbean, numbering well over a hundred in total.

Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Wroxhall
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary ‘The Sanctuary was first established in 1987 to provide any donkey in distress or otherwise in need of care and attention, a safe and permanent home.’ Special events include the Grand Donkey Day out.

Owl and Falconry Centre
Ventnor
Owl and Falconry Centre A dazzling collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and elegant birds awaits you, from eagles, hawks and falcons, to kestrels and sleepy owls, the centre is full of fascinating sights and flights. During flying displays the birds of prey soar above the sloping down land of the Appuldurcombe Valley, which is an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

Arreton Down Wildlife Reserve
Newport
Arreton Down Wildlife Reserve Arreton Down is on downland which is part of the main chalk ridge which runs across the Isle of Wight from east to west. It consists of calcarious grassland, with some scrub edges. It contains archaeological features. There are extensive views across the Island from the higher parts of the down.

Owl and Monkey Haven
Newport
Owl and Monkey Haven ‘We welcome you to come and get to know our friends and see for yourself their beauty, charm and very different personalities!’

West Wight Alpacas
Wellow
West Wight Alpacas Our friendly alpacas would love you to join them for an Alpaca Trek. Walk along some of the spectacular scenic trails the Island has to offer. Alpaca Trekking is a fun, outdoor activity for you and your family to enjoy.

Fakenham Farm
St Helens
Fakenham Farm ‘Pay a visit to our farm for a fun and educational day out’

Museum’s

Shipwreck and Maritime Museum
Arreton
Shipwreck and Maritime Museum including audio visual room showing action films. “Wreck and Rescue” Lifeboat Museum, featuring vintage 1887 “Queen Victoria” pulling/sailing lifeboat and RNLI archive material, Smuggling and Fishing displays

Lilliput Antique Doll and Toy Museum
Brading
Lilliput Antique Doll and Toy Museum A very historic and interesting toy museum, boasting a great gift shop and being famous for its thousands of exhibits.

Brighstone Village Museum
Brighstone
Brighstone Village Museum A small village museum depicting C19th life adjoining a National Trust Giftshop.

Bembridge Heritage Centre
Bembridge
Bembridge Heritage Centre A centre boasting displays that ‘cover a wide range of historical interest and new displays are introduced each year to commemorate special events or topics. Scale models, for example Bembridge Railway Station (closed in 1953), are a special feature of the Centre, and a fully-restored PLUTO pump (Pipe Line Under the Ocean) is on display with the story of the PLUTO project.’

Underwater Archaeology Centre
Yarmouth
Underwater Archaeology Centre A centre where you can discover the wonders of Maritime history and archeology.

Ventnor Heritage Museum
Ventnor
Ventnor Heritage Museum A small museum detailing the historic life of Ventnor with displays and exhibits that are changed yearly. There are also models of Ventnor Railway and various publications for sale.

Nostalgia Toy Museum
Godshill
Nostalgia Toy Museum An excellent collection of toy cars and lorries by Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox, Triang and Hornby. Recently added is a large display of ‘Star Wars’ toys from 1977-1985.

Isle of Wight Natural History Centre
Godshill
Isle of Wight Natural History Centre A unique collection gathered from the earth and sea.

Playcentre’s

Space Island Indoor Soft Play Area
Lake
Space Island Indoor Soft Play Area Challenging structure for ages 4 plus, 3 levels to explore with climbing walls, ball cannons, sky glides, giant astra slide, mini sports area and more.

Jungle Jims Adventure Play Area
Shanklin
Jungle Jims Adventure Play Area A colourful multi level adventure play-area for children in a safe and fun environment. Also nearby: adventure golf, ten-pin bowling, cafe, go-karts and more.

Sandown Pier
Sandown
Sandown Pier A whole days fun in one! Lost world adventure golf. Magic Island fantasy and fun. Superbowl, dodgems, snake slide, amusements, cafes, bars and whole lot more.

JR Zone
Newport
JR Zone JR Zone (formerly Jolly Roger’s Plaice) is the Island’s top indoor adventure play zone for all ages with stimulating toddler section, and for larger kids, a thrilling gigantic 3-level play zone with 4-Lane Astra slide, dual sky glides, Spooky zone, Football area and so much more. JR Laser Storm interactive laser gun arena operates in the evenings (booking essential, groups of 10+ only)

Mouse World Indoor Play Centre
Chale
Mouse World Indoor Play Centre With a large south-facing terrace and garden, indoor children’s soft play area and large outdoor playground, this is a truly great family eatery.

Educational & Historical

Shanklin Chine
Shanklin
Shanklin Chine Historic gorge with dramatic waterfalls and nature trail. Heritage Centre with Exhibition “The Island -Then and Now” featuring “Flora of the Island”, together with PLUTO (Pipe Line Under the Ocean) display

Needles Park Sand Cliffs
Totland Bay
Needles Park Sand Cliffs – visit to view these jagged chalk stacks and lighthouse, the unique multi coloured sand cliffs and enjoy the Park’s facilities, including the spectacular chairlift.

Carisbrooke Castle
Newport
Carisbrooke Castle – a great place for children to explore – with its towering keep to climb and battlements to march, there’s lots to spark the imagination.

The Needles Old Battery
Alum Bay
The Needles Old Battery The Needles Old Battery overlooks the famous Needles rocks and lighthouse. Built in 1862 following the threat of a French invasion, the Old Battery has a fascinating military history. The Needles New Battery contains an exhibition about the secret rocket tests carried out there in the 1950s and 60s as part of Britain’s race for space!

Osborne House
East Cowes
Osborne House ‘If you’re planning a family day out in the Isle of Wight, then Osborne House has everything you could ask for. Built by Queen Victoria as a family holiday home, this stunning Italianate palace offers a glimpse into the private life of the royal family. Take a peek into the royal nursery, see the bedroom in which Queen Victoria died and marvel at the exotic Indian-inspired Durbar Room.’

Calbourne Water Mill and Rural Museum
Calbourne
Calbourne Water Mill and Rural Museum ‘Set in 10 acres of stunning rural landscape, Calbourne Water Mill contains one of the oldest working water mills in the country, dating back to the Domesday Book.’

Newport Roman Villa
Newport
Newport Roman Villa – a 1,700 year old country pile! Discovered in 1926 when the owner of a nearby house sank foundations for a garage, subsequent excavations revealed extensive remains of a late Romano-British farmhouse built around 280 AD.’

Yarmouth Castle
Yarmouth
Yarmouth Castle The remains of a C16th coastal fort as well as a wonderful picnic spot, historic Yarmouth exhibition and a C16th shipwreck.

Nunwell House and Gardens
Brading
Nunwell House and Gardens Visit the place where the ill-fated King Charles I spent his last night of freedom! A great historical and architectural interest.

Newton Old Town Hall
Newton
Newton Old Town Hall Visit the mysterious little building that reveals the interesting and surprising historical importance of Newton.

Sightseeing

Isle of Wight Ghost Experience
Porchfield
Isle of Wight Ghost Experience ’Delightfully frightful tales from the tomb, chillingly told by your host and ghost-master Marc Tuckey. Come with us as we visit actual locations of ghostly hauntings and dastardly deeds on the Island.’

Treasure Trails Isle of Wight
Freshwater
Treasure Trails Isle of Wight The fun way for you and your kids to get outdoors see the sights and explore the beautiful Isle of Wight. We have Trails all over the Island; choose the location you want and download the Trail from the website, print it off and you’re ready to go!

Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Ryde
Isle of Wight Steam Railway Five-mile steam railway using Victorian and Edwardian locomotives and carriages. Other attractions include souvenir shop, refreshments and children’s playground, gardens and woodland walk. Great idea if you are looking for family days out on the isle of wight.

Entertainment

Waltzing Waters
Ryde
Waltzing Waters Spectacular water show with a gift-shop that boasts gifts from all over the world and a comfortable coffee lounge.

Island Planetarium
Yarmouth
Island Planetarium Planetarium Theatre and astronomy centre with various displays and shows. Discover the universe through a variety of exhibitions.

Cineworld Cinema
Newport
Cineworld Cinema A variety of films in comfortable surroundings. Group bookings are available and a special showing for children is at 10am every Saturday.

Island Speedway
Ryde
Island Speedway Come to Isle of Wight Speedway, it’s four laps of all out speed, control, excitement and thrills as 4 bike riders go for the chequered flag in honour of their team! 2 full packed hours of pure excitement for all the family!

Arts & Crafts

Chessell Pottery Barns
Yarmouth
Chessell Pottery Barns Bring the kids along to our studio and have fun decorating your own pottery. We have a range of easy to use decorating sponges, everything from pirates and princesses, to dinosaurs and cupcakes. Before or after, visit the award winning Café onsite and enjoy browsing the beautiful Gift Barn.

Arreton Craft Barns
Arreton
Arreton Craft Barns ’Experience real village life in the heart of the Island. Enjoy watching the skilled local artisans at work in the craft centre, browse the local shops and take in the numerous displays of rural life in times gone by.’