Things to do with children on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a dream destination for a family holiday on the South Coast of the UK. Whether you have a toddler, a tween, or a teenager, you’ll thankfully never hear the words “I’m bored”. The Island is bursting with activities and attractions that appeal to all ages! Which is why families return to the Isle of Wight year after year, and those children then return with their children.

With its mild climate and 57 miles of beautiful coastline, it’s ideal for a family day out at the beach. Shanklin or Sandown beaches, Appley beach in Ryde, or Ventnor beach are perfect for a fun day out with a picnic. The simple-to-use Beach Check App makes it even easier to plan which beach to go to as it provides real-time information.

The 200+ miles of cycle tracks, byways, and bridleways, through stunning Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) means you’ll never get bored of discovering the Island on your bike!  So why not hire a bike from Wight Cycle to explore?

As an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Isle of Wight is a haven for wildlife. Hours can be spent wildlife spotting at Newtown Nature Reserve, Borthwood Copse, Hersey Nature Reserve and Culver Downs.

Even if there’s a chance of rain, children of all ages can be kept entertained at one of the many indoor activities listed below or go along to have an indoor swim, at West Wight Sports and Community Centre, 1Leisure Medina or 1Leisure The Heights, or go catch a movie at Cineworld.

Things to do for under 5s

Let their imagination run wild at the UK’s oldest amusement park Blackgang Chine, the ‘World of Imagination’! They can become a pirate, a fairy, or a cowboy / cowgirl, meet dinosaurs, and even experience an underwater kingdom.

Children will love feeling like Gulliver at Godshill Model Village. The Model Village is a 1/10th scale version of the village of Godshill and Shanklin Old Village and Chine, so just the right height for exploration.  Ask for a quiz sheet to make it a fun treasure hunt.

Tapnell Farm Park, guarantees a great family day out whatever the weather. Explore the play barn, discover the soft play area, meet the animals in the Animal Barn, and then get lost in the huge Maize Maze and Sunflower Meadow.

Animal lovers will be spoilt for choice on the Island. At West Wight Alpacas, an alpaca and llama stud farm set within 23-acres of picturesque countryside in the village of Wellow, they can meet alpacas, llamas, miniature donkeys, chickens, pigs, pygmy goats, sheep, rabbits, and ducks & turkeys. For a taste of the Amazon jungle, Amazon World will introduce them to Giant Anteaters, Armadillos, Sloths and Tapirs. The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary has over 100 rescued donkeys and Shetland ponies in their forever home. The ‘Donkey Poop’ confectionery from the gift shop will definitely be a souvenir they’ll want!

Not only can you meet a variety of monkeys at the Isle of Wight’s award-winning primate rescue centre, Monkey Haven, but the sanctuary also rescues and rehabilitates owls that wouldn’t survive in the wild. The sanctuary is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am – 10am for visitors with hidden disabilities and additional needs, such as autism.

Things to do for under 10s

You can’t miss Dinosaur Isle, next to the sandy beach at Sandown, as it’s in the shape of a giant pterodactyl! The large dinosaur gallery has exciting displays including real fossils, skeletal re-constructions, life sized fleshed re-constructions and two animatronic dinosaurs.

Sandham Gardens, on Sandown seafront, with its series of interlinking nets, an 18-hole golf experience with its sizzling volcanoes, rickety bridges and wonderful waterfalls, and electric karts, will provide hours of fun and laughter.

For those that love climbing trees, sign up for a recreational tree climb with Goodleaf Tree Climbing. Climb up to 15 metres using rope and harness with friendly experienced instructors. Once you reach the top, there’s an amazing view of Appley Beach and beyond!

Situated within 200 acres of beautiful pasture and woodlands, families can take part in a trail at Quarr Abbey. Explorer kits are available to borrow, containing binoculars, bug pot and activity cards. Children will be delighted to discover the resident pigs!

The Isle of Wight Reptilarium, in Fort Victoria Country Park, has 30 different Reptiles and Invertebrates to discover – from snakes and lizards to snails, frogs and cockroaches. With four different "mission" cards available to help get more from your visit, it’s educational as well as fun!

Haven Falconry’s displays include various birds of prey: Owls, Harris Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and their Vultures Sully or Ringo. An enjoyable experience awaits as the knowledgeable falconers provide a wealth of insight into the birds and their habits.

At Butterfly World you’ll discover some of the world’s most beautiful butterflies and moths flying freely in a tropical atmosphere. Walk through themed gardens, with added water features and fish filled pools. Twice a day there are Koi feeding sessions, butterfly walks and Minibeast handling sessions.

Experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of over 150 years of railway history at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.  Marvel at the majestic steam engines, beautifully restored comfortable period carriages, and charming rural stations. Kids will love dressing up as drivers and guards and re-enacting stories from the past.

At Calbourne Water Mill, children will enjoy the adventure golf, and peacocks, geese, and ducks to feed.                              

Hidden in the woods at Osborne House, well away from the main house, is a little Alpine-style chalet, the Swiss Cottage, with its own gardens and museum. This was the royal children’s private world. Explore the children’s garden plots, run around the outdoor play area, visit the museum, and go inside to step back in time to 1861. After exploring, take a walk to the private beach for a paddle.

Through multi-activity fun days and camps, UKSA offer plenty of options for getting out on the water. Suitable for all abilities, activities can include dinghy sailing, kayaking, keel boating, stand up paddleboarding, windsurfing, power boating, raft building and more.

JR Zone covers an action-packed five levels. Kids will love the thrilling four lane Astra slide and two enclosed tube slides. They can zip through the air on the twin sky glides or plunge into one of the fun ball pools. They'll enjoy scrambling over the Sky Walk rope bridge, hiding in the spooky zone, or maybe just practicing football skills in the soccer zone.

With its Dino Jeep Safari, ‘Water Walkerz’ (walking in a giant inflatable ball on water), Tea Cup Ride, Carousel, and an 11-hole Jurassic Adventure Golf course set off by imaginative water features and storyboards depicting 11 different dinosaur species, and games kiosk, the Needles Landmark will be a hit!

Shanklin’s charming clifftop park of Rylstone Gardens is home to a putting course and tearooms. Visit on a Sunday afternoon in Summer for a round of cray golf accompanied by a local brass band.

If you haven’t been to Sandown’s National Poo Museum … you really must include a visit! Using quirkiness and family-friendly humour there’s an array of exciting interactive displays to engage, entertain and inform.

Things to do for over 10s

Budding historians will be intrigued by Newport’s Roman Villa, a partially reconstructed 1,700-year-old farmhouse and Scheduled Ancient Monument. Or go along to The Wight Military & Heritage Museum to enjoy the fascinating military exhibits, and ride in one of the military vehicles.

Wight Karting offers the Isle of Wight’s only all-weather outdoor 520m floodlit track providing unrivalled fun, excitement, and safety. For more exhilaration, the Island’s only Aqua Park at Tapnell Park is great fun for confident swimmers. With over 20 obstacles to tackle and plenty of giant free-fall slides, there will be a lot of laughter!

The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, a forever home for animals rescued from suffering, has tigers, lions, lynxs, lemurs, monkeys, meerkats, and reptiles to meet.  There’s Early Bird Breakfasts and a Twilight Safari to experience the sanctuary first thing and at dusk.

Shanklin Chine, the Island’s oldest visitor attraction has been drawing visitors for over 200 years with its natural beauty. The steep sides and flowing water provide a mini sanctuary for mammals, birds, and insects. At night the Chine is transformed into a place of magic and enchantment with its illuminations.

Get competitive at IOW Football Golf (Tapnell Farm). Using the same rules as golf but instead of a club, players kick a ball.  Choose from either a 9 or 18 course hole course.

Arreton Down Wildlife Reserve is a wonderful place to get in touch with an inner explorer. The nature reserve is home to a huge variety of plants and is famous for its butterflies. Tens of thousands of chalk hill blue butterflies call the reserve home. The reserve is rich in history too. The land is strewn with features relating to past land use, including ancient monuments.

Carisbrooke Castle has been an artillery fortress, king's prison, and a royal summer residence. Enjoy the tranquil Princess Beatrice Garden and stunning St Nicholas' Chapel or watch the famous Carisbrooke donkeys work the 16th-century tread in daily demonstrations, raising water from the castle well.

Try out lots of great water sports and land activities at Tackt-Isle Adventures. From sailing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, windsurfing, Bubble Football, Bushcraft and more!

Things to do for teenagers

Teenagers will have hours of entertainment at Ryde Superbowl with its bowling alley, Laser Quest and arcade. Or Sandown Pier with its 10-pin bowling alley, exhilarating rides, and crazy golf.

Only those brave enough will enter the Lost Crypt Escape Room, is the first escape room in the UK inside a real church crypt. With embedded hidden interactive technology and puzzles, it’s an exciting 60-minute escape room. If you can’t solve the clues, there’s no escape!

For thrill-seekers, Canopy Skatepark provides all weather skateboarding, or they can tackle the challenging purpose made mountain bike trails at the IOW Mountain Bike Centre. For Instagram-worthy photos, jump onboard the 15 minute High Speed Needles Pleasure Cruise from Alum Bay.  

Kingswood have the ultimate two-day adventure! Get the adrenaline pumping with activities such as climbing, abseiling or zipwire. Have fun in the air on their 3G swing or on the water with raft building. Learn bushcraft survival, from fire lighting to building shelters. Then enjoy a BBQ, beach games, and relax around a campfire with toasted marshmallows.