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.

Being the sunniest place in the UK and surrounded by 57 miles of beautiful coastline, it’s ideal for a family day one of our award-winning beaches. Shanklin, Sandown or Appley beach in Ryde, are idyllic sandy beaches with miles of shallow paddling places while Ventnor, Cowes and Freshwater are stones and shingle - perfect for skimming stones and enjoying a picnic.

The 200+ miles of cycle tracks, byways, and bridleways, through the stunning Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) means you’ll never get bored of discovering our island on your bike! There are on and off-road routes as well as mixed terrain, with distances and difficulties for all riders, so why not hire a bike from Wight Cycle and explore?

As an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, our island is a haven for wildlife. From bird watching at Newtown or Hersey Nature Reserves to red squirrel spotting in Borthwood Copse or Alverstone Mead, you can spend hours reconnecting with nature here.

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 The Commadore in Ryde or Cineworld in Newport.

Things to do for under 5s

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

Children will love feeling like giants at Model Village Godshill. 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 enjoy their seasonal events

For a taste of the Amazon jungle, Amazon World will introduce them to Giant Anteaters, Armadillos, Sloths and Tapirs and is home to one of our island biggest soft plays, Monkey Madness. The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary has rescued or rehomed over 100 donkeys and Shetland ponies to their forever home. The ‘Donkey Poop’ confectionery from the gift shop will surely 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. Plus, they open for a ‘quiet hour’ every Wednesday and Saturday from 9-10am for visitors with additional needs and both hidden and viable disabilities, such as autism.

There’s also a large selection on outdoor public play parks dotted around our island which will be a hit with all kids.

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 life sized skeletal and fleshed re-constructions, two animatronic dinosaurs and enormous collection of real fossils, all found on our island.

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!

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.

With its Dino Jeep Safari, 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 an arcade, 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.

Robin Hill Adventure Park is one of our islands most popular attractions with plenty for kids to do. With the famous Toboggan Run now joined by new attractions including Jumping Pillows, indoor soft play, electric boats and full-sized diggers to engage with, you’ll be tearing them away at the end of the day.

Things to do for over 10s

Budding historians will be intrigued by Roman Villas at Brading, with one of the most intact medusa mosaics in the UK, and Newport Roman, 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.

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!

Wight Karting offers our island’s only all-weather outdoor 520m floodlit track just outside of Ryde and provides unrivalled fun, excitement, and safety.

There’s plenty to do at the Tapnell Farm Park site on the west wight including our island’s only Aqua Park, with over 20 obstacles to tackle and plenty of giant free-fall slides is great fun for confident swimmers, Football & Frisbee Golf over either 9 or 18 hole courses, and Paddleball & Pickleball courts with equipment for hire.

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 oldest visitor attraction on our island, 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.

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.

Equestrian lovers will have to check in with Island Riding Centre which has indoor and outdoor arenas and licensed instructors for riders of all abilities while Fairfields Farm Riding School offer countryside hacks and for those with more experience, exhilarating beach rides on the golden sands of Appley beach at low tide.

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.

Things to do for teenagers

Teenagers will have hours of entertainment at Ryde Superbowl with its bowling alley, Laser Quest and arcade. You can find an indoor 10-pin bowling alley at Sandown Pier as well as an entertaining arcade and jungle-themed crazy golf, both of which can also be found at Shanklin Seafront and along with outdoor dinosaur and pirate themed mini-golf and seafront fish & chip shop.

For those wanting to test their brains, be careful you don’t end up pulling your hair out at one of our expert escape rooms. Random-Rooms features 5 different challenge rooms, each with its own theme and story including a hospital, prison and detailed mine. There’s also The Lost Crypt - 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.

For thrill-seekers looking to explore new heights, Canopy Skatepark provides all weather skateboarding, or for Instagram-worthy photos, jump onboard the 15 minute High Speed Needles Pleasure Cruise from Alum Bay.  

Looking to explore new heights? Be sure to check out the Adrenaline Zone at Robin Hill featuring 4 clip & climb towers, a state of the art multi-level aerial playground, 3 airbag jumps and a high speed ariel zip line roller coaster! Sandown Rocks is the only professional outdoor climbing facility on our island and is home to 2 Olympic quality 12m walls with over 86 routes for all abilities. West Wight Sports and Community Centre is home to our islands only indoor climbing facility, with routes for beginners and experts which change monthly.