October Half Term on the Isle of Wight

With the autumn half term holiday now stretching to two weeks, you’ll need to find plenty to do to keep the kids occupied. So, get on a ferry, a hovercraft or catamaran and head over here to the sunny Isle of Wight where there is a myriad of adventures to be had.

For great half term days out, the Island attractions are second to none and have special events throughout the holiday to suit everyone from the smallest of people to the most sullen of teenagers. There’s the UK’s oldest theme park Blackgang Chine to explore, or you could run some steam off at Robin Hill or Tapnell Farm Park or go and visit the animals at the Monkey Haven or the Zoo. With on-site cafes and refreshments, you can make a real day of it or pack a picnic and enjoy your sarnies with the animals. Halloween falls within this year’s half term and there are lots of terrifying events and spooky shenanigans taking place around the Island from and kids will love dressing up and taking part.

If history and heritage are your thing, then the Island has plenty to offer. Visit Osborne House, Carisbrooke Castle and step back centuries, or see where rockets were tested in the fifties at the Needles Battery. There are museums and galleries and you must go to the Island Steam Railway to see their impressive collection of Victorian rolling stock and to ride the train.

Just because it’s October doesn’t mean that you can get out and about for some fresh air and vitamin sea. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns in October between the 8th and 16th. There will be many guided walks taking place across the Isle of Wight.

With miles and miles of foot and cycle paths it’s a brilliant opportunity to get your trainers on or get on your bike and experience flat walks and cycles or more challenging ones for those who want them. With routes including the Red Squirrel Trail and the flat ride from Sandown to Shanklin, smaller children will enjoy cycling, squirrel spotting and maybe even an ice cream. You should also have a look at our Slow Travel Guide which gives information about how to travel around the Island without your car using bus and train services or your own legwork!

Of course, half term is family holiday time and many of the Island’s pubs, restaurants and accommodation are dog friendly so there’s no need to leave Fido at home. Many of the beaches revert to being completely dog friendly during the autumn months so you’ll have miles of seaside to explore, cafes to visit and perhaps some paddling to do…

For foodies, the Island is a mecca and most pubs, restaurants and cafes have children’s menus featuring local produce, fresh fish and meat. There are also independent shops and farmer’s markets selling local produce perfect for an autumn picnic or a cook up if you’re self- catering. And talking of which, there’s such a wide range of holiday accommodation that you won’t be short of ideas for places to stay from tradition B&Bs to yurts, campsites, hotels and holiday lets. Many accommodation providers can help you with your ferry travel so check out the ferries and accommodation page. 

Whatever you decide to do and however you’re travelling, it couldn’t be easier to get to the Isle of Wight via Lymington, Southampton, Southsea or Portsmouth. There are regular rail connections to the south coast via SWR.

Travelling as a foot passenger is simple due to our excellent transport links with trains, buses, foot passenger ferries and our hovercraft service.