• Carisbrooke Priory:  About a five – minute drive from this caravan, is a beautiful former nunnery that’s open three days a week.  This is located at the centre of the island in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in the foothills of Carisbrooke Castle.  Free parking on the green area opposite.  Very good tea rooms and home grown produce for sale in the tea rooms.  It also has toilets (including a disabled one), a shop, a great selection of second hand books, and a lovely chapel.  Very close to Carisbrooke Castle, can easily do both in one day.  Address: 39 Whitcombe Road, Newport, PO30 1YS.  what3words: ///folders.record.hardback

 

• Quarr Abbey: Quarr Abbey is a working Benedictine monastery near to the Fishbourne ferry port and welcomes visitors of all ages.  It has a tea shop and farm shop with free parking.  Free tours of the grounds at certain times.  The current Abbey is 20th Century but there is a ruin of the original 12thCentury monastery.  Address: Quarr Road, Ryde, PO33 4ES.

 

• The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary:  This is a lovely little place with free parking as well as free entry.  It’s a charity so donations are welcome!  You can adopt a donkey!  Open year round 10:00 – 4:30 (closed Christmas Day).  Onsite is a café, shop, a bric a brac shop, and experiences (at a cost).  Address: Lower Winstone Farm, St Johns Road, Wroxall, PO38 3AA.

 

• Bembridge Heritage Centre:  Find out information about Bembridge and it’s diverse stories of a seaside village via access to the archives and database held here.  Various exhibitions throughout the year.  Address: Unit 1B Weavers Yard, Lane End Road, PO35 5US.  No parking.

 

• Bembridge Lifeboat Station:  this is a ‘discover’ RNLI station with volunteers giving free tours.  Address: Lane End Road, Bembridge, PO35 5TD.

 

• RNLI Inshore Boat Centre:  Located in East Cowes, this centre supplies and maintains over half of the lifeboats for all the RNLI stations as well as the lifeguard units.  Free tours offered lasting approximately 90 minutes.  It has an interactive visitor and heritage centre.  Address: Clarence Road, PO32 6HB.

 

• Rosemary Vineyard:  Tour around the winery and see the different equipment that’s used and view the ‘vine to wine’ film showing a typical year in the life of the vineyard.  Island produce can be sourced from the vineyard stop and you can refuel at their vine leaf coffee shop.  Dogs welcome.  Address: Smallbrook lane, Ryde, PO33 4BE.

 

• Appuldurcombe House:  Although this belongs to English Heritage it is free to enter.  An 18th century building with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.  It is only a ruin but still well worth a visit and lovely for a picnic on a nice day.  Please check website for opening times as sometimes closed on a Saturday for weddings.  Close to Ventnor sea front and the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.  Closed October – March, address: Appuldurcombe Road, Wroxall, PO38 3EW.  Free parking, no facilities.

 

• St Mildred’s Church:  This is near Osborne House and has direct links to Queen Victoria, her daughter princess Beatrice was married there.  Experience the wonder of their Victorian architecture on a free guided tour before heading to the coffee shop next door.  Open Mon – Thurs 10:00 – 4:00.  Free parking at coffee shop.  Address: Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6LW.

 

• All Saints Church:  A beautiful church up a hill with gorgeous views of the surrounding village.  Best to access via the ‘thatched cottages’ route which is a little steep but step free.  Address: Church hill, Godshill, Ventnor, PO38 3HY.  Best place to park is the large car park near the Smithy & Gardens, it’s free to park and has toilets as well.

 

• The Old Smithy & Gardens:  This is a must see!  Entrance to the gardens is via the shop.  The gardens are very well kept and full of chintzy things to amuse little ones.  Watch out for the fairies and goblins (read their stories)!  Shop and coffee shop on site.  Best to park in the large free car park nearby.  Address: high street, Godshill, Ventnor PO38 3HZ.

 

• The Needles New Battery:  Please note the new battery is free and the old battery you have to pay to visit (unless you are members of the National Trust).  Visit for the needles themselves, the lighthouse, amazing views, military history and family fun!  Special events throughout the year.  Tea room and gift shop on site.  Address: West high down, Alum Bay, PO39 0JH.

 

• Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum:  This museum has a display of around twenty historic vehicles, transport artefacts, displays, photographs a tea bar and a shop.  Based in a former Southern Vectis depot built 1937 – 1938 and is run entirely by volunteers with a free car park (not for special events).  Address: The bus depot, park road, Ryde, PO33 2BE.

 

• Arreton Barns:  The islands largest arts and crafts centre.  Set amongst the beautiful countryside on the island, Arreton Barns is home to a myriad of arts and crafts studios, showcasing some of the best local artisans and craftspeople the island has to offer.  See the penny arcade, visit St. Georges 12th century church and marvel at the wonders of glass blowing!  Free parking, a lovely pub, picnic spots and free toilets all on site.  Address: Main road, Arreton, PO30 3AA.

 

• Quay Arts Centre:  Various art exhibitions, live music, with a café and shop.  Chargeable parking on nearby streets.  Address: 15 sea street, Newport Harbour, PO30 5BD.

 

• Sir Max Aitken Museum:  Open May - September, Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 - 16:00.  It was the home of Sir Max Aitken who was a newspaper magnate, a fighter pilot in WWII, a Conservative MP, a racing yachtsman, a powerboat pioneer, and the London Boat Show founder. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross and was Knighted in the 1940’s.  Highlights include marine paintings, Giles cartoons, cradle made for the infant King of Rome, son of Napoleon Bonaparte and various artefacts relating to Nelson.  Address: The prospect, 83 high street, Cowes, PO31 7AJ.

 

• Brightstone Village Museum:  A museum which is a thatched cottage run entirely by volunteers with artefacts about village life.  In the lovely village of Brightsone which has several lovely, thatched cottages, a pretty old church, a couple of places to eat and a couple of shops.  It also has a library.  No parking or website.  Address: Northstreet, Brightsone, PO30 4AX.

 

• Rylestone Gardens:  A park with an 18-hole miniature golf course, bandstand with Sunday afternoon performances and a nice little café.  There is a hotel within the grounds.  The park links up to the clifftop park where you can walk down to the beach.  Address: 11 Popham road, Shanklin, PO37 6RG.  Free parking on Popham and Luccombe roads.

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• Ventnor Park:  An award-winning park with a putting green, café, special events throughout the year and live music at the bandstand (Sundays and bank holiday Mondays April – Sept, 2:00 – 4:00, unless raining)!  Address: A3055, Ventnor, PO38 1LE.

 

• The Garlic Farm:  A family run business.  Tours of the farm either on foot or by a tractor trailer.  Gift shop and restaurant/café on site.  An education centre is on site, and they offer free tasters on all their garlic farm products.  Special events throughout the year.  Shop & restaurant open 7 days a week from 9:00 – 5:00.  Address: Mersley Lane, Newchurch, PO36 0NR.

 

• Old Thatch Tea Rooms:  Beautiful and award-winning tea rooms located in Shanklin.  Gorgeous garden out the back with a small but quaint ‘fairy garden’!  Outside seating too.  Reasonably priced menus, including children’s menu.  Paid parking up the hill but very close.  Address: 4 church road, Shanklin, PO37 6NU.  Shanklin itself is a pretty little village to look round.

 

• Puckpool Park:  At the far end of Ryde Esplanade, past Appley Tower is Puckpool Park which has tennis courts, crazy golf, putting green, a decent playground, the remains of a fort & tea gardens.  Access also via sea view car park:  PO34 5AR.

 

• Holliers Park:  Small place to visit either on the way out or on the way back from another outing as not much there.  The place has free parking, a bus stop café (the café is an old bus), House of Chilli, Holliers Tunnel Market, small playground for children, old furniture for sale and a 1939 London underground train (currently not accessible).