• Calbourne Water Mill & Rural Museum:  Set in 35 acres of stunning landscape, Calbourne Water Mill contains one of the oldest working water mills in the country, dating back to the Domesday book!  Daily milling at 3pm (except Saturday’s) during the summer, visit the water mill pottery to see the potter at work, visit the rural museums & the small but very interesting war museum.  Adventure golf, punts, & croquet all at an additional cost.  Occasional special events throughout the year.  Gift shop, café, toilets & free parking all on site.  Peacocks wander around the grounds too!  Located just seven miles from the van.  Address: Newport road, Calbourne, PO30 4JN.

 

• Isle of Wight Steam Railway:  Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian & Edwardian carriages & discover an idyllic view of the island’s unspoilt countryside.  A heritage railway on the island that passes through 5.5 miles of countryside from Smallbrook Junction to Wooton Station, passing through the small village of Havenstreet, where the line has a station, headquarters & a depot.  With special events throughout the year, a 10-mile museum (the return train journey itself), discovery centre, gift shop & café/restaurant, toilets & free parking all on site.  Address: Havenstreet main road, Havenstreet, Ryde, PO33 4DS.

 

• Godshill model village:  Marvel at the wonders of this model village and see if you can spot how many times the village of Godshill is represented as a model village within a model village!  Set in nearly two acres of gorgeous landscape gardens is this quintessentially English visitor attraction.  On site facilities include a café/restaurant, toilets, a gift shop and a picnic area.  Free parking available nearby at the old smithy & gardens.  Address of car park: high street, Godshill, Ventnor PO38 3HZ.  Pay to use toilets also in car park.  Godshill in itself is a beautiful village to look round.

 

• Lilliput Doll & Toy Museum:  This small museum holds over 2000 items, dating from 200BC to 1950 including a number of unique & rare exhibits & well – known cartoon characters from the past.  Widely exhibited on the BBC as well as ITV.  No parking on site.  Address: High Street, Brading, Sandown, PO36 0JD.

 

• Fort Victoria Country Park:  Built on the north shore to guard the Solent, the remains of Fort Victoria now house an archaeology discovery centre, planetarium, Imaginarium, reptilarium and a café.  Free parking on site, all attractions incur a small cost to enter.  Free toilets in the car park.  Great views of the Solent!  Address: West Hill Lane, PO41 0HR (two minutes from Yarmouth Castle).  From here, you can walk into Yarmouth, it’s approximately one mile away.  Fort Victoria is approximately 25 minutes’ drive from this caravan.

 

• Sandown Pier:  One of only four piers on the island and the only one that offers classic pier style attractions.  Expect amusement arcades, teacups, dodgems, bowling alley, mini golf, indoor play area & a couple of bars.  Sandown beach is a beautiful, sandy beach.  Address: Esplanade, PO36 8JT.

 

• Brading Roman Villa:  Situated overlooking Sandown Bay, this is one of the finest Roman sites in the UK with an award-winning visitor centre & museum.  Films and special events throughout the year.  Café, gift shop, toilets, and free parking all on site.  Address: Morton Old Road, Brading, PO36 0PH.

 

• Newport Roman Villa:  Discover more of the Roman occupation of the IOW in the exhibition area, peep into a Roman kitchen & see preparations for a Roman feast!  The villa has a superb bath suite with underfloor heating and remnants of mosaic floors.  Parking available on nearby streets.  Address: Cypress Road, Newport, PO30 1HA. 

 

• Amazon World Zoo Park:  Located between Newport & Sandown, zoo mostly features exotic animals from South America, including giant anteaters, tamarins & marmosets, ocelots & parrots.  It also is home to the biggest collection of toucans in the United Kingdom.  Address: Watery lane, Newchurch, PO36 0LX.

 

• Butterfly World:  Open all year round, this undercover attraction has hundreds of butterflies flying freely in a natural environment, with the unique opportunity to study their life cycle first-hand.  There is also fountain world with Italian & Japanese gardens, Koi ponds & more.  Occasional events throughout the year.  Large free car park and wheelchair friendly.  Dogs not allowed.  Address: Staplers Road, Wooton Bridge, Ryde, PO33 4RW.

 

• Wightkarting:  Outdoor all weather, 520m floodlit track providing fun, excitement and safety for people of all ages from ages 8 – 88!  Clubhouse with licensed café, toilets, large screens to watch the action & digital leader boards on site.  Address: Westridge, Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QS.

 

• Dimbola Museum & Galleries:  Former home & workplace of photographer Juliet Margaret Cameron.  There are galleries and a dressing up room to be discovered as well as a recreation of Julia’s bedroom.  Shop & tea – room serving afternoon tea, breakfasts & Sunday roasts on site.  Free parking out the front, if full then pay & display car parks in Freshwater Bay are the nearest.

 

• Wight Military & Heritage Museum:  Billed as an all-weather attraction this small museum is situated on the main Cowes to Newport Road.  Inside you can find tanks, artefacts, uniforms, small arms, other vehicles & a small 1940’s street scene.  Seems to be constantly ‘under renovation’ in the main room.  Run entirely by volunteers, there is the option of a ‘tank ride’ at certain times & for an additional cost.  Covered air rifle range at additional cost too.  Lovely & reasonably priced Churchill tearooms, small gift shop, toilets & free parking all on site.  Not far from Thorness Bay, a visit here should last no more than 60-90 minutes.  Occasional special events throughout the year.  Address: Northwood Camp, 490 Newport Road, Cowes, PO31 8QU.

 

• Lady Scarlett’s Tea Parlour:  A quaint, beach side 1940’s themed café with a toilet made up to look like an Anderson shelter!  Plenty of old-fashioned memorabilia inside with a great selection of hot and cold food, drinks, ice creams, etc.  Paid parking on sea front along the road and in the car park at the other end of the street (not far to walk).  Address: Esplanade, Ventnor, PO38 1JT.  Not far from Appuldurcombe House and the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, the three together would make for a lovely day out.

 

• Museum of Island History:  Small museum offering touch screen computers, hands on exhibits, quizzes, games & microscopic exploration.  Address: Guildhall, High Street, Newport, PO30 1TY.  Currently only open two days a week.

 

• Robin Hill Country Park:  An 88-acre theme park located just outside of Newport and owned by the same family who run Blackgang Chine.  With some incredible day and night-time experiences, this really is the destination for visitors of all ages looking for outdoor fun, adventure, and great family experiences.  Special events throughout the year.  Joint tickets for Blackgang chine available.  Free 7-day return visit to same park with your ticket or Blackgang chine with joint ticket.  The park has cafes, an ice cream & snack kiosk, gift shop and car park.  Address: Downend Road, Downend, Newport, PO30 2NU.

 

• Blackgang Chine:  Run by the same family as Robin Hill Park and has the same offer on free 7-day return tickets.  Located in Ventnor, it’s the oldest theme park in the UK having opened in the 1840’s!  Special events throughout the year.  The park combines whimsical and unusual outdoor and walkthrough attraction with award winning heritage exhibitions and a couple of significant rides.  Places to eat and drink and free car park onsite.  Address: Ventnor, PO38 2HN.

 

• Dinosaur Isle:  Found opposite Sandown seafront (near Sandham Gardens & IOW Zoo), their museum holds over 1,00 of the best fossils from collections.  Also has a large dinosaur gallery, skeletal reconstructions and two animatronic dinosaurs.  This is an all-year-round attraction.  Paid small car park & shop on site.  Address: Culver Parade, Sandown, PO36 8QA.

 

• Wildheart Animal Sanctuary/Isle of Wight Zoo:  Based in Sandown directly opposite the beach, this zoo will charm and amaze you with its pocket-sized primates to powerful predators.  This zoo specialises in tigers and lemurs.  Car park, play area, information hut, toilets, and café all on site. Special events throughout the year.  Address: Yaverland Road, Sandown, PO36 8QB.  Private run car park where you can park all day for a lot less.

 

• The National Poo Museum:  Surprisingly popular, this small museum aims to be fun and educational, with interactive displays & fascinating artefacts.  Average visiting time is 40 minutes.  Toilet on site.  Fully accessible.  Paid parking at the Heights leisure centre on the Broadway (Sandown).  Located in disused public toilets.  Address: Sandown Barrack Battery, Talbot Road, PO36 9EB.

 

• Tapnell Farm Park: A former dairy farm turned all weather attraction surrounded by the islands beautiful landscape is now home to various animals.  Special events throughout the year.  Gift shop, café, free car park, toilets and wi-fi available on site.  Address: Newport Road, Yarmouth, PO41 0YJ.

 

• Monkey Haven:  An award – winning primate rescue centre with rescued monkeys and other animals.  Special events throughout the year and daily activities.  Free 7-day return pass.  Toilets, free car park, gift shop, play area, picnic area and tearoom all on site.  Address:  Staplers Road, Newport, PO30 2NB. 

 

• Sandham Gardens:  Various activities to enjoy including Dino Islands golf adventure, Sandham Skynets, Sandham karts, Play & Skate & ice cream shack.  Toilets onsite.  Unclear if all activities are pay as you use and if there is an entrance fee.  Address: Sandown Bay, Culver Parade, Sandown, PO36 8AT.

 

• West Wight Alpacas & Llamas:  See a collection of Alpacas & Llamas as well as other animals set within 23 acres of picturesque countryside of Wellow.  Café Bistro and shop on site.  Address: Main Road, Wellow, PO41 0SZ

 

• Isle of Wight Pearl:  Discover classic & contemporary collections, and exciting collections of pearl jewellery.  Handpick an oyster from the oyster pool and watch as it is opened carefully to reveal your own pearl, the perfect keepsake!  There is a café on site, toilets and large free car park.  Free entry. Address: Chilton Chine, Military Road, Brightsone, PO30 4DD.    

 

• Ryde Superbowl:  Bowling & laser quest, with a night club.  Overlooking the sea.  Food, drink, toilets and car park all on site.  Address:  The pavilion, the esplanade, Ryde, PO33 2EL.

 

• Ryde Canoe & Boating Lake:  Swan pedalos & canoes operate every weekend in June & July & then daily throughout the summer holidays.  Lovely lake to walk around or sit by.  Near the sea.  Address: Waterside pool, the esplanade, Ryde, PO33 1JA.  

 

• Classic Boat Museum:  Situated in Cowes & East Cowes, this museum has been telling visitors its wonderful maritime story since 1996.  The boat shed in West Cowes has an impressive collection of nearly 90 boats and the Gallery in East Cowes has an extensive collection of maritime artefacts, boat models and photographs.  Toilets are located in the Gallery and limited at the Boat Shed.  Addresses: The Boat Shed: 117a Medina Yard, Thetis Road, PO31 7DJ & The Gallery: Columbine building, Columbine Road, East Cowes, PO32 6EZ.  Both are accessible via Cowes Chain Ferry. 

 

• The Needles Landmark Attraction:  Visit the world – famous needles landmark attraction and one of the islands most iconic sights.  Family attractions, catering facilities, retail outlets, chair lift and magic in the skies firework display (summer only).  It appears you don’t pay to enter but have to buy tokens for what you want to do (such as chairlift, games kiosk, teacup ride, etc).  Address: Alum Bay New Road, Alum Bay, PO39 0JD

 

• Ventnor Botanic Gardens:  Open daily 10:00 – 5:00, (except Christmas day), Ventnor Botanic Garden boasts an impressive collection of over 30,000 rare and sub-tropical plants and trees.  Spread across 22 acres of gardens, our plantings are based on geographical regions of the world.  Located in the unique microclimate of the Ventnor Undercliff which is on average 5 degrees warmer than mainland UK!  Café, restaurant, gift shop, toilets and free parking (if visiting gardens) on site.  Free return visit within seven days with proof of purchase.   Address: Undercliff drive, Ventnor, PO38 1UL.

 

• Shanklin Chine Historic Gorge:  The Islands oldest visitor attraction (over 200 years) boasts two waterfalls (45 feet & 29 feet), illuminations and exhibitions.  Approximately 200 lights light up the narrow paths, streams and waterfalls within.  Appears to be a summer activity only.  Due to the natural formation of Shanklin Chine, it is a weather dependant attraction, and it can be closed during bad weather, sometimes at very short notice.  Limited access to site for people with mobility issues. Accessible entrance via the Esplanade (seafront).  Occasional events throughout the year.  It has a shop, tea garden, toilets & antiques centre.  No parking on site, nearest is Vernon Meadow car park in the old village (PO37 6AQ) and along Shanklin Esplanade (PO37 6BH).  Its own pub The Fishermans Cottage can be found at the far end of Shanklin Esplanade.