Things to do on the Isle of Wight

Have an idea of what you’re looking to do on the Isle of Wight? Explore our detailed guides using the links below.

From Queen Victoria’s holiday home at Osborne to the UK’s oldest theme park, Blackgang Chine – family-friendly places to visit are something the Isle of Wight excels at.

Whatever makes you and your family tick – whether it’s a dose of culture, history, or pure, unadulterated fun – the Island has a wealth of things to do.

There are a good mix of indoor and outdoor places to visit, so you don’t have to worry too much about the weather. Many popular attractions are open all year round but do make sure to check before you travel.

The Isle of Wight is a haven for nature lovers, sun-worshippers and those of you looking for that perfect Instagram snap.

Explore some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the UK, including sheer cliffs and rolling countryside hills.

Or for a more chilled getaway, hit one of the Island’s famous sandy beaches – you’ll feel like you’re in the Mediterranean, and yet it’s all only 22 minutes off the south coast.

A day out on the Isle of Wight doesn’t have to be expensive – in fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything at all.

Pick from a wealth of free places to visit, including the tranquil Quarr Abbey, a stunning piece of architecture that is home to an order of Benedictine months.

Or there’s the incredibly popular Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, a great day out for animal-loving kids (and adults, too!). Open all year round, though it is technically free to visit, we do strongly encourage making a donation to support the great work they do.

A sightseeing day out needn’t cost a penny, too. Some of the Island’s most famous landmarks are free to see, including St Catherine’s Oratory (or the Pepperpot, as it’s affectionately known).

You can view the Needles from a distance, too, and there’s also Appuldurcombe House, once the grandest residence on the Island.

Take a trip into the woodlands and take on the challenge of spotting a red squirrel. The Diamond Isle is one of the only places in the UK that you can find them but make sure to keep your eyes peeled – they can be quite hard to spot.

And for fans of all things dinosaur, make sure to hunt fossils along the Island’s Jurassic coastline. Compton Bay and Yaverland Beach are hotspots for uncovering pieces of dino history.

If you’re looking for bargain ferry travel, too, check out our discounts and offers page for the latest savings you can make on your cross-Solent sailing.

If you like to try something a little unique when you’re on your travels, the Isle of Wight is the ideal place to visit.

Some Island attractions are a little quirkier than others and one that definitely falls into that bracket is the National Poo Museum.

Home to a wide variety of pooey artefacts from across the world, the museum aims to break through the poo taboo in an entertaining way.

A little less quirky but no less interesting is Dinosaur Isle, a museum dedicated to celebrating the Isle of Wight’s Jurassic past. Learn all about the stories of the dinosaurs that roamed the Island over 125 million years ago.

And for something a little more mysterious, visit The Needle’s New Battery. Unknown to locals at the time, it was the home of Britain’s race to space during the Cold War, overseeing the design and testing of rockets and satellites.