Isle of Wight

[babychange]

Dh is suggesting we go to Isle of Wight for a long weekend. Any recommendations on where to go or stay? We have 2 DC 4 and 1

What sort of budget?
What do you enjoy?
Hotel or self catering?
Countryside or beach?
Busy or quiet?
Swimmers or not?

We like Sandown as there is a nice beach

It’s extremely expensive to get there, Ferry not cheap, so maybe worry going for longer?

The zoo in Sandown is fab. Seems a bit rundown as you go in but has lots to see and the keeper talks are really good. Not too big for little people to wander round either. Dinosaur isle is next door and also worth a visit.

The ferry is bonkers prices at the moment. You would be better off booking through a holiday park or something that can offer ferry included or at trade rates.

Personally, I’d not touch the zoo. Poor psychotic tigers in overly small cages.

If I wanted a nice hotel I’d go to either the Royal at Ventnor or North House in Cowes. Both do very good food and are child friendly in a ‘not chicken nuggets’ way. Both have small, warm pools.
I’d go to Robin Hill for a day.

I’d probably spend a day in Ryde. The beach is fabulous for tiny children, there’s a boating pond with Swan boats, a tiny funfair and Puckpool Park has good play area. There is a very good cafe on the sea wall near the park Dell cafe. You need to book as it’s very popular.

Tapnell Farm is also good for children.

Ferry is part of the fun.

There’s a couple of great threads in the holidays section at the moment with ideas of what to do.

We’re going next week and paid £130 for the ferry which I don’t think is particularly expensive. It was a hell of a lot cheaper with the hotel than just a comparable hotel in Devon or Cornwall.

Everyone stays in sundown, shanklin, ventor.

Appley beach in Ryde is nice and near the fishbourne ferry.

If you come in via lymington - Yarmouth then stay just off the military road - brightstone, chase, godshill.

DC are too young for blackgang chine I imagine, but can do lots of beach trips if the weather is good, walk round carisbrooke castle or newtown? Not sure how good robin hill is now but look at that.

We went last august and stayed at the hose seasons caravan park but I wouldn’t recommend it. It was dated and dirty and we couldn’t even get a phone signal in the depressing corner they put us.

I’d recommend visiting the donkey sanctuary, it’s lovely. We also went to the botanical gardens which is a nice walk and has an adventure playground for kids.

The donkey sanctuary, and Monkey Haven, are good to visit. Monkey Haven has lots of different species of monkey, as well as owls.

There is also a Premier Inn on the Island too, their family rooms are very good value, and they were offering Ferry deals when we booked too.
Sadly our Trip got cancelled due to the Covid outbreak, and we have no plans at the moment to return anytime soon as DH dislikes long driving journeys since he retired.

Would prefer a beach or a pool
Flexible on budget as will be our only holiday this year
Ideally has lots of activities to keep kids entertained
And probably self catering with 2 bedrooms at least - static caravan works too!

Thank you so much all! Will have a look at all the suggestions!
Good point regarding ferry, didn't even consider that

@babychange

Thank you so much all! Will have a look at all the suggestions! Good point regarding ferry, didn't even consider that

We stupidly booked a weeks holiday without checking ferry prices . If you can be a foot passenger it's cheap but school holidays a return is £240 for a car at the moment 😩

Interesting thread. I literally live opposite the island. About a 10 minute hover craft ride swag and went when I was 6 😂.

I would like to go back and have a look though.

Away not swag.

Blackgang Chine. Your 4 year old is the perfect age for it. We go every time we visit the IOW (have family there). Very young child friendly.

We’re going in August, we used Tesco points for the ferry - made it much more reasonable!
Would second Blackgang chine, there are lots of things to look at and rides are small. It’s very much for younger children.
We’re staying in a lodge at a Parkdean resort, has a pool, play area, beach etc

Was just about to say Tesco points for ferry too! Think they are triple value. We love Isle of Wight. Black hand chine is my kids favourite! Also love the Dino museum and the pier at Sanddown

Ooh black gang chine looks fab!
I'm checking out white cliff bay as it offers return ferries for £40 with a car so that's a pretty good deal!

Have a look on Isle of Wight Guru for ferry discount codes

www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/discount-isle-of-wight-ferry-travel.html

Nodes Point holiday park is nice - right on the beach, has a bar, pool, etc

Whitecliff Bay has a pool. Or the one at Thorness Bay.

Blackgang Chine, Robin Hill, Carisbrooke Castle, Tapnell Farm

Any dinosaur fans? - Brook Beach for fossil hunting and the dinosaur footprints

Take a kite up Culver Downs

Sandown Pier or if you go up Yaverland end there’s the zoo, Dinosaur Isle, and Sandham Gardens for crazy golf and a trampoline park

We’re heading for the midday ferry today to head to our Airbnb cottage in Ventnor.
We’re going to Blackgang Chine tomorrow, so I’ll report back.
Excited! Feels like a holiday as we’re going on a ferry 😂

You haven’t said whether you intend to take a car or not. As others have said the ferries can be pricey. Depending on where you are travelling from, for a weekend you might want to consider leaving the car behind.

There are attractive train/ferry/train combined fares available. The train service on the island connects with the passenger ferry at Ryde and serves Ryde town, Sandown and Shanklin.

Don't forget Osborne House and its private beach. Also Amazon World is great! Don't go to the zoo, it's in an old fort and horrific. Sandown Pier is fun. Yes, the cost of taking your car is eye watering - I'm lucky as I call the Island home though!