Isle of Wight.......would I like it, what is it like ??

[NutcrackingXmas]

We are definatly having a holiday this year so I am trying to sort one out now so we have plenty of time to save etc.

Dp fancies Isle of Wight, but I have never been, is it any good, would I like it ??

Kids are 8, 6 and 3 so need plenty for them to do, and shops would be good too.

Brilliant place for a holiday with kids.
I know there have been threads about IoW in the past if you can find them.

I can recommend it. We stayed in Ryde, which is hilly but manageable. Kids love the ferry trip!

Plenty of shops. Do you have a car?

Ventnor is like Ryde - hilly and not brilliant for buggies!
There is masses to do on the island - our favourite spots are Tennyson Down and the Needles lighthouse, and St Helens - Carisbrooke Castle is good for exploring, Godstone has a model village, and there is Blackgang Chine of course - plus lots of dinosaur/fossilly things.
You don't need a car IMO - the bus and small train networks are very good, and it can save quite a bit on ferry charges not to take one.
We love the island - it is quite small and old-fashioned, a bit dowdy these days, but friendly and welcoming.

Blackgangchine is a good day out with children. I haven't been, but grandparents took the children last Summer and they all still talk about it and can't wait to go back!

I love the idea of an old fashioned English holiday on IoW.
It sounds magic!

We loved it.

Oh it sounds lots better than i imagined.

We do have a car yes so getting around wouldn't be a prob.

Will have to look up some places.

There is a lovely zoo, a really nice place to go for a walk in the evening called chine or something or other. We went during a whitsun and found it quiet which we like.

Didnt go to the themepark as we wanted to do it on the cheap.

It doesnt matter where you stay if you're driving as the island is so small.

Ferry was quite pricey though.

Really nice, we've been back for the past four years, and every year we say we'll go somewhere different then end up going back!

What sort of accommodation are you thinking about?

Self catering caravan, chalet, etc would do fine.

Try the Park Resorts. They're a bit like Haven etc but just seem to be a bit nicer. We've stayed at the one at Shanklin, which is 5 or 10 minswalk from town, prob about 1/2 hr from the beach (or there's a sand train) or obviously you can drive! We've also stayed at Languard Holiday Park, which is a bit further down the same road, and that was quite nice (both have swimming pools etc etc). My sister stayed at Gurnard Pines at Cowes and she thought that was lovely (all leather sofas etc) but I think that was pricey.

Don't think you can go wrong, tbh, there's not really anywhere on the island I wouldn't go to.

Park Resorts

Thanks for that, am looking now.

We went first week of October and I really liked it. It was quiet off season but loads to do in a very small area, for all ages.

We stayed near Ventor and also went to Shanklin which are both real old fashioned seaside places - a little bit dogeared, but great beaches and edwardian proms.

The only place I hated was Cowes - expected it to be upmarket but although there were thousands of shops selling designer sailing gear, the place itself was shabby and a non-event.

Liked it so much will probably go back next year. It's over the sea so an adventure for DS but dead easy to get to.

we have stayed in ryde, shanklin, bembridge and sandown(i think thats what its called). the bonus is isle of wight seems to get its own weather. we went a few summers ago and when england was being showered with thunder & lightening storms we were busy topping up our tans on the beach.

Glad to hear that Tweeni as on the basis of this thread we are going to Park resorts in July

are you going to the shanklin one? shanklin is my favourite place in isle of wight its so pretty so im thinkign of going there at easter. never been to vetnor so might try there too after reading this post.

Yes it's the one at Lower Hyde just outside Shanklin

We're going back to Park Resorts this summer, 4th visit i think. Our fave is the Nodes Pint one (especially for camping but generally all round- right on the most gorgeous beach) but the Hyde one is great too, yet to visit Thorness but will I am sure.

The kids like Blackgagng and also the little paddling pool on Ryde sea front. We didn't like Amazon World: when we went two years ago the state of the place made us sad although there was building going on so really hope it was an off occasion.

I suspect tis time will be dinosuar focused as ds1 heavily into atm, also planning on the steam train for ds3. DS2 just likes swimming and rock pools.

Oh almost forgot- the model village is nice, take money as lovely loal tea shops abound and also a little shop that sells local cider, which we always buy for when kids asleep.

IOW IS DEFFO BRILL

Love the IOW. Lived over the water in Pompey for too many a year but hopped to the Island loads of times. Agree with the comments on the zoo, v tatty. Anyway, the east side Sandown and Shanklin are quite bustling touristy bits whereas the west side, Bembridge, Colwell bay are less so but equally nice. Robin Hill and Blackgang Chine are fab for children of your ages. On rainy days there is Waltzing Waters, water jets played to music with fab lighting, sounds naff but is amazing and Extreme Play Old Drill Hall, Newport)which is an indoor play area, drop slides etc. Depending on where you go from you could incorporate Portsmouth Naval Docks (HMS Victory, Mary Rose) or try the Millenium Tower. HTH.

The dds will be 6,5 and 2 when we go so will be happy with beach, "musements" and a couple of trips out. Model village sounds nice and we have seen an advert for a horse place which dd1 would love. Anyone checked out the zoo recently?

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