There are so many things to do in Isle of Wight, and we would not be able to list them all here, but one thing is for sure is that you will not be bored as you will always find something to do in the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of wight is a very small island located off the south coast of England in the English channel. With a population of just over 140,000, it is easy for anyone looking to experience anything from culture and history to adventure and adrenaline without having to travel too far.
If you’re looking for a place to go shopping, then the Isle of wight has plenty to offer with high street retailers and designer boutiques all over the Isle. There is something to suit everyone, from high street brands such as Primark and Marks and spencer’s right through to prestigious stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch and Dunnes.
It can be challenging to know what you want to do first if you like experiencing new activities with so much on offer. Isle of wight has some fantastic experiences on offer, such as Isle of wight zorbing, Isle of wight paintball, Isle of wight pottery painting, Isle of wight surfing, Isle of wight kayaking and much more as you can see already there are plenty of things to do in Isle of Wight.
Here are our top things to do In Isle of Wight
If you’re looking for a relaxing day, then the Isle of Wight is perfect for you for lazy days on the beach or an afternoon in one of Isle of wight’s many parks.
If you’re looking to get out and about, the Isle of Wight has some fantastic places to go, whether it be by foot, bike, car or public transport, Isle of Wight is very accessible. With Isle of wight’s excellent road network linking the island together, Isle of wight is perfect for driving holidays with some fantastic scenery to take in along the way.
Island hopping is another popular activity, and the Isle of Wight has three main ferry ports Lymington Newport and Southampton. With regular services, Isle of Wight is an easy isle to travel around with plenty of places to stop off along the way.
The Isle of Wight is also home to many attractions, such as the Isle of Wight Zoo, which has over 80 different species on display for visitors. So let’s get started and see what we chose as our top things to do in Isle of Wight.
Monkey Haven, Isle Of Wight
Monkey Haven is one of the Isle of wight’s premier attractions and is always on peoples list of things to do in Isle of Wight. It is home to many types of monkeys that are either endangered or have been rescued and is an animal rescue centre that is both educational and fun for all ages.
Monkey Haven is a great place to visit when you’re on holiday on the Isle of Wight with your family, or even just on your own, to educate yourself or simply marvel at these amazing primates.
Monkey Haven is located on the Isle of wight’s north coast, very near to Yarmouth. It is easily accessible by car and is easy to find – it is right next to the road you will be travelling along if coming from the Isle of wight’s north. It is conveniently placed near many hotels and is not too far from the Yarmouth train station.
Monkey Haven is open all year round and is great for both day visits and educational school trips. The animals here are incredible creatures, and their stories are fascinating to hear. If you have ever been interested in primates, Monkey haven needs to be added to your schedule of things to do in Isle of Wight.
Hersey Nature Reserve
The Hersey Nature Reserve is the Isle of wight’s only designated nature reserve and is the perfect place to go for those that want to get away from busy streets and relax in some gorgeous scenery.
Some suggestions for things to do at the reserve include hiking, birdwatching, and geocaching. The Isle is home to many fascinating plants and animals worth seeing.
Hiking is a great way to explore the Isle of Wight and is very popular with holidaymakers who want to enjoy some fresh air during their stay.
Birdwatching is another thing that many people love about Isle of wight’s nature reserve, as Isle of wight is home to several rare and exciting birds.
Geocaching is a great way to explore the Isle of Wight as you can hide caches in places that mean something to you and search for them with the help of a GPS device. It is also an excellent way to relieve stress and is a beautiful thing to do anywhere globally, but it is one of the many great things to do in Isle of Wight!
Isle of wight is the perfect place for those that want to escape from busy streets and get lost in nature. The Isle of Wight is a very picturesque isle and worth visitors’ time, and there are lots of things to do in Isle of Wight which will keep the whole family entertained.
Osborne House
Osborne House is a beautiful place to visit, full of history and is incredibly interesting. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous and represent an incredible achievement of the Victorians who completed them in just two decades – from 1845 to 1855. The house is open on Sundays between June and August, during May and on Thursdays between September and April.
Osborne is not the only cool place to visit in Isle of wight, and it is also home to Carisbrooke Castle. It is a much older site built by William the Conqueror in 1067. Much of what you will see today is from much later periods, but it is still well worth looking around and exploring, and this is why it is on our list of great things to do in Isle of Wight.
If you are visiting the Isle of Wight but aren’t looking for history, it is also home to the Isle of Wight Zoo. It is one of the largest in England and is very popular with locals and tourists alike. The Isle of Wight zoo
Shanklin Beach
Shanklin Beach is one of the Isle of Wight’s most famous stretches of golden sand, which faces a classic English seaside walkway. The beach is on the south-eastern coast of the Isle of Wight, with groynes keeping the orange sand in place and a high sea wall and pavement promenade separating the sea from the Esplanade. Shanklin Beach, a typical ‘bucket and spade’ family beach getaway destination, lost its pier in the hurricane of 1987. A semi-circular vantage point with benches where the pier entrance once was The pier is gone, but there is now an alternative viewpoint with seating where it once stood
Shanklin Esplanade offers all of the classic British seaside activities, as well as more: an enormous amusement arcade with crazy golf, bowling, go-karting, and even indoor golf on rainy days. There are pirate and dinosaur-themed crazy golf courses to explore on the outside, as well as a bloody waterfall. Seaside cafés and traditional beach stores sell everything from daily papers and novels to inflatable boats, wetsuits, and other goods.
Isle Of Wight Coastal Footpath
The Isle of wight’s coastal footpath is a long-distance walking route mainly designed for walkers. There is a public footpath joining Freshwater beach to Compton bay. The path is an island-wide way-marked traffic-free walking route, suitable for disabled people and wheelchair users, which runs close to the Isle of Wight’s south coast. One end is at St Catherine’s Point on the west of the island, and it is possible to walk around the whole Isle passing through many picturesque towns and villages on route.
The route is ‘coastal’ in that it is primarily close to the sea, but there is no requirement for tide times or high water restrictions thanks to a choice of alternative routes, many with steps and steep slopes. The Isle is a popular tourist destination known for its natural environment whilst boasting a wide range of facilities to cater to the influx of visitors at weekends and holiday times. Many hotels, bed & breakfast establishments and campsites are available on route or close by.
Nunwell House and Gardens
Nunwell House and Gardens are an Isle of Wight historic house. It is located in Nunwell, Isle of Wight. The house is about 1 mile west of the village centre.
The garden is outstanding with a drive through imposing box-lined yew hedges to topiary at its best, terraces and statuary, ponds, lawns and scents. The Nunwell garden is so lovely that it may be one of the most photographed gardens in Isle of wight.
Nunwell House is part of Nunwell Estate, which Noble Caledonia now owns, who plans to renovate it into a luxury hotel. Currently, the house is open for guided tours on specific days, and it is possible to take a walk through the gardens.
In the last couple of years, there has been a possibility to view the house and garden, by appointment only, on specific dates: July 9th and August 13th. There is also a possibility to do so during the Isle of wight flower festival, which is held every year in the first week of September.
Walking around lovely gardens and a house where you can lose yourself and imagine living there in years gone by is just a great thing to do on a quiet afternoon and is why Nunwell House and Gardens is on our list of things to do in Isle of Wight.
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is a unique place in the Isle of wight, home to many animals. You can do various things, including walking, horse riding, and getting involved with the animals on an interactive level.
The sanctuary is set out over 250 acres and was designed as a haven for all kinds of creatures. Wildheart is a safe place where all animals can live in harmony. Some of the different animals you may see include monkeys, lions and tigers, horses and donkeys and pigs. The sanctuary is open to visitors from late March to early November and is excellent for families and experienced animal lovers alike. Wildheart is also involved in various conservation activities to protect many endangered species. All profits made from your visit will go towards these projects and is a great way to get involved with the sanctuary.
Anything to do with animals makes for a great day out, and an animal sanctuary is one of the things to do In Isle of Wight. That may not be something you would consider, but it is one of the very popular things to do in Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight Shanklin Chine
Shanklin Chine is a beautiful and natural chine on the Isle of wight. Shanklin Chine is known for its beauty, and many tourists and locals visit each year.
Visitors can enjoy walking through Shanklin Chine’s mysterious caves throughout their visit to Shanklin chine is a beautiful place to visit in the Isle of wight. A natural rock bridge is also one of Shanklin chine’s most popular features.
Visitors can enjoy walking through Shanklin Chine’s mysterious caves throughout their visit to Shanklin chine.
If you are lucky, you may even get to see some of Isle of wight’s wildlife. This beautiful attraction is not to be missed, and I would say that it has to be one on your top three things to do in Isle of Wight.
Shanklin to Ventnor Coastal Walk
Shanklin to Ventnor coastal walk is one of Isle’s best and always a good option when looking for things to do in Isle of Wight. The ten-mile trail is a mixture of shingle beach, clifftop paths and coastal woodlands. Most visitors take 3-4 hours to complete the walk, but it is also made up so smaller sections can be completed at a time.
The coastal walk is popular with families because dogs are also welcome and, of course, is one of Isle of wight’s most famous and popular walks, which is why it has to be on the list of things to do in Isle of Wight when you visit.
To reach Shanklin from Isle of wight is easy as the town is connected by train and bus. It is just off the A3022 and is signposted well by car, so no sat nav is needed. From Shanklin, visitors can either walk the trail clockwise or anti-clockwise, both are popular options.
The beginning is right outside Shanklin station and where the trail finishes. The route is way-marked throughout with symbols on wooden posts at all junctions, so no map is needed to complete the walk.
Wherever you go, no matter where it is in the world, walking is a great way to explore and pass the time, and that is no different and certainly one of the best things to do in Isle of Wight.
Red Squirrel Trail Isle Of Wight
The Isle of Wight red squirrel trail is the last thing on our list of things to do in Isle of Wight and is a series of signposted way-marked trails through Isle of wight woodlands popular with both locals and visitors alike and as one of of our great things to do in Isle of Wight.
The Red Squirrel Trail is split into six trails that take around eight days in total to complete, although it’s easy enough to follow smaller sections or just one trail if desired. Red Squirrel Trail follows the edge of the New Forest and then goes onto open countryside, forest trails. There are some beautiful sections, including River Yar, Compton Stream and even some secret trails for you to explore.
I hope you have enjoyed our selection of brilliant things to do in Isle of Wight and that you have enjoyed reading about all of the different things to do in Isle of Wight and that they may have helped you plan your trip make it as exciting and as enjoyable as possible.
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