Top 27 things to do and attractions in Sandown

Amazing to see fossils and bones and animals that ruled the earth before us. Toilets in centre and lots of disabled access as floor flat gets busy when the kids off parking outside car park free for blue badge holders otherwise payable only a small car park staff very friendly and warm good for school holidays

Brilliant place. Staff are brilliant, full of information & very friendly, exhibits are both full of information & also interactive in places, cute fossil excavation areas for kids, lots of activities for younger kids to take part in. The main area has an active fossil station where the staff discussed things with patrons. Highly highly recommended if you're visiting and like dinosaurs. They also take blue light discount

An engaging museum, with lots of interactive elements (my kids love the letter search). My youngest fell over on the way in and the staff were so helpful giving him some first aid. The shop is packed with stuff, so a nice place to visit for some treats.

Dinosaur Isle, Sandown – It’s a prehistoric playground and an absolute must‑visit on the Isle of Wight! 🦕 Built in 2001 in the shape of a soaring pterosaur, this purpose‑built museum brings Cretaceous Era giants back to life in Sandown Bay  . We spent a wonderful few hours exploring life‑size models like Iguanodon, Polacanthus, Eotyrannus, and the fearsome Neovenator - many discovered right here on the island . Inside, nearly 1,000 of the best fossils are on display, real bones, skeleton reconstructions, and interactive exhibits that engage all ages. Hands‑on activities include smell stations (carnivore breath, swamp air!), tactile boxes and creative crafts, which were a hit with our kids. One highlight was Comptonatus chasei, the most complete dinosaur skeleton discovered in the UK in the last century, now proudly displayed here. We also loved watching museum staff and volunteers preparing real fossil finds in the visible lab areas giving a real sense of discovery in the making. Family-friendly and accessible too wheelchair users and those with young children are well catered for. They even offer free ear defenders during sensory morning hours, and the new weekly quiet hour (Wednesdays 9–10 am) turns off roaring sound effects for a calmer experience. Assistance dogs are welcome as well.

Dinosaur Isle is a fun stop if you’re a dinosaur fan – there are plenty of fossils, models, and displays that younger dino enthusiasts will really enjoy. The highlight is definitely the fossil collection, which is impressive and gives a good insight into the Isle of Wight’s prehistoric past. That said, the building and exhibits do feel a little dated and could do with a refresh. It’s not the biggest attraction, so you probably won’t spend too long there, but it’s still worth a visit if you love dinosaurs or want something educational and family-friendly to do on the island. Good for dino lovers, but could be even better with a bit of updating.

Cute little place. Brilliant for little explorers. Lots of activities and fun things to do and get involved in.

Fine for a rainy day? This dinosaur is a little dusty, small, and old, and isn’t really adapted to younger kids, but it was nice getting to meet actual palaeontologists on the day and identifying fossils with a microscope. Strangely, one of the biggest downsides is the terrible acoustics of the first few rooms: a few kids were playing around and the sound reverberated around and made the experience very… loud. A bit pricey overall for what you get but worth one visit if you’re around with kids.

🚂 Isle of Wight Steam Railway – A Journey Through Time I had an amazing time at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The train ride itself was a joy—rolling through beautiful countryside with stunning views that made every moment feel special. The vintage carriages and the sound of the steam engine added a nostalgic charm that’s hard to find elsewhere. The highlight for me was the Train Story museum. It was fascinating to walk through the exhibits and learn about the history of trains on the island. From old locomotives to interactive displays, it brought the past to life in such a vivid way. I left with a deeper appreciation for how rail travel shaped the world. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a unique day out, this place is a gem. A truly wonderful experience that blends scenic beauty with rich heritage.

Now this is a true treat, for the enthusiast or for just the casual daytripper wanting a fun day out, in friendly company and idyllic surrounds. Turn of the century rolling stock, some of the oldest you will find, transports you back to the halcyon days of steam travel on the island. There is a nice tea room at Haven Street, which is reasonably priced and offers tea, coffee, meals and alcoholic beverages too. A must visit if you're on the island. Easily reached by rail via the adjoining station at Smallbrook Junction.

I can't recommend visiting here enough. I bought my two children here under 5 and we had the best day out. Staff were absolutely brilliant, some spooky ( Halloween term) and everyone just really helpful and chatty. Cafe was really lovely, we only had a takeaway coffee but it was lovely. They had Free crafts going on which were really fun even for my young ones. The train ride it's self was really good. Long enough the kids don't get bored and you can alway jump off at the stations. We visited the big museum at the top where kids could dress up and telly emerse into the train world! It was fun seeing all the old carriages, carriages being painted & done up. A fantastic place and you can tell so much love and dedication has been put into here ❤️ we can't wait to come back next year! Thank you

Wonderful experience in steam railway. Can tavel between stations all day around. Main station Haven street station have plenty of free parking. Nice cafes, museum & gift shop. Train Story is a big exhibition of trians ,just few yards behind the station. Can spend few hours with friends & family. Had Halloween activities also when we visited in mid October. Family ticket is a bargain if travel with kids.

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience today, with my granddad. The trains are in fantastic condition, it really makes you appreciate the work they put in to these trains! A big thank you to all the workers who were all very polite and professional. A special mention to the driver, the signal box operator and I believe an engineer, for not only taking photos for me, but allowing me to board the footplates, and control room to take some great pictures. All of which very knowledgable in educating me on the operations of the station/engines! Thank you for today.

The weather today was frightful! It didn’t matter a bit at this amazing place. We were a three generation group and everyone enjoyed it. The staff were great, catering tasty and reasonable. It’s half term this week and the added magician and activities for the children were superb. And of course…. The trains ! Being able to get inside some of the carriages in the Train Story was great. Next time we visit we’ll go First Class. One end of the line to the other wasn’t enough. Thank you everyone.

It's excellent. The ride is in old carriages that have been beautifully restored, even "third class"!! The exhibition shows how the rail system on the island evolved and how the current steam railway society developed. And, of course, there is a cafe for tea etc, and also a restaurant for a hot lunch.

I visited here a lot when I was younger and it's changed so much in the 15/18 years I've not been here! But all for the greater good. It's so lovely to walk around, see all the animals thriving in big enclosures. We loved walking through the lemars and the lady in there was full of so much information on them. The new bear enclosure was fantastic and even accessible for wheelchairs/buggies to goto the top. Lovely play park for the kids to burn off some extra energy. Small little reptile part ( which i was gutted at, years ago they had huge snakes!) but it was still worth the visit. We didn't visit the cafe so I can't comment on that. The toilets were clean and easy to find. Gift shop is full to the brim of goodies. Lovely visit. Thank you

This is honestly an amazing sanctuary / zoo. There were so many species of rescued animals including bears, tigers, lions, and even a White Lion! These species are very rare and I never thought I would see one! The talks and feeds were amazing and there is lots of interesting information about the animals there and how they were rescued. Personally the racoon and skunk feed was the best. Overall, it was one of the best zoos / sanctuaries and was definitely one of my top 5. Highly recommend for you to go there.

I had such a wonderful time at this sanctuary/zoo! There are so many rescued animals—from bears to tigers—and each one has a unique story that really pulls at your heartstrings. The staff are incredibly friendly and passionate about the animals, making the experience feel even more special. I also loved the cafe! While the food was decent, the coffee was the real highlight—absolutely amazing! It was the perfect pick-me-up after wandering around and soaking up all the fascinating information about the animals and their rescues. Overall, this place is truly a gem. I’d rank it in my top five zoos/sanctuaries for sure. If you’re looking for a fun day out that’s both enjoyable and meaningful, I highly recommend giving this place a visit! You won’t regret it.

A wonderful morning out. Friendly informative staff. Clean cafe and toilets. Great to meet the animals with their knowledgeable keepers. Enjoyed feeding the koi carp. Children's play area looked amazing. Loved seeing the bears.

We had a lovely few hours at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary! It was lovely to see all the animals and the new Bear enclosure is really good. The park is also a great way to run off some energy for the little ones.

Loved our visit during half term. We visit the IOW yearly & have never been before but will visit again! The 2 for 1 kids offer during half term was a great saving! The place is tidy & some great animals to see. The bears were fascinating to watch. We all have a fab day.

It's worth a visit to see the bears alone! Their new enclosure is great and it's lovely to see them settling into their forever home after a tragic start to life. The rest of the sanctuary is well kept and lots of interesting animals to see. It's well worth a visit of your passing!

A as gain lovely walk and stay in Sandown. Get up early and enjoy the sunrises and the quiet atmosphere before all the beach goers turn up. Some great little cafes along the walk to grab a coffee and more.

Our favourite family beach on the island ! Always so much room for everyone! Only down side is it’s quite pebbly and sharp in some bits so recommend some beach socks ( or what ever people call them ) other than that lovely! And you can find loads of sea glass!!

This is a sandy beach. The stretch between the Pier and the Fins Beach Cafe is much quieter and overall very nice but the tide comes here quicker. The beach is flat and we arrived at 10:00am and the tide was in by 11:00am, so you definitely need to check the times of the tide as they are very changeable. We have moved to the other side of the Pier close to Bayshore Hotel and the beach is going up a bit there, so that has given us 2 hours extra before the tide came in. The beach is relatively narrow, so the water will cover the beach in full when the tide is in. The place is a bit run down, so it does not have an amazing atmosphere. There are small cafes there, ice cream and further in town places to eat. The car park is on the street and there is a decent number of spaces all along the stretch of the beach. Civil Enforcement Officers monitor the payment for the car park, so do not be late even 1 min. We were packing to the car on our return from the beach and the officer was still scanning our car while we were there.

This is by far my favourite beach on the Isle of Wight. With the pier and the seafront restaurants,bars,gift shops, and ice cream outlets,it is the epitome of great British seaside beach holidays. It has soft,golden sands and crystal clear sea, which was also lovely and warm to swim in. The lifeguards are lovely and friendly too and quite easy on the eye 😊

A lovely beach to have a relaxed day. The pier is great. There are games you can play, there are rides for kids. Some people were even fishing. And I had the best donuts here. I keep on trying donuts in other places hoping they will taste nearly as good but they never do.

Very nice beach very calm in the night time good shops available and around

The beach is very nice but where are stones on the beach and sea weed. It’s a little quieter than shanklin beach. The pier is very good for kids and the staff are very friendly. The restaurant inside the pier serves good food but I won’t go back there for more food. The toilets cost 20p by the way and they are not even clean. The beach doesn’t have showers so these toilets were full of sand it’s a shame I don’t have a picture of the toilets.

Lovely little experience. Great walk and lovely scenery. A bit pricey to get in but you can go in multiple times throughout a 7 day period so actually really worth it.

Shanklin Chine is a really beautiful and peaceful place to explore – the gardens, waterfalls, and lighting in the evening make it feel magical. It’s a lovely walk and there’s a real sense of history too, with some interesting information boards along the way. Perfect for a gentle stroll and to take in some nature away from the busier parts of Shanklin. That being said, it did feel a little pricey for what it is – the walk doesn’t take very long unless you really take your time. Still, it’s worth visiting at least once, especially if you’ve not been before, as it’s such a unique and picturesque spot.

This was a much nicer way of getting back to the top of the high street! A fun walkway with quirky footpaths to follow and as I went during Halloween there were dinosaurs and skeletons all around. Apparently at night the street lights go on so it’ll be more spooky but fun. It can be difficult to climb certain bits, the steps at the very top are hard but good railings and a bench half way helped! Lovely waterfall at the top too. You can get a 7 day pass for returning during that time. Nice gift shop.

Excellent location & super value for money. Great gift shop with friendly & helpful staff. Nice coffee shop too. Beautiful waterfall & nature, a must visit with free parking available.

Great little gem, kids loved it. Dog friendly and was great that we can return unlimited times for upto 7 days on your original purchase ticket. We amended the Halloween event and loved it.

Enjoyed the experience and outdoor lighting ambience. Great place to spend in about 40 minutes for horror and vibrant walk at Shanklin Chine. They also offer tickets which is valid for 7 days and multiple returns.

Though the walk down to the beach is lovely, it doesn't take long. ( 15 mins ) It has a few steep steps, not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies Went late September, so there was a Halloween theme, some the skeletons were somewhat comical. Is it worth the entrance fee ( 12.95 ) no not really, quite disappointing really.

This villa and it's surroundings are quite simply stunning. Excellent information from knowledgeable volunteers with a delightful cafe and shop. A return ticket will enable us to visit as much as we like before we leave. Excellent.

If you go to the IOW and you are interested in Roman history in England this is a very easy villa to find. It is wheelchair accessible it is good for all ages it has a small gift shop, and a nice cafe for a drink and food. The staff are very helpful and welcoming. There is a good car park and great views outside.

What a wonderful place to visit, big area under cover to protect the site but also visitors from the weather. More of the site out doors if the weather is kind. Amazing to see, very knowledgeable staff, café to enjoy too, highly recommend this place, I learned so much whilst here.

This was a great place to visit! The kids loved it and we found plenty to whilst there! Staff are super nice and cheese scones on point! We made tiles and memories. Thank you

Not the best Roman mosaics you will ever see but the building complex and presentation is good, staff are friendly, useful videos put the building in context. Check out the hypocaust outside. An interesting visit. Worthwhile. Toilets, shop and cafe.

I visited on Tuesday with my grandchildren aged 7 & 5. We really enjoyed our day. The villa was awesome with so many amazing floor mosaics depicting a range of mythical situations. The museum is also well geared up for children. We loved doing the puzzles - we got the well puzzle sorted and the cock headed man - but we didn't quite manage the floor Medusa mosaic - we will go back to finish that later on in the year 😀 Your admission covers repeat visits for a year which is really good value. Another great part of the visit was a presentation by 'the sister of the Villa's owner and the Villa's farm manager, promoted from being a slave' - I won't spoil the story with details of the doormouse delicacy the Romans enjoyed???? My granddaughter was a bit shocked that at 5 she would be expected to go out and work on the farm. Thank you Brading Villa for a great day 😍

A great find on the Island. The covered area has plenty to read and see. The cafe is decent with a fair choice of options. Outside, things to look at and walk around. Staff are excellent. Lost a star as it's a bit pricey for what, in effect, is one room.

Worth a visit! Quite an ‘adventure’ walking around! The course is short, but it’s great value! Thoroughly enjoyed beating my family around it! - Highly recommended!

A bit disappointing really. Set firmly in the past with only the distraction of a collection on slightly dated gambling machines to occupy the visitor. The only thing to do at the end of the pier for anyone over the age of 15 is turn round and walk back . Such a shame for such an impressive structure.

Sandown Pier is a great place for Seafront Beach on 1st Visit

Great place to come and enjoy some games, especially with the kids. Maybe not a whole days worth but a good hour or so. Food from the cafe is very good to!

Went here for the arcades. But also for the mini golf. Lost world mini golf it's called. Brilliant! So good we went round a couple of times. The atmosphere of it is well online with the feel & playability of it. Well worth a visit.

There is good entertainment inside for your typical British seaside holiday with different arcade games. However the area and the pier itself needs a refurbish. The facilities are old and run down, I did not like walking on the pier and swiftly exited because I felt uneasy on it due to the state of the buildings surrounding it. The toilets inside the pier definitely need improving as the toilet seats are all old and discoloured, plus you have to pay 20p to get inside them. Reckon they need to put that money towards doing them up.

Basically a massive arcade. It's a nice walk to the end, the little cafe just before you walk outside is nice and reasonably priced. But it's a big money box for the owners really, fine for a short visit, and very good if you enjoy arcades

Amazon World Zoo was a nice visit overall. There’s plenty of parking and the entry fee is really reasonable. The site itself is clean and well kept, and we enjoyed seeing a good variety of animals — the red pandas were definitely a highlight! There are cafes on site too, which is handy and we found the prices to be fair. That said, the zoo is quite small and you can see everything within about an hour - however we were two adults visiting without children. There was a soft play and outdoor area for kids, so could definitely spend longer if with little ones. Some of the handmade signs give it a bit of a rough-around-the-edges feel, and there aren’t many sheltered spots if the weather turns. Still, it makes for a pleasant little trip, especially if you’re in the area.

Surprisingly bigger than it seems from the outside. Off season, so café closed in the main area, but the Flamingo café open. Good range of food options hot or cold. Very good quality food and really reasonably priced. We have visited before, but not for a few years so it's improving all the time. Amazing staff, very helpful and informative. The lovely lady in the tropical house gave a talk about the, Sloths, Tamandua and Goeldi monkeys. It was really interesting even though it was interrupted by Icicle the blue macaw, he wanted all the attention! 2 good walks around and you should get to see the animal exhibits. Don't rush, they are animals and they do what they want, go back and and you'll get to see them. The indoor area is amazing, the animals in the twilight zone are so cute. Go through slowly and you will see them all. Worth visiting, great 3 - 4 hours and worth the cost.

A relatively small but packed zoo. Well laid out with lots to see. Highlights for me was the night enclosures and the Amazon section. Unfortunately we missed out of the animal talks/feeding but would have been a lovely addition. Lots of areas are wheelchair friendly. A little confused over the Cafe next to the toilets that was shut during peak season. Not sure if it has been moved to soft play area that we didn't visit. Great family experience with free parking.

Great place. Loads to see and do. A 7 day return pass, so visit again over 7 days. Reduced rates for Island residents with proof of address. Interactions with animals and talks. Soft play also included in the ticket price. Granddaughter loved it.

First time seeing a racoon! Loved it. Kids loved it, wasn't very big but was really fun and animals all look happy. Loved the walk through area and nocturnal area. Definitely recommend going especially with a 7 day return on tickets

Beautiful park with a lot of stunning animals. You get very close to the animals with great views, and they offer incredible animal experiences. The workers also seem to really care about the animals and their welfare, which is always amazing to see in a zoo.

Plenty of animals in the zoo despite it's very small size. Made it round most of the enclosures in just over an hour. Plus hanging around while waiting for various talks, eg feeding the red pandas. On the whole a nice few hours out. There could be some improvements. Although most of the staff were welcoming, some were a bit cynical, especially at the monkey madness play area, entry was time restricted (despite 2 hours being more than enough, given nobody is going to spend £70 on a family ticket to spend 2 hours in soft play). Re entry requires staff buzzing the gate open to control visitors and obviously this stopped their other duties. Unless you read the small print on the admission, you're automatically charged £2 extra per ticket for a "voluntary donation". In a smaller font, are prices without this donation. You are only charged the cheaper price if you explicitly ask for no voluntary donation. At least that was the basis we cAme to understand given our tickets were sold at the higher rate. Overall it's a good day out but there isn't enough to do. Once you've been round in an hour, you find yourself trying to pass the time between hourly talks/feeding. Signage wasn't particularly clear, took quite a bit of looking before finally finding the flamingos hidden behind a door between an outdoor picnic area and the cafe. 3/5. Very nice animals. No reason to book in advance. The zoo was practically empty at 10am, with no queue. Customers picked up later into the morning. The monkey madness offers parties and there are multiple toilets on site. Food wasn't particularly quick out of the kitchen, wait was around 15-20 minutes for a cheeseburger and chips although she was working on other orders too.

Was quiet on an arrival as it was close to closing time. Played a round of crazy golf, the family enjoyed it though.

Booking the skynets for our 7 year olds birthday party was easy and provided a great day out. The booking is straightforward, and having the nets to ourselves for an hour provided enough entertainment to keep everyone happy. Big shout-out to Lita and Laura who made the day run smoothly, with every need catered for. We highly recommend skynets for a birthday and will be booking again - great value for money in a great location.

Walked around the lake here, its really beautiful and so peaceful. There are lots of birds, swans, ducks, coots and lots of pigeons as well. You can take brown bread or seed with you to feed the birds. Small children and toddlers would love it here, but will need to be supervised obviously. Shall be returning soon. Recommend a visit, its just back from the seafront.

Kids loved the nets. 2hrs for 15. Space below to sit and watch

Amazing place for kids, mini golf, climbing nets and go karts! Skate park and lovely little park for all ages as they are separate. The climbing nets be aware island residents get 20% ticket prices! Lovely family day out for all ages of children to enjoy.

Came down to play golf with my daughter today, it was great, positive energy everywhere especialy from kay in golf congratulating my daughter when she got a hole in one on the first hole just made our day. we will definitely be coming back soon

First of all I would like to say thank you to the main man himself Dan. Unfortunately I was being a little bit silly and came of my bike and the first place I see was this ice cream hut and Dan assisted me to his fullest. I would highly recommend coming here and getting an ice cream or just to see Dan. Dan I know your seeing this thank you very much mate

A cute, fun museum. It is very small but it is interesting and the children loved it (4&5 year olds). I wouldn’t go again but it was fun. The staff were absolutely lovely.

Sometimes you just have to go—and that’s exactly what I did at the National Poo Museum. This is a small but surprisingly engaging and well-thought-out attraction. It’s more interactive than you might expect, and my kids found the subject absolutely hilarious—as you'd imagine! The staff were friendly and welcoming, which added to the experience. Fair warning: the entry price is on the high side for the size of the exhibit. It didn’t bother me personally, but it’s worth keeping in mind. A quirky and memorable stop if you’re up for something a bit different!

It’s a good laugh and makes you realise just how many people poo every day and what it is and how your BOADY processes it. And what the system dos with it. It’s a bit pricy at £6 each £4 would be enough.but still had a good laugh and edification moment

A fun place to visit with kids if you’re in the area, but I wouldn’t make a special trip. It is mainly educational, there are no smells, it is all done in a museum like setting geared towards kids. There is a playground for kids directly opposite the museum. Parking was a little bit of a problem to find in the town.

fun and informative place to visit. little one loved it. smaller than I expected but still good.

The Poo Museum isn't the biggest but it's worth a visit, lots of interaction to do and a lovely open green area out the back and a playground out the front. It's in an old toilet block. No parking on site but there is just a 4 minute walk away . Only takes about 20mins to go through the museum if interact with all of it. Definitely worth a visit, the staff are lovely and approachable/helpful.

Brilliant exhibition about bodily function, which doesn't get spoken about enough. Staff are ever so friendly and helpful. Explained the exhibition and the various facts about them. Definitely recommend and great educational place for kids. 5 star

- Amazing beach, quiet and clean - Most of the beach sections are dog friendly - You can find cool rocks and shells if u go when the tide is low - The parking is really close to the beach- literally in front of it, cheap parking rates too - You do have to pay to use the toilet: it costs 50p/use - Cute little cafe serving coffees, cold drinks and some snacks

Yeavaland Beach is a quiet, unspoiled stretch of coastline on the Isle of Wight, perfect for those seeking peace and natural beauty. It’s not overly crowded, making it ideal for relaxing walks, beachcombing, or simply enjoying the fresh sea breeze. The views are calming, and the shallow waters make it a good spot for paddling. It’s more of a wild beach, so there are no commercial facilities—but that’s part of its charm. Great for a peaceful getaway surrounded by nature.

I have 3 favourite beaches on the Isle of Wight for 3 different reasons. Yaverland is in the top 3, it’s a very peaceful beach, enclosed by a cliff rising up to Culver Down, there’s a decent cafe, toilets, good parking. My dog lives his best life here, there’s nowhere he’s happier than on this beach. There’s beautiful views in every direction, so much open space, especially when the tide is out. If you walk right to the end when the tide is out there’s rock pools you can find all sorts of sea creatures in.

FANTASTIC BEACH Parking available next to a kiosk selling ice cream and seaside bits. Flat beach with decent sand and nice flat sea, perfect for kids and swimming.

Beautiful beach my dog loves this Beach she can run around and play ball. Very clean and quiet.

Parking close to beach. Dog friendly to the left of car park. Lots of space on beach. Toilets available at 50p (phone pay). Shop nearby for ice creams etc!

Best dog beach on the Island. When the tide is out you can walk right up to Culver Down. Loads of space for dogs to play and run around. Just a lovely peaceful place to be. Spend the afternoon here, it will fill your soul.

Epic crazy golf with funky cool jurassic park music Dogs allowed too which is fantastic . great game highly recommended.

TBH it was good fun, a bit overcrowded. The only thing I think I would have liked was more diversity in the types of holes. There was maybe two that had tunnels or something a little different but most were just different shapes or heights of holes. As it was Dino golf, I was expecting having to hit the ball into the mouth of a Dino or something like that but alas not. One hole did have a collection of Dino eggs in the middle but the rest of the dinos and smoking volcanos etc were around the holes not part of the hols. But worth the trip, the kids loved it.

Went to go karts today honestly no idea why the guy worked there had no idea how to talk to kids. Tried locking the gates too with our child driving. The fact parents or as he kept calling us spectator! We weren't allowed in the seat area is odd and tbh badly laid out, a walk past a huge headge is ridiculous. From a child safe guard point it's really not safe. The guy never asked for child's name just stood there talking down on them you could have had a video recording it was that automated and really just general rude to refere to child as rider and us as spectator. Also only just seen as islanders we can get 20% off whi h we were not informed of which is a rip off in it's owns right.

Really good little course, the dinosaur theme is great (don't hit your ball into the blue pond though like we did). You can buy a £20 pass for this, go karting and skynets so was good value too.

18 holes which were simple to complete, ideal for younger children. Usual wait at holes during busy times but overall good value for money.

A great place to take the kids or any addict mini golf fans. Think the 8th hold was my favourite. Kids £5 each and adults£6.50. opens at 10am we were there first and got round in less than 30mins although my boys were not exactly playing the correct way. They had great fun , even though the t rex was a little bit scary. Really nice to see alot of effects and effort gone into such an interesting course. 10 points, if you stuck for something to do I would recommend this .

A good fun place to spend some time. Play golf with family. Reasonable charges.

What a shame that the large hotels that prevuously bought wealth and holidaymakers to this part of the island have been left to decay. These buildings do nothing to enhance the town and serve as a permanent eyesore to discourage tourism and further investment.

Lovely place to live and enjoy and visit

Seems like a nice place to relax and enjoy on a sunny warm day. The sand is soft and few activities to keep everyone busy. Would recommend.

Lovely beaches but town needs serious work from the council to restore it to former glory

Lovely place nice sandy beaches

Not bad for a bit of sea swomming

Fishing rubbish here

Being told a child can not go on the go karts because another child has a parent with them is ridiculous. Blamed “safe guarding issues”. having to spend another ten minutes in a queue while only two people go round the track is absurd. The. When it is our child’s turn another adult goes on and it’s no longer a safe guarding issue.. the person running it was getting frustrated and confused counting 7 children. I would avoid until they get the basics right, would hate to be here in the height of summer..

Great time for the kids! Full safety brief. They had so much fun and even a little medal for the drivers! It was really fun for them and lovely colleague too.

It was great fun and u would give 5 stars if the widened the track around turn 4 as it is not wide enough to go 2 wife, would recommend

Great fun for an afternoon.

Karting for kids with a small medal to everyone at the end

Absolutely fabulous place to visit. Plenty of free parking, lovely little cafe and shop. It was great to see the donkeys being cared for so we'll. Plenty of opportunity to walk round and meet the donkeys, lots of benches to sit on and take in the views. Highly recommend.

We absolutely love coming to visit the donkey sanctuary on all our visits to the Island! I have been visiting since I was a little girl and now get to bring my little boy along. We sponsor Myra and always love trying to find her amongst all the donkeys. Great way to spend a couple of hours even in the rain!

Spent a wonderful couple of hours here which was absolutely perfect for an animal lover like me! Loved reading about all the donkeys, ponies and the mule, as well as the ex-race horse currently taking a break there. They all look so content and friendly, and it’s comforting to know that they’ll be well looked after for the rest of their days.

Loved visiting the Donkey Sanctuary, it was a great way to spend a couple hours while on the Isle of Wight. We loved seeing how happy the donkeys looked, they seem to be well taken care of. Also loved reading about the different donkeys, their back stories, and who their best friends were haha! Its free to visit, and even the doubters in our group left saying how much they enjoyed the visit! I would absolutely recommend this attraction if you find yourself on Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is such a heart-warming place to visit. The donkeys are clearly so well cared for and loved, and it’s wonderful to see them happy, relaxed, and enjoying their surroundings. You can get up close, give them a fuss, and really see all their different personalities – it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. The sanctuary itself is beautifully kept, with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. There’s no entry fee, just donations, which makes it feel even more special knowing every penny goes straight back into caring for the animals. The café and gift shop are also great little additions and make it easy to spend a good few hours here. It’s a peaceful, feel-good experience and perfect for families, animal lovers, or anyone who wants to do something wholesome while on the island. Definitely a must-visit – and the donkeys will completely steal your heart! ❤️🐴

Lovely! Came here a few years ago and had no hesitation coming back. Plenty of parking (even for our motorhome) and a lovely walk around all the fields to see the donkeys and ponies. Plenty of info and bios of all the donkeys. Well worth a visit. They don’t charge for entry so please donate what you can.

A really beautiful place that is well worth visiting. They look after the donkeys here so well and you can see that they are all happy and treated so well. The shop is full of so much that I could quite easily have bought everything. The guide we had for the talk was really funny and a great host. Would highly recommend to everyone.

There are beautiful birds. And then the show of their flights in open air was good experience. To get there you need walk and cross the railway steam line. Behind that there is cafe and by the end of it there is an entrance to the haven falconry place. It's not well labeled from the railway station. Needed to ask someone where to go. One of the staff person told us to hop on the train . It didn't make sense. As big map in car park said its near by. So we asked another person of staff. He guided us to go to cafe after crossing the line. And there we found the entrance. Place is small. But Informative bird show with birds fly around is very good . We enjoyed it. Dogs are not allowed anymore. As they can attack on birds.

The bird display was brilliant and we visited the center afterwards. You get half price entry if you have train tickets to the steam train which we had. Even though they were close to closing the staff were friendly and took time to talk to me and the kids. They clearly love their birds and care for them. They were very knowledgeable and there's a huge variety of birds and information there.

Had a lovely day here. Visited the Steam Railway so it was cheaper to get in. Watched 2 free, yes free, displays and thought they were very educational and fun.

Was absolutely excellent. Our 7 year old absolutely loved handling the birds of prey. What made the experience for us was having such a knowledgeable and passionate guide. Cole you made our day. All staff were very very friendly and made the experience very personal and would heavily recommend to anyone with a love of animals and the great outdoors. Thank you again Cole.

Absolutely phenomenal. Luke was excellent and really took care of us in our bird of prey session. His knowledge and attention to detail was impressive. Cole knew her stuff too, and took care in the handling sessions, sharing amazing detail. Their passion really shone through. Really recommend what Sam and team are doing. They were all so friendly and attentive.

Fantastic little friendly independent bird of prey centre. Staff are super knowledgeable and I have a new found love of vultures after the display with Ringo. Well priced and there are different bird of prey experiences to match all budgets from holding a bird to a full days experience. A nice visit to include if you are using the steam train also. You won't be disappointed

My overwhelming impression was how inappropriate it was to have adult and young (one looked very young) birds of prey tethered to plinths with no space to fly. A child who was with me used the word cruel and we couldn't find any information to explain why it wasn't. It could be that the birds were waiting to be picked for the flying show and, to be fair, they didn't look stressed except perhaps for one that seemed to be trying to flap and fly. Falcons in small aviaries cited opposite owls in small aviaries didn't suggest great planning (owls hunt falcons so perhaps this caused stress for the falcons although these falcons were big). The indoor reptile house was okay with the Mantis the star of the show. The skunks seemed content as did the ferrets although I didn't want to pay £5 to walk a ferret in order to get closer. Maybe the birds have a much better and safer life and better care than they would have in the wild. They all looked beautiful with healthy and immaculately shiny feathers. But there needs to be more information on display and more active explanation as to why large birds of prey - and some of the owls are huge - are kept in fairly small aviaries and why this is okay if it is okay. And they really need to get their act together with the tortoises. A decent substrate and information on tortoise diet and how the keepers try to meet dietary needs would be good. The bird of prey flying show was impressive. The birds on display to get to fly and are majestic to watch. The staff clearly work hard and care about the animals but at the end of the fifteen minute visit I had more questions than answers including questions about the ethics of big birds living in small aviaries.

This is a theatre staffed and run entirely by volunteers. They have a multi-faceted program of events and artists to suit every taste. We had a great time watching a 'Jethro' tribute act. Not suitable for youngsters, but loved by plenty of grannies.

Went to see Annie.The acting, singing and dancing were exceptional. Beautiful theatre and staff were all friendly and helpful. Only negative is that there isn't any disabled parking which there should be and hopefully this will be implemented soon to make this lovely theatre truly accessible.

Wonderful theatre, unspoilt by globalisation. Mainly run by volunteers. This is a gem on the isle of wight , we saw a great how there.

Lovely Theatre . Very good local show. Would recommend if you are on the island. Competitive prices. Would go again.

My husband and I went on Saturday to see Barry Steele as Roy Orbison and was a great show. The Shanklin Theatre is a beautiful building and I understand it was going to be knocked down at one stage for flats which would have been a travesty. The staff are wonderful,inviting and very helpful. I cannot fault it at all and look forward to going back soon.

Lovely theatre and very friendly staff, not to mention the great Albert Lee that we came to see and met in person

Never been disappointed with any of our visits……whenever here on holiday we book regardless just to try and help keep this lovely theatre here. Drinks are a very good price, lots of toilets so very few queues. Staff always lovely. Please just go and see what ever is on! Ticket prices also are very good value. All seats have a great view.

A very nice and very well maintained vineyard. A very calm and soothing place with great views and huge plantation. They have a very nice gift shop where souvineers can be bought. Their open bar is very nice and the day we visited they had live music going on which was very nice. The food we had was also very good and very tasty. The presentation was awesome. A must visit place to spend time.

Excellent day out. Audio vineyard tour including wine knowledge and local history. Wine tasting informative including the famous blue fizz. Live music afternoons daily throughout the summer. Menu to complement the extensive drinks menu. Even supply suntan Lotion in the toilets. Beautiful setting and great vibe. Goats and chickens too. Recommend a visit.

Fun place to visit for all ages. The kids enjoyed seeing the goats and the cute free roaming chickens, the adults appreciated the humorous presentation and free tasting of hot salsa and berry jam as well as several samples of wine and spicy liquor. I did not like any whites, either too dry or sweet for me, my daughter loved the full body red, they were out of the blue sparkling wine. Lovely shop, cosy wine tasting area. Good size vineyard right by a large parking lot.

Visited Adgestone on Saturday afternoon to enjoy some live music and a glass of wine. Tasted the blue bubbly and had a couple of platters which were SO good. Lovely setting and the little chickens are very entertaining!!!

Although it was end of season and quiet, we had a great afternoon here. The vineyard is a really pleasant walk with wonderful views. Our hostess was welcoming and we had an interesting talk about wine with plenty of sampling along the way. Highly recommended.

Visited while on a short holiday to Sandown. Adgestone has a beautiful setting with views of the coast, and the audio tour was very interesting, whilst not being too long or heavy on information. The wine tasting was great and done with a very friendly and informative member of staff (sorry didn’t catch a name). Well worth a visit if you’re in the area and can’t wait to come back / buy more wine!

We rode down to here on our bikes via the red squirrel trail. I went to purchase the Blue Brut, and it looks so cool. Not tried it yet. It's a gift for my daughter's wedding. The place is so lovely, and we had a quick pint while we were there, lovely grounds, plenty of seating. They don't take cash, so make sure you have your card.

Absolutely loved this beach! You can hire beds, umbrellas and tables for a good price as well as paddle boards and kayaks. The sea is not warm but you can swim in it comfortably, certainly on a warm July day. Not overcrowded and absolutely stunning sunrises!

Shanklin Beach is nice for a family visit but not without its drawbacks. The location itself is lovely, with beautiful sea views and a promenade full of cafés, arcades, and little shops to keep the kids entertained. The beach has a safe, gentle slope into the water which makes paddling good for younger ones, and when the tide is right there’s a fair bit of sand to enjoy. That said, there are a few things that stop it from being perfect. Parts of the beach can be quite pebbly and uncomfortable to walk on, especially when the tide is in, so beach shoes are a must. Parking nearby is often expensive and can be hard to find on busy days, and the prices for food and drinks felt a bit on the high side for what you get. It also gets very crowded in peak season, which takes away from the relaxed atmosphere. Overall, it’s a good family beach with plenty to do, but you need to time your visit carefully and be prepared for the costs and crowds.

I visited Shanklin Beach back in October 2024. The beach is beautiful and has a surprisingly large amount of interesting driftwood to explore! The third photo looks like it could be turned into a glorious little hotel! Also the beach has groynes to minimizes the amount of erosion!

Fantastic beach, very tidy and clean. Perfect for families with kids as well as families with well behaved older kids lol! The cafe is a “new” feature since we came approx 10 years ago, but it’s a welcome addition.

I love everything about Shanklin except for the fact once you’re down on the beach, without transportation, it’s a physical challenge getting back up the hill!! There is a lift except it wasn’t working when I visited mid October. Walking up through Shanklin Chine was better than using the steep road. Not suitable for wheelchair users and I’d say difficult with small children. But the beach is lovely. There are plenty of shops, gift and food places. Mini golf and beach activities for families.

Brilliant beach day, can hire sun beds, parasols and paddleboards and kayaks. Loved it!

A Beautiful place to park up by the sea and watch the world go by There a Crackin Ice Cream stall in the Fish n Chip shop Building and both are definitely worth your Money 👌

This is a lovely place for a wander and a bit of red squirrel watching (be warned, they're pretty elusive!) It's cool in the summer heat, and has its own appeal in winter, lush woodland and water meadows with all sorts of wildlife- a round walk will lead to the equally lovely Borthwood Copse! Thoroughly recommend it!

Lovely area for a walk, I cycled there because there's no parking but thees is good access from the Red Squirrel trail by foot or bike. Some of the hide is closed at the moment but there's some seating areas that you can see Squirrels from. Be patient and don't bring nuts for them - it attracts vermin that can take over the habitat

No motor vehicle access, so I parked in the village and walked the cycle path. Disappointed that squirrels didn't put on a show. Otherwise, very peaceful.

Took a long time to get to the right spot, but I can finally say that I've seen red squirrels in the wild. If you are fit enough to walk for around 5km, you will love visiting this place. There are not many places to stop and sit down, but the views and sounds of nature are amazing. I'll be back as soon as possible.

Got to see red squirrels in the wild, which for a mainlander is very uncommon. Definitely recommend going late afternoon or maybe early morning as that when they are about.

No parking, hard to find ..just a short stroll really. Sadly no squirrels were out today.

Lots of green space in a quiet area was amazing to see a red squirrel amongst the birds and other wildlife well recommended

Nice beach. Steve has a buckets and spades library which you can use for free, alongside his business of renting deckchairs etc! So kind and friendly!

Steve can’t do enough for you , always looks after us and our disabled son while we are there , Can’t fault him , Only place you need to go if you ever visit Sandown beach . Wouldn’t use anyone else This still applies the man is a absolute Gem

If your in sandown and are having a beach day. Pop and see Steve. Helpful, kind, full of local information and the best deals on the beach for loungers, wind breakers and parasols. Kept an eye on our stuff when we went to eat. All round nice fella.

Good sandy beach. Great for children and good service to hire sunbeds / beach huts at reasonable prices. Need to be watchful at high tide when the waves are rough but there are lifeguards present. No free toilets however so need plenty of 50p or a cash card

We have hired a beach hut for the last week and it was the Best thing we've spent our money on whilst here on the Isle of wight. Steve & Brian were so friendly and helpful. The beach hut was clean and a fresh bottle of water available to put the kettle straight on 👍 The money we've saved from hot drinks alone was considerable. Deck chairs and windbreak also provided. Your very own bit of private cordoned off beach in front of the hut was awesome as it gave you plenty of space when the beach was busy.

Steve's beach is run by a lovely couple who will go the extra mile for anyone. The prices are good for sun loungers, deck chairs and even beach huts. It is also accessed by a cobbled slope, rather then steps. The service with a smile made our experience a great one. Also set within the life guard flags meaning safe swimming for any families with little ones. A definite place to stop for the day and enjoy the seaside. Thanks Steve + Tess x

We have used Steve’s beach huts today, we hired 10 sun loungers, a beach hut and 3 parasols. Nothing is too much trouble and a very friendly welcome. As soon as we left, the loungers and beach hut were sanitised. Steve also has a pressure washer in his van that he uses to jet wash the surfaces at night. We have been returning to here for 8 years and wouldn’t use anyone else.

This a cracking little museum all about aviation on the Isle of wight. It's far more interesting than it sounds and is well worth a visit. With a donation for an entrance fee, you will be met by friendly volunteers, all of whom are happy to answer questions and guide you through the exhibition. I will be going back next year as I am sure there were displays I missed . Thank you to all at WAM . Look forward to next year a brilliant museum and very enjoyable.

Great little museum, with detailed displays. It is free to enter (you can leave a donation) the volunteers are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. There’s a flight simulator there which gives you a Birds Eye view of the Island. The Museum is right next to Sandown Airport and you can watch the mad people Wing walking or have a drink in the Cafe. Nice way to kill a couple of hours with a plane mad son!

Heard about this from a fellow guest at our hotel who told me how interesting this museum was. We decided to check it out and were not disappointed. One of the very friendly volunteers gave us a guided tour. He was very knowledgeable. Well worth a donation. It’s free to enter.

Absolutely fantastic!!!!! The exhibits are so interesting and so well displayed. The staff are welcoming and so knowledgeable. We have learned so much, not just about the Islands history of flying. Gosh can't recommend it enough. Don't hesitate to chat to the volunteers they make this visit extra special.

Interesting place to visit. Good cafe with shade and Black Arrow rocket history plus small aircraft flying in and out.

We flew in to Sandown in our microlights. Landing, parking and camping at a reasonable price. Excellent showers. Some great food freshly cooked to order, highly recommend the pizza.

Tried to visit with my husband and children. Sadly was told had to park in a field and to walk down my husband is severely disabled and has blue badge due to cancer treatment and is unable to walk the distance the people in orange tops expected him to walk. There was an event in the field we turned around and left. Very disorganised and disappointed, in this day and age that only able bodied people were catered for !

So lovely to visit a proper plant nursery, focusing fully on just plants. The quality of the plants are superb and the staff are very friendly. Well worth a visit.

Lovely little nursery, beautiful healthy plants and a nice variety for different aspects in your garden. A very helpful family run nursery, we will definitely be visiting again.

Absolutely fantastic, you can buy such a lot of great flowers , plants , hanging baskets etc.... Best nursery by far easy five ⭐️

What a fantastic lovely nursery. I have never known about your friendly family business. You are just top dollar. Your kindness and understanding and support was very much appreciated. I will so be telling all my friends and family about you guys. See you soon. Mel.xx

Such a lovely independent nursery. Dominique is very knowledgeable, helped advise me. Good quality plants at reasonable prices.

Wonderful Nursery. The staff are very informed and helpful. The plants and baskets are well looked after and when you get them they last.

I found this little gem by accident, and it was an absolute pleasure. Family run and nothing is to much trouble for them. I think I’ll bring all my gardening business to this lovely place. And if they ever need welding Doing I’m sure they will ask.

I was lost skating around town which led me to find this beautiful location, the sight of the sea and greenery was magnificent. Many seats available to rest and also dog friendly. Will skate past again.

Lovely viewpoint to oversee Sandown Bay and pier and a lovely walk towards the beach at lake.

So disappointing to see the totally neglected flower beds...such a lovely spot with fantastic views just left unkempt and overgrown. As a child in the Sixties there were lovely displays of flowers ....a nice place to sit....so shocked to see what it's become.

Badly neglected these days. Hedges and shrubs let go, covered in bindweed. Flowerbeds full of weeds. Remains of a burnt out tent left there. Very sad to see, especially for those of us who remember the cafe, putting green, flowers etc. The only redeeming factor is that the lovely view is still the same.

Small garden with sea views. Part of the barracks. It is a shame as the garden is reasonably maintained, yet is part of the barracks which isn't.

Nice historic open space with a kids play park next to it. The coastal cliff path runs along the gardens giving access to Sandown and Lake beaches

stunning views