Attractions

From theme parks to animal parks, historic sites to natural delights, the Isle of Wight has loads of great places to visit. Check out the extraordinary range of attractions and distractions over the next few pages for some great ideas of where to go, what to do and how to make the very most of your time on the Island. We have some special inclusive Day Return tickets which include entry to some of the Island's top attractions. You can find more details here .

Tertiary Navigation: East; South; West; Mainland

Adgestone Vineyard
Upper Road
Adgestone
Sandown
PO36 0ES
Email: alanstockman@onetel.com
Telephone: 01983 402503

Open: All year. 10am to 5.30 in Summer. Variable in Winter
Vineyard and working vinery. Wine tasting. Cellar tours as seen on BBC TV. Coffee, fresh baquettes and cakes in Upper Cellar Café with breathtaking views. Personalised labels.
Watery Lane
Watery Lane
Newchurch
Sandown
PO36 0LX
Email: info@amazonworld.co.uk
Telephone: 01983 867122

Open: All year. 10.00am daily
The island's largest exotic park housed in natural rain forest surroundings. New this year is the Tomb which is nocturnal and features bats and other night flyers. There are daily falconry displays and meet the animals talks. Large jurassic themed adventure playground, gift shops and café.
Appuldurcombe House and Owl & Falconry centre
Appuldurcombe Road
Wroxall
PO38 3EW
Email: enquiries@appuldurcombe.co.uk
Telephone: 01983 852484

Open: April to October. 10am-4pm (10-5 July-end Sept)
Partially restored shell of 18th Century English baroque house. Ornamental grounds landscaped by Capability Brown. Falconry displays are the latest attraction at this, one of the grandest of the Islands mansions. Exhibition and gift shop. Café in falconry centre.
Blackgang Chine
Blackgang Chine
Ventnor
PO38 2HN
Email: info@blackgangchine.com
Telephone: 01983 730330

Open: Monday, 27th March 2006 to Sunday, 29th October 2006. 10am - 5pm. 10am to 10pm school hols
A fantasy park for all the family set in 40 acres of Victorian cliff top gardens with acres of exciting 'themed' areas, including 'dry' water-slide. Also included is admission to heritage museum, St Catherine's Quay and Sawmill. Fast food outlets and restaurants. Free return within four days
Blackgang Sawmill & St.
Blackgang
Ventnor
PO38 2HN
Email: info@blackgangchine.com
Telephone: 01983 730330

Open: Monday, 26th March 2007 to Sunday, 28th October 2007. daily from 10 a.m
These exhibitions offer a glimpse into the world of 19th century coastal countryside life. Complete with a lifeboat, the story of shipwrecks along the coast, the 87' skeleton of a blue whale as well as cooper, carpenter and wheelwright displays.
Brading Roman Villa
Morton Old Road
Brading
Sandown
PO36 0PH
Email: mail@bradingromanvilla.org.uk
Telephone: 01983 406223

Open: All year. Mar to Oct 9.30am to 6pm. Otherwise 10am to 4pm
This 3rd Century Roman Villa was once the centre of a rich and prosperous farming estate. The remains of the Villa with stunning mosaics and fascinating artefacts are now housed in an award-winning Exhibition & Visitor Centre which is open all year round. There is free car parking, gift shop, cafe, picnic area and Roman garden all set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guided tours available.
Dinosaur Isle
Culver Parade
Sandown
PO36 8QA
Email: claire.dyson@iow.gov.uk
Telephone: 01983 404344

Open: All year. Winter: 10am to 4pm Summer 10am to 6pm 7 days a week
For nearly a century the Museum of Isle of Wight Geology, above Sandown Library, has housed the island's geology and fossil collections. On August 10th 2001 this changed with the opening of Dinosaur Isle, a purpose built attraction replacing the old museum, which now provides the space and facilities to properly display and conserve the rich geological collections. Now shaped like a giant pterosaur Dinasaur Isle interactive museum where you can discover the land of dinosaurs. Hear the sounds and encounter the smells of cretacious park.
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Lower Winstone Farm
St Johns Road
Wroxall
PO38 3AA
Email: cheryl@donksanc.demon.co.uk
Telephone: 01983 852693

Open: April to September. 10.30 - 4.30 seven days a week
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary was established in 1987 to provide a safe, permanent home for any donkey in distress or otherwise in need of care and attention. It was originally sited off Forest Road, Newport, but due to the demand for a sanctuary for so many animals, the need for more space was paramount. A farm appeal was started and so, with the public's generosity and a substantial loan from Lloyds Bank, Lower Winstone Farm, Wroxall was purchased in 1994. Public support for the charity's work has enabled the sanctuary to help over 200 donkeys gain a better quality of life and provide a peaceful environment for them to enjoy the rest of their days. Gift shop sells ice cream, toys and small souvenirs
Isle of Wight Studio Glass
Old Park
St Lawrence
PO38 1XR
Email: http://www.isleofwightstudioglass.co.uk/MAIL%203/ihtml.htm.co.uk
Telephone: 01983 853526

Open: All year. Weekdays 9-4.30. Summer week end 10-4
Hand blown studio glass creating decorative and functional free blown glass vessels of all shapes and sizes. Sited along the famed and beautiful Undercliff on the south facing coast of the Isle of Wight. One-off designs, collections, corporate and commissions are produced and designed at the studio by International glassmaker Timothy Harris helped by his skilled teams of master-craftsmen. Founded in 1973 by International Glassmaker Michael Harris, Isle of Wight Studio Glass is readily recognised for the highly imaginative and original approach used in developing this magical material. Outstanding skill in design, in exploring new techniques and manufacturing has enabled Isle of Wight Studio Glass to become the leader in this field. Gift Shop
Isle of Wight Zoo
The Zoo House
Yaverland
Sandown
PO36 8QB
Email: enquiries@iow-zoo.freeserve.co.uk
Telephone: 01983 403883

Open: Apr-Oct 10am-6pm, 10am to 4pm in Feb, March & Oct, weekends only in Nov
Home of the Tiger sanctuary and lemureland for rare and endangered species. Includes lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards. Also lemurs, monkeys, birds, reptiles and insects. Café and gift shop.
The Smuggling Museum
Ventnor Botanic Gardens
The Undercliff Drive
Ventnor
PO38 1UL
Email: mdowling36@aol.com
Telephone: 01983 852677

Open: Apr to Sep. 10am to 5pm
Over 700 years history of smuggling in this unusual, underground museum with lots of exhibits and tableaux. The fascinating story of smuggling through the ages. What has been smuggled and how it was done. Gift shop and Café in gardens.
Ventnor Botanical Gardens
The Undercliffe Drive
Ventnor
PO38 1UL
Email: alison.ellsbury@iow.gov.uk
Telephone: 01983 855397

Open: March to Oct. Winter W/E 10am to 3pm Summer 10am to 5pm
The Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight is a place where the pleasure of plants can be enjoyed to the fullest, it is also a place where people of all ages can learn more about the wonderful world of plants and the inextricable link that we have with them. Includes cafe, gift shop, plant sales and greenhouse exhibition.
Ventnor Heritage Museum
11 Spring Hill
Ventnor
PO38 1PE
Email: ventnorheritage@aol.com
Telephone: 01983 855407

Open: May to Oct . 10am-4.30pm. Closed all day Mon, Wed afternoon, Sat afternoon.
The Museum, with its unusual architecture, was built in 1905 as a furniture shop. This continued to the mid 1970s when it became a car showroom. The Ventnor and District Local History Society purchased the premises in 1987. Since that date the Museum has held annual exhibitions every year. Apart from the exhibition hall, we also have an extensive archive section with many hundreds of items referring to Ventnor and the surrounding area. Research enquiries are welcomed.