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20 Activities For Teenagers On The Isle Of Wight - 2024
Is your child refusing to get out of bed before 10am despite your insistence that you need to 'make the best of the day'? Are they eating cereal at 11pm? Do they no longer seem interested in visiting Blackgang Chine or castles? The evidence suggests you may have a teenager on your hands.
Teenagers require a certain type of entertainment on family holidays or there is a significant risk they will sabotage the whole week by antagonising siblings.
Here is our guide to Isle of Wight activities for teenagers, although many of these activities and adventures are also suitable for an Isle of Wight stag-do (things like Go-Karting rather than shopping).
Teenagers require a certain type of entertainment on family holidays or there is a significant risk they will sabotage the whole week by antagonising siblings.
Here is our guide to Isle of Wight activities for teenagers, although many of these activities and adventures are also suitable for an Isle of Wight stag-do (things like Go-Karting rather than shopping).
1. Isle of Wight Aqua Park
The Isle of Wight's (only) Aqua Park opened in 2020 with a whole load of inflatable slides and things to fall off/jump off. It's at the same site as Tapnell Farm Park, which is a lovely attraction for junior school aged children so you might be able to combine the two if you're trying to entertain a family with a big age range. The Aqua Park costs about £20 for a session whilst Tapnell Farm Park costs about £15 (ish).
Read the blog about one of our visits to the Isle of Wight Aqua Park.
Read the blog about one of our visits to the Isle of Wight Aqua Park.
Leaping off tall things at the Isle of Wight Aqua Park
2. Shopping
Newport has the best selection of chain shops, such as Next, TK Maxx and so on. Cowes is excellent for yachty clothing (e.g. Musto) particularly during Cowes Week (early August). Ryde feels more like a seaside shopping town with quite a few independent shops, alongside the usual pound shops and sparsely stocked mobile phone retailers.
Please note, teenagers must be allowed to roam free whilst shopping on holiday. Under no circumstance should parents attempt to turn this into a school-shoe-buying outing. It is also very risky to ask your teenager to 'run a couple of errands' for you whilst they are in town. This will ruin their week, and ultimately it will ruin yours too.
Please note, teenagers must be allowed to roam free whilst shopping on holiday. Under no circumstance should parents attempt to turn this into a school-shoe-buying outing. It is also very risky to ask your teenager to 'run a couple of errands' for you whilst they are in town. This will ruin their week, and ultimately it will ruin yours too.
Check out our guide to the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
3. Newport and Ryde Cinemas
Newport Cineworld is the largest cinema on the Island with 11 screens. It offers Meerkat Movies discounts and has a Pizza Hut, Burger King and KFC attached.
Ryde Cinema is a much more vintage day out, with three screens but is very cheap (currently £4).
Parents - do not attempt to find a film that the whole family will want to watch. It's never going to happen. Your best bet is to split into at least three parties and enjoy two hours' peace.
Ryde Cinema is a much more vintage day out, with three screens but is very cheap (currently £4).
Parents - do not attempt to find a film that the whole family will want to watch. It's never going to happen. Your best bet is to split into at least three parties and enjoy two hours' peace.
A terrible photo of Newport's 11 screen cinema
4. Watersports
Digging holes in the sand and jumping over 6 inch waves will no longer cut it I'm afraid. You're going to need to find something a bit more exciting for your teenager.
- Tackt Isle in St Helen's (East Wight near Ryde) offers Dinghy Sailing, Kayaking, Land Yachting, Paddleboarding, Windsurfing and even Standup Paddleboard Yoga. They also hire out things like fishing equipment, kites and the like. Costs vary from free things like geocaching through to kayaking at about £10 - £30 or private lessons in sailing and windsurfing which are more like £50. Tackt Isle won a silver award in the 'Activity Provider' category at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2023.
- Wight Water Adventure Watersports is halfway between Sandown and Shanklin on Dunroamin Beach and rents out things like Standup Paddleboards, Surfboards, Windsurfers and Kayaks. Rental costs about £10 to £20 an hour. Lessons are most expensive at about £25-£40 an hour. Last time I went there was a café there so you can have lunch whilst the children charge around the beach.
- UKSA offer watersports taster days for 8-15 year olds. Prices aren't listed, but a couple of years ago, a full day was £45.
- iSurf is a mobile surf school with lessons starting at about £30 an hour. They have a hut in Sandown, but they often work from from Compton Bay if the surf is better. Read the blog about my poor attempt at standing up.
Surf lessons are available from iSurf in Sandown/Compton Bay
- A cheap option is hiring a standup paddleboard, pedalo or kayak from West Side Beach Hire in Sandown which are about £5-£10 for half an hour. Shanklin also has a couple of places on the seafront that hire out kayaks and standup paddleboards for about £10. I've also seen a small number of kayaks, surfboards and bodyboards for hire at Steephill Cove under the name Cove Kayaks.
- In Colwell, there's a standup paddleboard hire place called SupDog. There's also a Standup Paddleboard hire place in Seaview called Warrens.
- My preferred option is buying a bodyboard (about £20-£40) and heading over to Compton Bay (check the surf forecast) or Dunroamin Beach near Lake. Warning: do not attempt to fob off your teenager with a child's Paw Patrol bodyboard.
A cheap option is a bodyboard, but don't fob them off with a child's one
- Coasteering involves clambering round the coastline at Freshwater Bay to discover the hidden caves. If you attempt it alone, you can expect a telling off from the coastguard and an appearance on BBC South Today on the end of a winch. Alternatively, sign up for a professional coasteering course that takes place over a couple of hours. The guides are trained lifeguards and the sessions are suitable for ages 12+.
Expert led coasteering goes round the corner from this beach at Freshwater Bay
5. Go Karting
We thoroughly enjoyed our morning out at Wight Karting, which is on the edge of Ryde, near Tesco.
It's the only proper go-karting track on the Isle of Wight (there are also slow karts for young children in Sandham Gardens and pedal powered ones at Tapnell Farm Park).
Karting is suitable for anyone over eight and describes itself as all weather, despite being outdoors. There's an argument that a bit of water on the track adds to the excitement as you slip and slide a bit more.
You can choose from various types of races, including one for adults and teens. That's good news as it means that your competitive 16 year old won't spend the whole race stuck behind a cautious seven year old.
Karting is not a cheap activity - it works out at about £1 a minute. Although to be fair, calling Directory Enquiries used to cost more than that and it was far less exhilarating.
The track is very close to McDonalds in Ryde, so you may want to combine it with a McFlurry.
It's the only proper go-karting track on the Isle of Wight (there are also slow karts for young children in Sandham Gardens and pedal powered ones at Tapnell Farm Park).
Karting is suitable for anyone over eight and describes itself as all weather, despite being outdoors. There's an argument that a bit of water on the track adds to the excitement as you slip and slide a bit more.
You can choose from various types of races, including one for adults and teens. That's good news as it means that your competitive 16 year old won't spend the whole race stuck behind a cautious seven year old.
Karting is not a cheap activity - it works out at about £1 a minute. Although to be fair, calling Directory Enquiries used to cost more than that and it was far less exhilarating.
The track is very close to McDonalds in Ryde, so you may want to combine it with a McFlurry.
In case it's not clear, this is me giving a thumps up at Wight Karting
6. Ryde 10 pin Bowling Alley (Superbowl)
Not exactly unique to the Isle of Wight but the seafront boasts a decent bowling alley. There's also a cheap and cheerful 10 ten pin bowling alley on Sandown Pier.
7. Isle of Wight Football Golf
I'm not quite sure on the etiquette for football golf. If you get a hole in one should you politely punch the air whilst wearing a Pringle jumper or should you shout "come on my son", rip off your shirt and do a knee slide?
Regardless, it's a good way for a family to fall out with each other whilst getting some light exercise.
There's a shorter nine-hole course and a longer nine-hole course, so you can pick based on your party's ability to hoof it. It's next door to the Isle of Wight Aqua Park in the West Wight and costs about £7-11 depending on how many holes you complete.
Read the blog about our wet and windy attempt at football golf.
Regardless, it's a good way for a family to fall out with each other whilst getting some light exercise.
There's a shorter nine-hole course and a longer nine-hole course, so you can pick based on your party's ability to hoof it. It's next door to the Isle of Wight Aqua Park in the West Wight and costs about £7-11 depending on how many holes you complete.
Read the blog about our wet and windy attempt at football golf.
Christiano Ron-faldo playing football golf
8. Outdoor Laser combat, Paintball, Clay Pigeon shooting and airsoft
Much of my childhood was spent shooting people in woodland on the Isle of Wight. Headhunters laser combat is less than a tenner for two hours, which is much cheaper than most indoor laser tags.
There is also indoor Laser Quest in Ryde as part of the bowling alley on the esplanade (from £6 per game for non-members, price checked 2023 - not sure how long each game lasts for).
Alternatively, if laser combat sounds a bit too pain-free for your liking then you could try Splatter on Paintball, which has adults and kids packages available (from £25 for three hours when I checked) or 4D Sports offers something called IPSC which is a 'safe, dynamic, competitive target shooting sport' using airsoft pistols.
There's also a paintball target practice place based at Butterfly World on the outskirts of Newport. This is ideal for those of us who enjoying firing paintball guns but don't fancy being hit in an uncomfortable location. The same venue has a mini tank-driving course (see #10).
If you don't mind teaching your teenager how to use a real weapon then children aged 10+ can do clay pigeon shooting at Top Targets, which is based at Tapnell Farm.
There is also indoor Laser Quest in Ryde as part of the bowling alley on the esplanade (from £6 per game for non-members, price checked 2023 - not sure how long each game lasts for).
Alternatively, if laser combat sounds a bit too pain-free for your liking then you could try Splatter on Paintball, which has adults and kids packages available (from £25 for three hours when I checked) or 4D Sports offers something called IPSC which is a 'safe, dynamic, competitive target shooting sport' using airsoft pistols.
There's also a paintball target practice place based at Butterfly World on the outskirts of Newport. This is ideal for those of us who enjoying firing paintball guns but don't fancy being hit in an uncomfortable location. The same venue has a mini tank-driving course (see #10).
If you don't mind teaching your teenager how to use a real weapon then children aged 10+ can do clay pigeon shooting at Top Targets, which is based at Tapnell Farm.
9. Game on arcade or Shanklin Arcade
It absolutely essential that teenagers are given free range in a games arcade. Your best bet is to give them a fist full of pound coins and let them sniff out the games that require them to shoot at things.
Shanklin's seafront arcade has a pretty good selection of shooting and driving games and regularly invests in new machines. Most games cost £1. Arcade machines can also be found on Sandown Pier and at The Needles but our favourite is Shanklin.
Alternatively, pay in advance at Game On in Ryde for 90 minutes of free play. There are several arcade machines as well as table football and table tennis. It costs about £10 per person for a session.
Shanklin's seafront arcade has a pretty good selection of shooting and driving games and regularly invests in new machines. Most games cost £1. Arcade machines can also be found on Sandown Pier and at The Needles but our favourite is Shanklin.
Alternatively, pay in advance at Game On in Ryde for 90 minutes of free play. There are several arcade machines as well as table football and table tennis. It costs about £10 per person for a session.
This racing game appeared at Shanklin's seafront arcade in 2023
10. Mini tank driving
This one should probably belong in our guide to quirky days out.
You clamber into a mini tank, which is about the size of a car designed by Clive Sinclair (Ed: nice recent reference, the kids will love it).
You then drive round a course at Butterfly World and can fire at targets for a few extra pounds. Your head pokes out the top so people can see your grimacing face as you take aim. Please do not aim for the butterflies.
When I checked, it was £12-£15, depending on which option you went for.
You clamber into a mini tank, which is about the size of a car designed by Clive Sinclair (Ed: nice recent reference, the kids will love it).
You then drive round a course at Butterfly World and can fire at targets for a few extra pounds. Your head pokes out the top so people can see your grimacing face as you take aim. Please do not aim for the butterflies.
When I checked, it was £12-£15, depending on which option you went for.
Mini tank driving can be found next to Butterfly World
Have you read our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel?
11. Cycling/Orienteering
Cycling is a tricky one to get right with teenagers. You can be fairly sure that they won't enjoy piddling along at a snail's pace whilst you stop to admire the view or pop in to a lovely tea room in Godshill.
However, if you give them a bicycle and a bit of freedom then it's a decent way to spend a day.
There are various cycle hire places to choose from including:
Our guide to cycling on the Isle of Wight is a good place to start (if I do say so myself). Visit Isle of Wight has plenty of suggestions for routes or the main traffic cycle track is called the Red Squirrel Trail. It's not 100% traffic-free but it links up several cycle tracks via quiet roads.
If you're a mountain biker, there's the Cross Ridge Extreme route or the Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre, which has featured on Countryfile.
If you want to stick together then one option is to let the cyclists hurtle around Parkhurst Forest whilst the walkers look for Red Squirrels (see our guide to free days out on the Isle of Wight).
As an alternative, you might try one of the permanent orienteering courses on the Isle of Wight, which are at Parkhurst Forest, Firestone Copse and Brighstone Forest.
However, if you give them a bicycle and a bit of freedom then it's a decent way to spend a day.
There are various cycle hire places to choose from including:
- TAV Cycles in Ryde
- Wight Cycle Hire in Yarmouth, next door to Off The Rails café and a mostly off road track that links Freshwater Bay and Yarmouth.
- routefifty7 in Shanklin, where you can aim for the Red Squirrel Trail (mentioned below).
- Wight Bike in Merstone, also near to the Red Squirrel Trail
- Zoom E-Bike Hire in Niton
- Sandown Bicycle and Beach Hire in Sandown, not far from the Red Squirrel Trail
Our guide to cycling on the Isle of Wight is a good place to start (if I do say so myself). Visit Isle of Wight has plenty of suggestions for routes or the main traffic cycle track is called the Red Squirrel Trail. It's not 100% traffic-free but it links up several cycle tracks via quiet roads.
If you're a mountain biker, there's the Cross Ridge Extreme route or the Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre, which has featured on Countryfile.
If you want to stick together then one option is to let the cyclists hurtle around Parkhurst Forest whilst the walkers look for Red Squirrels (see our guide to free days out on the Isle of Wight).
As an alternative, you might try one of the permanent orienteering courses on the Isle of Wight, which are at Parkhurst Forest, Firestone Copse and Brighstone Forest.
The Red Squirrel Trail is car-free...but it is a bit tame for some teenagers
12. Skateboarding and Roller Disco
If your teenager knows the difference between a fun box, a flat bank and a transition driveway then they would quite enjoy a skatepark. There are skateparks in Bembridge (in the park on Steyne Road) Newport (by Seaclose Park), Ryde, Sandown esplanade, Niton, East Cowes and (West) Cowes.
There's also a place called John Cattle's Skate Club, which is a not-for-profit community club where you can book for lessons. Canopy Skatepark is another indoor skate park with good reviews where you can join in with an open session or book a lesson. It's in Chale, which is towards the South Wight.
Alternatively, there's a roller disco in Newport called Skates. You can hire skates or bring your own.
Dads should avoid trying to join in with the disco and ripping a hole in their trousers.
There's also a place called John Cattle's Skate Club, which is a not-for-profit community club where you can book for lessons. Canopy Skatepark is another indoor skate park with good reviews where you can join in with an open session or book a lesson. It's in Chale, which is towards the South Wight.
Alternatively, there's a roller disco in Newport called Skates. You can hire skates or bring your own.
Dads should avoid trying to join in with the disco and ripping a hole in their trousers.
13. Paragliding
High Adventure paragliding school leaps off hills towards the cliffs in the West Wight. Minimum age is 12, current price of a tandem flight is £115 (2023).
It looks graceful from below but I can't help feeling I would be screaming if it was me.
It looks graceful from below but I can't help feeling I would be screaming if it was me.
Paragliding in the West Wight
14. Kite flying
Do teenagers enjoy flying kites? I reckon you'd get away with it if you bought them a decent stunt kite for about £20-£30 but not if you presented them with a 99p Winnie The Pooh kite from Home Bargains.
There's a guide to where to fly your kite towards the bottom of our guide to free days out, along with tips on how not to accidentally run off a cliff.
There's a guide to where to fly your kite towards the bottom of our guide to free days out, along with tips on how not to accidentally run off a cliff.
15. Tree Climbing/ Rock Climbing
Do you enjoy dangling awkwardly from a great height whilst someone bellows encouragement? You might consider the indoor climbing wall at West Wights Sports and Community Centre.
Goodleaf Tree Climbing meets in Appley Park (Ryde) to help you clamber up an oak tree with safety harnesses and professional advice. Climbs take part in groups of six, somewhere between Newport and Cowes. It's got rave reviews on Trip Advisor. A two hour climb costs about £30.
The first bit of this video shows you the kind of thing to expect.
Goodleaf Tree Climbing meets in Appley Park (Ryde) to help you clamber up an oak tree with safety harnesses and professional advice. Climbs take part in groups of six, somewhere between Newport and Cowes. It's got rave reviews on Trip Advisor. A two hour climb costs about £30.
The first bit of this video shows you the kind of thing to expect.
16. Golf/Driving Range
Teenagers may enjoy a driving range, such as the one at Westridge Golf Centre near Ryde, which is also a good stag do activity. I'm very proud of my record of hitting the ball almost 50% of the time.
There are loads of minigolf courses on the Isle of Wight. I'm in two minds as to whether teenagers would enjoy the ironic competitiveness or consider them to be "a totally daggy loser fest, man" (I am not too clear on how teenagers speak nowadays). Anyway, if you want crazy golf courses, see our guide to days out for children, which has more details.
There are loads of minigolf courses on the Isle of Wight. I'm in two minds as to whether teenagers would enjoy the ironic competitiveness or consider them to be "a totally daggy loser fest, man" (I am not too clear on how teenagers speak nowadays). Anyway, if you want crazy golf courses, see our guide to days out for children, which has more details.
17. Escape Rooms
Some teenagers living on the Isle of Wight consider the whole Island to be one giant escape room. The aim is to get out as soon as you are 18. My experience is that a lot of them move to the mainland and discover that Slough isn't quite as scenic or interesting as the Isle of Wight...so they move back again.
Anyway, I digress.
The Isle of Wight has two escape rooms.
One is called Random Rooms, which has games on offer for 13+ and others that are 18+. The line-up of rooms changes but current choices include an entirely purple room, a school, an apocalyptic hospital and a prison. Younger players are allowed in most of the rooms, it is just a recommended age rating.
I'm hoping to gather up a group of five other willing participants, as it works out cheaper if you go in a group. At the time of writing, it is £66 for 6 people. It is in Newport and gets very good reviews.
The other escape room on the Isle of Wight is called The Lost Crypt. It is more expensive than Random Rooms but it takes place in a real church crypt, which adds a bit of extra curiosity. The story uses real history about an 18th century surgeon.
They remind me of The Crystal Maze where enthusiastic workmates would shout 'GET THE CRYSTAL!' at people they'd just met in the vague hope of winning a canal holiday together, which they probably didn't want anyway.
Anyway, I digress.
The Isle of Wight has two escape rooms.
One is called Random Rooms, which has games on offer for 13+ and others that are 18+. The line-up of rooms changes but current choices include an entirely purple room, a school, an apocalyptic hospital and a prison. Younger players are allowed in most of the rooms, it is just a recommended age rating.
I'm hoping to gather up a group of five other willing participants, as it works out cheaper if you go in a group. At the time of writing, it is £66 for 6 people. It is in Newport and gets very good reviews.
The other escape room on the Isle of Wight is called The Lost Crypt. It is more expensive than Random Rooms but it takes place in a real church crypt, which adds a bit of extra curiosity. The story uses real history about an 18th century surgeon.
They remind me of The Crystal Maze where enthusiastic workmates would shout 'GET THE CRYSTAL!' at people they'd just met in the vague hope of winning a canal holiday together, which they probably didn't want anyway.
18. Speedway
For the uninitiated, Speedway involves motorbikes roaring round and round and round and round and round in a great big circle. The bikes don't have any brakes and only one gear, much like my old Fiat Punto. They also seem to love sliding round corners, which is rather reminiscent of Mario Kart to boys my age.
There's a Speedway track on the outskirts of Ryde, home of the Wightlink Warriors. Thanks to Jo for getting in touch via Facebook to recommend Speedway as a teenage friendly activity.
There's a Speedway track on the outskirts of Ryde, home of the Wightlink Warriors. Thanks to Jo for getting in touch via Facebook to recommend Speedway as a teenage friendly activity.
19. Beach Sports
Teenagers are unlikely to be satisfied with a game of French cricket or that velcro catch game.
However, they might be keen to try a proper game of beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach tennis or beach rugby.
During the warmer months, Wight Wave organise such things as part of their community beach sports coaching days on Appley beach in Ryde.
They don't run every day, but if you're interested in signing up then I would take a look at their events page and their Facebook page.
They also organise a beach sports festival which takes place over a few days in July.
However, they might be keen to try a proper game of beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach tennis or beach rugby.
During the warmer months, Wight Wave organise such things as part of their community beach sports coaching days on Appley beach in Ryde.
They don't run every day, but if you're interested in signing up then I would take a look at their events page and their Facebook page.
They also organise a beach sports festival which takes place over a few days in July.
Ryde hosts a good choice of beach sports
20. Live Music in dark and sweaty gig venues
All I wanted to do as a teenager was to watch live music and write band names on my pencil case.
A husband and wife duo singing sea shanties at a coastal pub probably won't cut it.
Your best bet on the Isle of Wight is probably Strings Bar and Venue in Newport. Of course, during the summer months there is the Isle of Wight Festival and other big events but that isn't much use if you're visiting in February.
A husband and wife duo singing sea shanties at a coastal pub probably won't cut it.
Your best bet on the Isle of Wight is probably Strings Bar and Venue in Newport. Of course, during the summer months there is the Isle of Wight Festival and other big events but that isn't much use if you're visiting in February.
21. Snacks and Ladders or Comicoffee
These puntastic cafes are further examples of things that will appeal to some teenagers more than others.
Snacks and Ladders in Newport is a little more sophisticated than a game of Guess Who. They've got more than 600 games, including some of those baffling ones that go on for hours. They also serve milkshakes, build-your-own desserts and other such wonders.
Meanwhile Comicoffee can be found in Newport and Cowes. Their focus is on comic books, superheroes and that sort of thing.
They were both shortlisted at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.
Snacks and Ladders in Newport is a little more sophisticated than a game of Guess Who. They've got more than 600 games, including some of those baffling ones that go on for hours. They also serve milkshakes, build-your-own desserts and other such wonders.
Meanwhile Comicoffee can be found in Newport and Cowes. Their focus is on comic books, superheroes and that sort of thing.
They were both shortlisted at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.
22. Outdoor Gyms
The chance to show off your sweaty weightlifting body used to be reserved for those willing to pay £40 a month for gym membership. Not any more!
Outdoor gyms are appearing all over, and the Isle of Wight is no exception. Locations that we know of include Bembridge (PO35 5SL), Ventnor Park (PO38 1LB), Freshwater (PO40 9AX), Totland recreation ground, Bouldnor playing fields (also known as Yarmouth Park) and Northwood Recreation Ground near Cowes.
Outdoor gyms are appearing all over, and the Isle of Wight is no exception. Locations that we know of include Bembridge (PO35 5SL), Ventnor Park (PO38 1LB), Freshwater (PO40 9AX), Totland recreation ground, Bouldnor playing fields (also known as Yarmouth Park) and Northwood Recreation Ground near Cowes.
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ The information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check opening times and details with attractions directly if you are planning a long journey - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate.
