|
 |
This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.
6 Best Isle of Wight Playgrounds 2024
We’ve spent many hours stood around playgrounds on the Isle of Wight.
Some Isle of Wight playgrounds are in lovely locations and have sea views, so you feel like you are actually on holiday. Others are just a set of swings in a housing estate, which makes you say things like "do you remember when we used to visit art galleries and drink cocktails at the beach?".
We've only included free playgrounds, rather than those which are part of paid attractions or pubs with playgrounds. We've also split them up into sections to minimise the need for tense car journeys.
For more ideas for days out see our guides to free days out, days out for toddlers and days out for junior school aged children. These guides must be really good because they are regularly plagiarised (Ed: chill out, dude...).
Without further whinging, here’s our guide to the best playgrounds in six different parts of the Isle of Wight including:
Some Isle of Wight playgrounds are in lovely locations and have sea views, so you feel like you are actually on holiday. Others are just a set of swings in a housing estate, which makes you say things like "do you remember when we used to visit art galleries and drink cocktails at the beach?".
We've only included free playgrounds, rather than those which are part of paid attractions or pubs with playgrounds. We've also split them up into sections to minimise the need for tense car journeys.
For more ideas for days out see our guides to free days out, days out for toddlers and days out for junior school aged children. These guides must be really good because they are regularly plagiarised (Ed: chill out, dude...).
Without further whinging, here’s our guide to the best playgrounds in six different parts of the Isle of Wight including:
1. Best playground in Cowes, East Cowes and North Wight - Gurnard
Our favourite playground in the north of the Isle of Wight is in Gurnard.
It isn’t the largest playground in the area but it’s big enough and the location is hard to beat. It tends to be occupied by posh grannies who have been tasked with occupying children with names that sound ridiculous when shouted at a playground ("Don't run up the slide, Poseidon!")
The sea-themed playground overlooks Gurnard’s much-photographed beach huts. The sunsets here are particularly good.
It’s about 100m from the public toilets and it’s over the road from the Woodvale Pub, so it’s a good place to send older children whilst you finish your chips.
You can find directions here. There is some free on-street parking along the esplanade.
It isn’t the largest playground in the area but it’s big enough and the location is hard to beat. It tends to be occupied by posh grannies who have been tasked with occupying children with names that sound ridiculous when shouted at a playground ("Don't run up the slide, Poseidon!")
The sea-themed playground overlooks Gurnard’s much-photographed beach huts. The sunsets here are particularly good.
It’s about 100m from the public toilets and it’s over the road from the Woodvale Pub, so it’s a good place to send older children whilst you finish your chips.
You can find directions here. There is some free on-street parking along the esplanade.
Gurnard's playground isn't massive but it delivers a good sea view
|
Yes, I really did take my drone for a flight to get a photo of Gurnard playground
|
Runner up: East Cowes playground is also worth a mention. It is nicely located for filling an hour if you turn up early for the Red Funnel car ferry (or if you are too early to check in to your accommodation). It’s got a paddling pool, a zip wire and several things to climb on.
As with Gurnard, you get a sea view overlooking the Solent. However, the first time we went it stunk to high heaven of something unpleasant. On the second time we visited, it was exceedingly busy and there were lots of rogue children being annoying whilst their parents stared at their phones.
As with Gurnard, you get a sea view overlooking the Solent. However, the first time we went it stunk to high heaven of something unpleasant. On the second time we visited, it was exceedingly busy and there were lots of rogue children being annoying whilst their parents stared at their phones.
2. Best playground in Sandown and Shanklin - Sandham Gardens
Head for the Yaverland end of Sandown’s esplanade for the best playground in the Sandown and Shanklin area. We call it Sandham Gardens playground but it is also known as the Steven Jenkins Rainbow Playground. You can find directions here.
We don’t think there’s much competition here, as it is a large playground which is over the road from the beach. Child one rates this as her favourite playground on the Isle of Wight.
You can’t exactly see the sea, but it’s close enough to combine with a day out with a bucket and spade.
There’s a playground aimed at younger children and one for older children right next door. There’s also an area for kicking a ball around and a skate park.
If you want to pad out the entertainment, the same part of the esplanade is home to Dinosaur Isle, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, dinosaur-themed minigolf and some bouncy nets that you pay for (see our guide to days out in Sandown and Shanklin).
There are public toilets on the esplanade if you walk towards Sandown Pier for five minutes.
There's not much free parking around here, so most people end up paying for the big car park which is next door to Sandham Gardens. If you are more determined and don't mind walking a bit then have a look at the Sandown and Yaverland sections in our guide to cheap and free parking.
We don’t think there’s much competition here, as it is a large playground which is over the road from the beach. Child one rates this as her favourite playground on the Isle of Wight.
You can’t exactly see the sea, but it’s close enough to combine with a day out with a bucket and spade.
There’s a playground aimed at younger children and one for older children right next door. There’s also an area for kicking a ball around and a skate park.
If you want to pad out the entertainment, the same part of the esplanade is home to Dinosaur Isle, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, dinosaur-themed minigolf and some bouncy nets that you pay for (see our guide to days out in Sandown and Shanklin).
There are public toilets on the esplanade if you walk towards Sandown Pier for five minutes.
There's not much free parking around here, so most people end up paying for the big car park which is next door to Sandham Gardens. If you are more determined and don't mind walking a bit then have a look at the Sandown and Yaverland sections in our guide to cheap and free parking.
The Sandham Gardens playground has two sections, including a bit for younger children...
|
...and another playground for older children
|
Runner up: the Sandham Gardens playground is popular, so it can get a little busy. If you want a quiet playground then I would head for the Garfield Road playground in Shanklin. We haven't been to this one but it looks good in the photos. The location is much less interesting than Sandham Gardens, but I'm assuming it will be quieter as a result.
3. Best playground in Ryde, Bembridge and East Wight - Appley Park
There’s hot competition for your playground dollar in Ryde, Bembridge and the East Wight.
We are giving the trophy to Appley Park Playground which overlooks the beach in Ryde – although others have their advantages.
The playground at Appley is lacking in swings and the slide didn’t go at a great pace when we last visited, but the view is terrific. When you are on holiday you should really be looking at the sea rather than wasting your time inland.
It’s a popular playground because of its location. It is feasible to have older children playing on the sandy beach whilst younger children are occupied in the playground. There’s even a slight chance that everyone will be happy for five minutes.
There are public toilets within 100m and the seafront has plenty of places to buy a coffee (to keep you happy) or an ice cream (to keep them happy). I like The Dell Café.
Free parking is hard to come by in this part of Ryde, so you will probably give up and pay to use the Appley car park. Hardy sorts might consider parking just outside Puckpool Park and walking through Puckpool Battery to get to the beach and playground. See our guide to free and cheap car parks for less vague instructions.
We are giving the trophy to Appley Park Playground which overlooks the beach in Ryde – although others have their advantages.
The playground at Appley is lacking in swings and the slide didn’t go at a great pace when we last visited, but the view is terrific. When you are on holiday you should really be looking at the sea rather than wasting your time inland.
It’s a popular playground because of its location. It is feasible to have older children playing on the sandy beach whilst younger children are occupied in the playground. There’s even a slight chance that everyone will be happy for five minutes.
There are public toilets within 100m and the seafront has plenty of places to buy a coffee (to keep you happy) or an ice cream (to keep them happy). I like The Dell Café.
Free parking is hard to come by in this part of Ryde, so you will probably give up and pay to use the Appley car park. Hardy sorts might consider parking just outside Puckpool Park and walking through Puckpool Battery to get to the beach and playground. See our guide to free and cheap car parks for less vague instructions.
The playground at Appley Park looks over the golden sandy beach
Runner up: the playground facilities at Puckpool Park in Ryde and Steyne Road in Bembridge are certainly equal to Appley Park's playground. However, they don't have the view. Puckpool Park tends to be a busy playground whilst the Bembridge playground is much sleepier. Free parking is easy to find near the playground in Bembridge.
Bembridge's playground was very quiet when we visited
4. Best playground in Ventnor and the South Wight - Seabreeze
Ventnor's Seabreeze playground is small but the view is gorgeous. In fact, I'll stick my neck out and say that it's probably got the best view of all the playgrounds on the Isle of Wight.
It's also walking distance from Ventnor's seafront paddling pool, so you can combine the two and fill a good chunk of time. There's a café next to the paddling pool which will sell you a Mini Milk or a gin and tonic, depending on how the day is going.
Most of the car parks in Ventnor are pay and display but there are free spaces at a small car park nearby, if you are lucky. See the Ventnor section on our guide to free and cheap car parks for more details.
The nearest public toilets are on Ventnor's esplanade.
It's also walking distance from Ventnor's seafront paddling pool, so you can combine the two and fill a good chunk of time. There's a café next to the paddling pool which will sell you a Mini Milk or a gin and tonic, depending on how the day is going.
Most of the car parks in Ventnor are pay and display but there are free spaces at a small car park nearby, if you are lucky. See the Ventnor section on our guide to free and cheap car parks for more details.
The nearest public toilets are on Ventnor's esplanade.
My photo isn't the best but Ventnor's Seabreeze playground overlooks the bay
Runner up: Niton's playground is surprisingly well-equipped. The village is a real back-of-beyond sort of place so we had the playground all to ourselves when we visited. You won't struggle for free parking here!
Another rubbish photo but you get the idea of what to expect at Niton playground
5. Best playground in Newport - Seaclose Park
Our favourite playground in the middle of the Isle of Wight is in Seaclose Park. There are other good playgrounds in Newport but this one is a bit greener and it sits alongside a river. You can't exactly see the river from the playground, but an estate agent would say it was a 'waterside location'.
The equipment is pretty modern and there's plenty to do, but I did not enjoy paying to park. You may want to combine your visit with a trip to Beefeater, which is very family-friendly and offers free parking if you are eating.
Seaclose Park is the venue for the Isle of Wight Festival, so I like to imagine that Mick and Keith had a go on the seesaw when the Rolling Stones headlined in 2007.
You can find directions here.
The equipment is pretty modern and there's plenty to do, but I did not enjoy paying to park. You may want to combine your visit with a trip to Beefeater, which is very family-friendly and offers free parking if you are eating.
Seaclose Park is the venue for the Isle of Wight Festival, so I like to imagine that Mick and Keith had a go on the seesaw when the Rolling Stones headlined in 2007.
You can find directions here.
Seaclose Park playground is our pick of Newport's playgrounds
6. Best playground in Yarmouth, Freshwater and the West Wight - Brighstone
I lost sleep over which playground to pick for the West Wight (Ed: really?).
My head said Freshwater, as it has a much bigger range of things to play on. However, my heart said Brighstone which has a much smaller playground.
So, why did Brighstone win? Was it because it sits alongside a trickling stream? Is it because you can combine it with a welly walk to Brighstone's Dragon Tree? Or was it because the sun was shining the last time we visited? It's probably a combination of those three.
I certainly wouldn't plan your day around a visit to Brighstone's playground, but it's a nice little stop if you are passing. There is free parking on the road. You can find directions here.
My head said Freshwater, as it has a much bigger range of things to play on. However, my heart said Brighstone which has a much smaller playground.
So, why did Brighstone win? Was it because it sits alongside a trickling stream? Is it because you can combine it with a welly walk to Brighstone's Dragon Tree? Or was it because the sun was shining the last time we visited? It's probably a combination of those three.
I certainly wouldn't plan your day around a visit to Brighstone's playground, but it's a nice little stop if you are passing. There is free parking on the road. You can find directions here.
Brighstone's small playground is alongside a nice stream
|
The Dragon Tree is good fun for a quick welly walk (click for directions)
|
Runner up: as mentioned, Freshwater's playground has a good range of apparatus. Technically it is called Stroud Recreation Ground. It's a bit boring, as you can't see the sea but there is plenty of green space. Combine your visit with a trip to Freshwater Bay, which is one of our favourite beaches.
Freshwater playground is not scenic but it's a good time filler
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ All the information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check details directly - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. Here's our full disclaimer.
