Isle of Wight Guru
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
      • 10 best Isle of Wight holidays with swimming pools
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Dog friendly >
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
      • 10 best Isle of Wight holidays with swimming pools
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Dog friendly >
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
Isle of Wight Guru

6 new things (probably) coming to the Isle of Wight in 2020

16/12/2019

1 Comment

 
My brother's family recently had a wintery trip to the Isle of Wight. Despite my advice that there were quite a few winter days out to choose from, he decided that they would visit Tapnell Farm Park six times in seven days. 

By the end of the week he was handing out unwanted advice to passers by on how to achieve a good lap time on the go-karts and asking the manager if he could deliver a talk on mini-beasts.

Now, I'm certainly a big fan of Tapnell Farm Park, particularly in winter but I think it's time we look at some of the new stuff coming to the Isle of Wight in 2020 for people who are stuck in a rut of visiting the same stuff every year (are you reading this, Brother Guru?).

So here are 6 new things coming to the Isle of Wight in 2020:

1. 1970 Festival celebrations

Back in 1970, the world and his scantily-clad dog turned up at the Isle of Wight Festival. Some estimates reckon that 600,000 or 700,000 people were there, although no-one knows for sure because they don't make clickers which go up that high. Some of the locals found it a bit much and needed to lie down in a darkened room for 32 years before the Festival returned to the Island in 2002.

In 2020, a reunion festival called Experience 1970 is taking place on the original site.

LOCATION CONFIRMED!
Join us at the iconic original 1970 #IsleofWightFestival site at East Afton Farm on 5-6 September 2020!
Tickets on-sale in the coming weeks...#Experience1970 pic.twitter.com/aNf8aGLev8

— IoW '70 Festival Revisited: Experience 1970 (@Experience1970) November 18, 2019
Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight Festival will no doubt mark the occasion in one way or another. The current lineup includes Lionel Richie, Duran Duran and Snow Patrol. Seeour festival guide for more info.

□ The exclusive #IOW2020 @Barclaycard presale is underway!! □ Barclaycard customers can get 10% off every presale ticket purchased in the NEXT 24hrs □ Offer ends 8.15am 5th Dec. Don't miss out ⏰ https://t.co/5nZgKpopw2

Tickets on sale 9am 6th Dec. pic.twitter.com/OpV665kN8H

— Isle of Wight Fest (@IsleOfWightFest) December 4, 2019

2. The Sandown Sprint

Some wags might claim that young men have been racing along Sandown seafront for years, but 2020 will see a legal option with up to 100 cars taking part in the Sandown Sprint. The roads will be closed and cars will race along the seafront against the backdrop of Bembridge Downs.

Here's an early Christmas present... our competitor registrations are NOW OPEN to take part in the Sandown Sprint, at this years inaugural Isle of Wight Speed Trials 2020. Visit our website for full details and apply online... https://t.co/NRuNw3csCA #iwspeed #isleofwight pic.twitter.com/I27hZfVBG5

— IW Speed Trials (@iwspeedtrials) December 10, 2019

3. Sandown's High Nets Course

I haven't managed to find an opening date for Sandown's new high nets course, but I have a hunch it will be in 2019. Sandham Gardens has seen a number of upgrades recently including the new dinosaur themed minigolf course which is turning it into a decent attraction which will eventually fill several hours on a sunny day.

It was originally going to be high ropes, but it turned out there was a slight risk that it might fall to pieces thanks to the sea air. 

Heritage GB has now submitted new plans after visiting other high ropes installations around the UK. The company found structures in coastal, or high salt, environments deteriorated quickly. #IsleofWighthttps://t.co/bmJmdJT7nu

— IW County Press (@iwcponline) June 7, 2019

4. Tapnell Farm's Aqua Park

The thought of falling into a lake doesn't seem especially appealing in mid-December, but I'm sure that will all change by the Spring when the Isle of Wight's 'first outdoor floating aqua park' opens. I guess it'll be a bit like that Total Wipeout programme where Richard Hammond made sarcastic remarks from his lounge whilst a presenter on the other side of the world did all the running around. Perhaps they'll call it Total Wightout?

The Isle of Wight's First Outdoor Floating Aqua Park is opening at Tapnell Farm next Spring. For details visit: https://t.co/5STTEwWsIv#tapnellfarm #tomsecolodge #thecow #tapnellfarmpark#pureislandhappiness #visitisleofwight #lovegreatbritain #visitsoutheastengland #aquapark pic.twitter.com/urpVUZOSCC

— Tapnell Farm (@TapnellFarm) July 4, 2019
And here's a photo of how it is coming along, from one of my brother's many trips to Tapnell Farm...
Aqua park at Tapnell Farm

5. Er, something new at Shanklin Seafront's Summer Arcade

I'm afraid I don't have a lot of insider information on this one, but our last trip to the Summer Arcade on Shanklin Seafront revealed a couple of big changes. 

The outdoor space has now got a roof on it (see the first photo) and the bumper cars and inflatable slides have gone to make way for...something.

Meanwhile, the indoor mini go kart section in the arcade has gone too (see the second photo).

We shall return in the spring to see what's arrived.
Summer Arcade in Shanklin
Indoors at Shanklin arcade

6. Premier Inn on SAndown seafront and Priory Bay Hotel

OK, so we don't know for certain that these two hotels will be opening/re-opening in 2020 but I thought they were worth a mention.

Premier Inn has been on the cards for some time and the official updates website says it hopes to open in Spring 2020. This may sound like a great big plug for one hotel, but there aren't many chain hotels operating on the Island and they generally aren't in prominent seafront locations.

Meanwhile, Priory Bay Hotel is one of the poshest hotels on the Isle of Wight. It was bought a couple of years ago and has been undergoing a big redevelopment across its 60 acre site.

It even has its own beach which is one of my favourites thanks to its ability to look paradisaical on a summer's day. My father told me that the sand on the beach was imported to make it extra golden but it's quite possible he made that up. We don't have an opening date for that one yet - Google tells me that it is 2020, but the official website just said TBC when I checked, so don't get your dinner jacket dry cleaned just yet.

Have we missed any major new events or attractions opening on the Isle of Wight in 2020? Feel free to give them a plug in the comments section below.
1 Comment
Isle of Wight Guru
19/12/2019 09:09:19 am

Thanks to the Isle of Wight Tuk Tuk Company for getting in touch - they're another quirky new attraction coming to the Island in 2020!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Isle of Wight Guru's Blog

    Tales of Isle of Wight days out, attractions and ferry discounts from a Wightophile. 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.

    RSS Feed

Where to stay

Holiday parks
​
Lodges
Posh hotels
Cheap​
​Quirky
​Big houses
​Camping
​Glamping
​Dog friendly
Last minute
​Coach trips
Airbnb
Accessible
​
Hot tubs
Manor houses
​Swimming pools

Days out

Adults
Beaches
Bembridge
​Cowes
​Cycling
Day trips
Dog friendly
Families
Festivals
Historic
Newport
​Quirky
​Rainy days
​Romantic
Ryde
​Shanklin
Toddlers
Teenagers
Ventnor​
Walking
Winter
​Yarmouth
​
Zoos

Saving money

Ferry discount codes
​
Tesco Clubcard
​Multilink
Accommodation
​Attraction discounts
Eating out
​
Free attractions

About

Contact
Blog
Who is the Guru?
​Advice for plagiarists
Privacy Policy
​Disclaimer

Some of the links on this site are 'affiliate links' meaning we may receive commission from accommodation providers at no cost to the buyer. We are also an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying products. 
​
However, we maintain full editorial control and only recommend based on merit rather than whether they offer commission.
​© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.