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Itinerary For A Rainy Isle Of Wight Holiday, With Indoor And Wet Weather Activities (2024 Guide)
Here's our itinerary for things to do on the Isle of Wight on a wet weekend, because trying to entertain children on a rainy holiday requires similar skills to those employed by riot police before a football derby match. Trouble could kick off at any moment between rival siblings unless you can provide a packed wet weather schedule and space to run around.
Pick up your riot shield (umbrella), put on your steel toe-capped boots (wellington boots) and in case of emergency, use your pepper spray (Peppa Pig videos on Netflix).
We've also got an itinerary for a budget week, free days out, activities for toddlers and teenagers and discounts to Isle of Wight attractions.
Pick up your riot shield (umbrella), put on your steel toe-capped boots (wellington boots) and in case of emergency, use your pepper spray (Peppa Pig videos on Netflix).
We've also got an itinerary for a budget week, free days out, activities for toddlers and teenagers and discounts to Isle of Wight attractions.
Day 1 - Soggy Sandown, Shanklin and South East Wight
Once you've checked the weather forecast and muttered expletives under your breath, head over to Sandown and Shanklin where there is a decent selection of indoor activities.
Personally, we like the amusement arcades on Shanklin seafront that chuck out yellow tickets, which can be swapped for plastic tat that you don't need. There's also an adjacent indoor minigolf course called Caddyshack, which opened in 2020. It offers a decent level of difficulty, with some holes having a simple route for stroppy children and a complicated route for competitive dads.
Alternatively, Amazon World, which is nearish to Sandown is an option if you like slimy creatures. It has a large soft play area called Monkey Madness, which we quite like (you pay extra for this bit).
Personally, we like the amusement arcades on Shanklin seafront that chuck out yellow tickets, which can be swapped for plastic tat that you don't need. There's also an adjacent indoor minigolf course called Caddyshack, which opened in 2020. It offers a decent level of difficulty, with some holes having a simple route for stroppy children and a complicated route for competitive dads.
Alternatively, Amazon World, which is nearish to Sandown is an option if you like slimy creatures. It has a large soft play area called Monkey Madness, which we quite like (you pay extra for this bit).
Just what you had in mind when you booked a holiday in August
In the afternoon, head to Sandown Pier for a classic seaside experience. There is a cheap and cheerful indoor play area and 'adventure golf' among other dry things. Of course, you'll also be by the seaside in case the weather miraculously improves.
If you want something a bit less twee then you might prefer Dinosaur Isle at the Yaverland end of Sandown esplanade, for an exhibition of the Isle of Wight's prehistoric history.
If all that doesn't fill your day then you might like to stop off at The Heights swimming pool in Sandown, particularly if the little darlings optimistically packed their trunks despite the terrible forecast.
In the evening, head for Shanklin Theatre, which is probably the best on the Isle of Wight. They put on plenty of family-friendly stuff but most shows are in the evening, so this may be a better one for older children.
For restaurants and pubs with a sea view, I would head for Shanklin seafront and try either The Steamer or The Waterfront. Peer out to sea whilst imagining how nice the view might be if it wasn't chucking it down. The Isle of Wight has plenty of pubs with playgrounds but these are mostly outdoors, so avoid those unless you want to compound your misery. If you want a pub with an indoor soft play area, try The Eight Bells in Carisbrooke.
There are also reasonable-sized supermarkets in the area if you have a car and would rather endure a soggy picnic. If you're on a tight budget, Morrisons in Lake has a café.
If you want something a bit less twee then you might prefer Dinosaur Isle at the Yaverland end of Sandown esplanade, for an exhibition of the Isle of Wight's prehistoric history.
If all that doesn't fill your day then you might like to stop off at The Heights swimming pool in Sandown, particularly if the little darlings optimistically packed their trunks despite the terrible forecast.
In the evening, head for Shanklin Theatre, which is probably the best on the Isle of Wight. They put on plenty of family-friendly stuff but most shows are in the evening, so this may be a better one for older children.
For restaurants and pubs with a sea view, I would head for Shanklin seafront and try either The Steamer or The Waterfront. Peer out to sea whilst imagining how nice the view might be if it wasn't chucking it down. The Isle of Wight has plenty of pubs with playgrounds but these are mostly outdoors, so avoid those unless you want to compound your misery. If you want a pub with an indoor soft play area, try The Eight Bells in Carisbrooke.
There are also reasonable-sized supermarkets in the area if you have a car and would rather endure a soggy picnic. If you're on a tight budget, Morrisons in Lake has a café.
Indoor minigolf at Caddyshack in Shanklin will fill an hour
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Sandown Pier is a cheap and cheerful day out in the rain
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Day 2 - Ryde in the rain
For your second day of dodging the rain showers, head over to Ryde. The esplanade has a decent bowling alley as well as laser quest, or you might prefer a free trip to the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum.
In the afternoon, Ryde Cinema is a good way to waste a couple of hours. The cinema is small and quaint and is a fair distance from the esplanade, but it is very good value (£4 at the time of writing). Pottery painters should try Fired Art Ceramic Studio in Ryde instead. They aren't particularly active online so I would suggest phoning ahead.
For something a bit quirkier, try out the UK's first escape room in a church crypt. It combines local history with the usual escape room challenges of unlocking things and solving puzzles.
Another all-weather option in Ryde is Wight Karting. It is outdoors, but it runs in the rain if you don't mind looking like you've been on a log flume by the end of the day. Some prefer racing in the rain as the karts skid around the corner nicely.
If you want to attempt something vaguely educational, go for Brading Roman Villa. It is a 10-minute drive from Ryde and has some child-friendly activities amongst the history. It's a good size so you won't be falling over people and breaking priceless artefacts.
Children who are bursting with energy should be directed towards John Cattle's Skate Club in Wootton. It is one of two skateboarding clubs on the Isle of Wight. The other is in Chale in the South Wight and is called Canopy. You need to book in advance at both.
There are some cheap options for eating out in the Ryde area including a little-known fast food place called McDonalds and a cheap carvery place called the Sloop Inn in Wootton, which is on the way to Ryde if you are travelling from Newport. There are sometimes offers to be had. There is also a Wetherspoons in Ryde.
For somewhere a bit classier, take a look at our guide to pubs and restaurants with a sea view.
In the afternoon, Ryde Cinema is a good way to waste a couple of hours. The cinema is small and quaint and is a fair distance from the esplanade, but it is very good value (£4 at the time of writing). Pottery painters should try Fired Art Ceramic Studio in Ryde instead. They aren't particularly active online so I would suggest phoning ahead.
For something a bit quirkier, try out the UK's first escape room in a church crypt. It combines local history with the usual escape room challenges of unlocking things and solving puzzles.
Another all-weather option in Ryde is Wight Karting. It is outdoors, but it runs in the rain if you don't mind looking like you've been on a log flume by the end of the day. Some prefer racing in the rain as the karts skid around the corner nicely.
If you want to attempt something vaguely educational, go for Brading Roman Villa. It is a 10-minute drive from Ryde and has some child-friendly activities amongst the history. It's a good size so you won't be falling over people and breaking priceless artefacts.
Children who are bursting with energy should be directed towards John Cattle's Skate Club in Wootton. It is one of two skateboarding clubs on the Isle of Wight. The other is in Chale in the South Wight and is called Canopy. You need to book in advance at both.
There are some cheap options for eating out in the Ryde area including a little-known fast food place called McDonalds and a cheap carvery place called the Sloop Inn in Wootton, which is on the way to Ryde if you are travelling from Newport. There are sometimes offers to be had. There is also a Wetherspoons in Ryde.
For somewhere a bit classier, take a look at our guide to pubs and restaurants with a sea view.
Brading Roman Villa has some child friendly activities for a wet day
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Ryde's bus and coach museum is free...and indoors
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Day 3 - The Wet West Wight
Tapnell Farm Park is the obvious choice for a rainy day in the West Wight. It is probably my number one day out on the Isle of Wight in the rain.
There are two large barns with indoor play for younger children and things like basketball for older children. There are a few outdoors bits that are worth doing if the weather clears up, such as bouncy pillows. During school holidays Tapnell Farm Park often put on activities in their events barn.
It does get pretty busy when it rains, so you might want to bring earplugs or a hipflask.
In the afternoon, you could spend an hour at one of the small attractions at Fort Victoria in Yarmouth. There's a reptilarium, which is full of more slimy things or a small planetarium.
We used to head for Chessell Pottery Café but it no longer does pottery painting (despite the name). It's still a nice café, but I'm mentioning it in case you turn up hoping to paint a unicorn. Grown-ups may be interested in a tour of Tennyson's home (Farringford) or a photographic museum once owned by Julia Margaret Cameron (Dimbola). Victorian photography may not be blockbuster stuff for young children but my six year old enjoyed Dimbola because they gave her a worksheet and let her try on some silly hats.
Finally, there's an indoor swimming pool in the West Wight called (wait for it...) West Wight Swimming Pool.
If you're desperate for fresh air and don't mind getting a little wet, then have a walk under the trees at Brighstone Forest.
If the rain isn't going sideways, it can also be quite fun to hide in the shelter at Freshwater Bay and watch the waves crashing around. Most beaches are bleak on a wet day but Freshwater Bay can be quite entertaining.
There are two large barns with indoor play for younger children and things like basketball for older children. There are a few outdoors bits that are worth doing if the weather clears up, such as bouncy pillows. During school holidays Tapnell Farm Park often put on activities in their events barn.
It does get pretty busy when it rains, so you might want to bring earplugs or a hipflask.
In the afternoon, you could spend an hour at one of the small attractions at Fort Victoria in Yarmouth. There's a reptilarium, which is full of more slimy things or a small planetarium.
We used to head for Chessell Pottery Café but it no longer does pottery painting (despite the name). It's still a nice café, but I'm mentioning it in case you turn up hoping to paint a unicorn. Grown-ups may be interested in a tour of Tennyson's home (Farringford) or a photographic museum once owned by Julia Margaret Cameron (Dimbola). Victorian photography may not be blockbuster stuff for young children but my six year old enjoyed Dimbola because they gave her a worksheet and let her try on some silly hats.
Finally, there's an indoor swimming pool in the West Wight called (wait for it...) West Wight Swimming Pool.
If you're desperate for fresh air and don't mind getting a little wet, then have a walk under the trees at Brighstone Forest.
If the rain isn't going sideways, it can also be quite fun to hide in the shelter at Freshwater Bay and watch the waves crashing around. Most beaches are bleak on a wet day but Freshwater Bay can be quite entertaining.
Tapnell Farm holds indoor events - this was the summer party in 2022
Day 4 - Pouring it down in Newport
Honestly, Newport has less of a holiday vibe than the rest of the Isle of Wight. I wouldn't normally prioritise it during an Isle of Wight holiday when there are so many nice coastal villages and beaches.
I'm giving Newport a mention because it has a good number of things to do when it's coming down in stair-rods (to quote Paddington Bear).
Newport's Cineworld is the biggest on the Isle of Wight by some way. There are 11 screens and they do cut-price screenings for kids on some mornings during school holidays. If you do any sort of voluntary work, or work for a charity then you can get discounted Cineworld tickets here. The cinema is next door to a huddle of fast food chains including Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King so you can feed your saturated bodies with saturated fats.
After you've sat through a 90 minute film about an animated porpoise, you've got a good choice of indoor things to do depending on your tastes and tolerance for other people.
On the route between Newport and Ryde is Butterfly World, where you can hold various creatures and see their tropical gardens (read about our visit).
If the trip to the cinema followed by a burger has left you feeling guilty, you might like to try Skates, which is the Isle of Wight's roller skating rink. Don't worry, it is deliberately retro rather than being stuck in the 1970s. Newport also has its own soft play area called JR Zone. It scores 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
Slightly older children might prefer the puntastic Snacks and Ladders Board Game Café, which gets consistently outstanding reviews or Random Rooms, which has Escape Rooms in Newport.
There is quite a lot indoors at The Wight Military and Heritage Museum, which is mostly run by volunteers. A similar vintage vibe can be found at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which is between Newport and Ryde. Of course, it is better in the sunshine but you will spend most of your time inside a carriage and it also has an indoor museum called Train Story. There are also a couple of small museums in Newport including the Museum of Island History and Newport Roman Villa. They will probably fill about an hour each.
Quay Arts in Newport is ideal for parents who are still clinging onto the idea that their children should visit art galleries instead of watching Paw Patrol movies.
For something live in the summer school holidays, try Jay Miller's Circus. It has been coming to the Isle of Wight each year since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
I'm giving Newport a mention because it has a good number of things to do when it's coming down in stair-rods (to quote Paddington Bear).
Newport's Cineworld is the biggest on the Isle of Wight by some way. There are 11 screens and they do cut-price screenings for kids on some mornings during school holidays. If you do any sort of voluntary work, or work for a charity then you can get discounted Cineworld tickets here. The cinema is next door to a huddle of fast food chains including Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King so you can feed your saturated bodies with saturated fats.
After you've sat through a 90 minute film about an animated porpoise, you've got a good choice of indoor things to do depending on your tastes and tolerance for other people.
On the route between Newport and Ryde is Butterfly World, where you can hold various creatures and see their tropical gardens (read about our visit).
If the trip to the cinema followed by a burger has left you feeling guilty, you might like to try Skates, which is the Isle of Wight's roller skating rink. Don't worry, it is deliberately retro rather than being stuck in the 1970s. Newport also has its own soft play area called JR Zone. It scores 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
Slightly older children might prefer the puntastic Snacks and Ladders Board Game Café, which gets consistently outstanding reviews or Random Rooms, which has Escape Rooms in Newport.
There is quite a lot indoors at The Wight Military and Heritage Museum, which is mostly run by volunteers. A similar vintage vibe can be found at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which is between Newport and Ryde. Of course, it is better in the sunshine but you will spend most of your time inside a carriage and it also has an indoor museum called Train Story. There are also a couple of small museums in Newport including the Museum of Island History and Newport Roman Villa. They will probably fill about an hour each.
Quay Arts in Newport is ideal for parents who are still clinging onto the idea that their children should visit art galleries instead of watching Paw Patrol movies.
For something live in the summer school holidays, try Jay Miller's Circus. It has been coming to the Isle of Wight each year since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is better in the sunshine - but it is mostly indoors
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