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30 rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight might claim to be the sunniest place in the UK but once every few years it does suffer a soggy day. Here are some wet weather activities for a rainy day.
You may also want to check out our guides to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel, free days out, activities for toddlers, families and teenagers or our itinerary for a wet weekend.
You may also want to check out our guides to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel, free days out, activities for toddlers, families and teenagers or our itinerary for a wet weekend.
1. Dinosaur Isle
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Some rude and ignorant visitors believe the name 'Dinosaur Isle' was given to the Isle of Wight due to the large number of retired residents. However, those more in the know realise that it is due to the Island's fame for fossil findings. Dinosaur Isle (PO36 8QA) celebrates the latter. It's not huge, but it's also quite cheap at about £5 to get in. It took us about an hour to wander round.
Dinosaur Isle doesn't have a cafe, but there is a nice toddler friendly one at nearby Brown's Golf Course. It looks a bit basic from the outside but it's lovely inside with a big play area for under fives. |
Roar! Dinosaur Isle in Sandown
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For more advice on saving on entry tickets, see our guide to discounts on Isle of Wight attractions.
2. Tapnell Farm Park
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I'd heartily recommend Tapnell Farm Park (PO41 OYJ) as a rainy day rescue plan for toddlers and junior school aged children, as about two-thirds of it is indoors. There's a fairly big sized soft play area, mini tractors and go karts to play on, an indoor petting zoo, a hay barn activity area with a zip wire and plenty of places for parents to sit down and drink lattes whilst they check tomorrow's weather forecast.
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Soft play at Tapnell Farm Park
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Some of the animals are outdoors but most of the usual farmyard ones are indoors. The giant bouncing pillow and minigolf are also outdoors - so you might have a battle on your hands when the little ones see them...
3. Brading or Newport Roman Villa
If you can persuade your children to do something educational on holiday then Brading Roman Villa (PO36 0EN) or Newport Roman Villa (PO30 1HA) would kill some time whilst the rain pours down. Brading is the bigger of the two (entry about £10), the Newport one is nestled between houses near M&S.
Some people recommend Osborne House on a wet day, but my favourite bits at Osborne are the beach (see our guide to beaches) and the gardens so I would wait for a sunny day if possible.
Some people recommend Osborne House on a wet day, but my favourite bits at Osborne are the beach (see our guide to beaches) and the gardens so I would wait for a sunny day if possible.
Looking for cheap self catering? Try Hoseasons or our holiday park guide
4. Newport and Ryde Cinemas
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Newport Cineworld (PO30 2TA) is the largest cinema on the Isle of Wight with 11 screens. It has a Pizza Hut attached and there's a KFC in the same complex. If you're looking for a cheap option, they do a Movies for Juniors thing on some mornings, which was only £2.50 for a ticket when we last went (good job too as my daughter got scared and wanted to leave after 20 minutes).
Ryde Cinema (PO33 2HX) is a much more vintage day out, with three screens but is also very cheap (currently £4). Ryde Cinema also hosts bingo. <Insert bingo cliche here> |
Newport's Cineworld Cinema
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5. Sandown Pier
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Some find Sandown Pier (PO36 8JT) a little bit twee but if you are after the classic English seaside resort then it is ideal.
There's a children's play area, as well as an indoor crazy golf to keep you entertained. We enjoy Bowling on the Pier in Sandown, which is a lot cheaper than a proper bowling alley (£2 per person per game). There are also indoor amusement arcades on the Esplanade (see #11 on this list). Read the blog about our visit to Sandown Pier. |
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6. Indoor soft PlayYounger holidaymakers may appreciate a chance to throw themselves head first into a ballpit whilst shouting "weeeeeeeeeee". Indoor soft play sites include Monkey Madness at Amazon World near Sandown which opened in 2019 (PO36 0LX, 4/5 on TripAdvisor, though that's for the whole attraction) and JR Zone in Newport (PO30 5FA, 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor). A soft play area opened at a community hub called Aspire Ryde in late 2019. It's in a large church in Ryde at PO33 2BN.
There are also cheap and cheerful play areas within Sandown Pier (PO36 8JT, 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor for the whole attraction) and one within the arcade in Shanklin called Jungle Jim's (PO37 6BG, 2.5/5 on TripAdvisor). |
Related guide from the Isle of Wight Guru
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As mentioned above, Tapnell Farm Park has a big indoor play barn with a decent soft play area (PO41 OYJ, 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor for the whole park).
My personal favourites are Monkey Madness and Tapnell Farm Park although the latter is a whole attraction and we haven't got round to visiting Magic Island on Sandown Pier or Aspire Ryde yet.
You might like to read our blog about Monkey Madness, if you're bored.
Granny Guru offers some more insight and recommendations on the guide to days out with toddlers.
My personal favourites are Monkey Madness and Tapnell Farm Park although the latter is a whole attraction and we haven't got round to visiting Magic Island on Sandown Pier or Aspire Ryde yet.
You might like to read our blog about Monkey Madness, if you're bored.
Granny Guru offers some more insight and recommendations on the guide to days out with toddlers.
7. Amazon World
Amazon World (PO36 0LX) has plenty to do indoors. Animal highlights include parrots, snakes, lemurs, meerkats (everywhere has meerkats now), sloths and anteaters. Amazon World averages 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
It's also got a soft play area called Monkey Madness, which opened in 2019, although you have to pay extra for that bit.
For more advice on saving on entry tickets, see our guide to discounts on Isle of Wight attractions.
It's also got a soft play area called Monkey Madness, which opened in 2019, although you have to pay extra for that bit.
For more advice on saving on entry tickets, see our guide to discounts on Isle of Wight attractions.
8. Arts and Crafts
Pottery seems to be popular on the Isle of Wight for some reason. Maybe it is something to do with the availability of clay. One option on a wet day is to decorate your own pottery at somewhere like Chessell Pottery (PO41 0UE) - read our blog about our pottery painting outing. Since we wrote the blog, the pottery has changed a bit so you can now use either acrylic paints or have your pottery glazed. For most holidaymakers you'll have to go for acrylic paints as glazing takes two weeks and they don't post them out anymore.
Arty Shakes in Shanklin is another place which gets great reviews. As the name suggests, you can paint pottery and get a sugar rush from a milkshake. They do glazed pottery.
Crafty sew and sews (geddit?) can spend a couple of hours avoiding the rain by making photo frames, butterflies and wind chimes at the Isle of Sweets Craft Centre in Shanklin High Street (PO37 6JN). It's essentially a shop with a craft room attached, but reviews are positive and the prices are very reasonable.
It's also a wool shop, so they can spin you a yarn or two (sorry).
Another option is Fired Art Ceramics in Ryde where you can paint your own pottery and have it glazed.
Arty Shakes in Shanklin is another place which gets great reviews. As the name suggests, you can paint pottery and get a sugar rush from a milkshake. They do glazed pottery.
Crafty sew and sews (geddit?) can spend a couple of hours avoiding the rain by making photo frames, butterflies and wind chimes at the Isle of Sweets Craft Centre in Shanklin High Street (PO37 6JN). It's essentially a shop with a craft room attached, but reviews are positive and the prices are very reasonable.
It's also a wool shop, so they can spin you a yarn or two (sorry).
Another option is Fired Art Ceramics in Ryde where you can paint your own pottery and have it glazed.
9. Fort VictoriaDo you love trains, reptiles,
indoor stargazing or shipwrecks? If so, then there is definitely something for you at Fort Victoria (PO41 0RR). If you answered no to the first question then you need to re-examine your priorities, buster. Fort Victoria has a few small attractions and it's in a nice coastal location, which is good for a picnic. Read our blog about Fort Victoria. |
RELATED GUIDE FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT GURU
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10. Holiday Pampering
Not one for the whole family (unless you've got a wad of spending money and teenagers who would enjoy putting cucumbers on their eyes) but a spa day is one way to console yourself that it's raining outside. Options include Lakeside Spa in Wootton Bridge and Bembridge Coast Hotel which are both in the East Wight.
We've got a whole guide to spa days and spa breaks on the Isle of Wight.
We've got a whole guide to spa days and spa breaks on the Isle of Wight.
11. Amusement arcades
For those who can tolerate the combined noise of a hundred fruit machines, try the amusement arcades along the seafronts at Sandown Pier, Shanklin and Ryde. Shanklin is our favourite arcade for those machines which burp out yellow tokens which can be exchanged for a pencil if you collect half a million.
At the time of writing (2020), Ventnor's seafront Gaiety amusement arcade is closed and isn't showing much sign of re-opening.
At the time of writing (2020), Ventnor's seafront Gaiety amusement arcade is closed and isn't showing much sign of re-opening.
12. Ryde 10 pin Bowling Alley (Superbowl)
Not exactly unique to the Isle of Wight but the seafront boasts a decent bowling alley (PO33 2EL). Unfortunately, Ryde's ice rink closed in 2016.
13. Swimming pools
If you've packed your trunks ready for a swim but you arrive to find monsoon conditions then the chlorine and plasters of a public swimming pool may be your only option. Lots of the caravan sites and hotels have their own pools but there are public swimming pools in Newport (PO30 2DX) and Sandown (PO36 9ET) and West Wight Swimming Pool (PO40 9XH), which runs as a charity.
Personally I like the Waterside pool with warm water and a retractable roof on Ryde Esplanade (PO33 1JA). Or perhaps Scuba Diving is more your thing?
Personally I like the Waterside pool with warm water and a retractable roof on Ryde Esplanade (PO33 1JA). Or perhaps Scuba Diving is more your thing?
14. Butterfly World
The last time I visited Butterfly World I was two foot shorter and it was called Butterfly and Fountain World. The title's changed but Fountainophiles (Ed: are you making this up?) will be relieved to know that the fountains are still there, as are the Italian and Japanese Gardens. It costs about £8 to get in.
Maria got in touch to report that they now offer the opportunity to have your hand sucked by giant fish, which she described as a 'surprisingly pleasant experience'. Er...
All in all, it's been a rough few years for tourists visiting the Isle of Wight to see our collection of fountains. Back in 2017, Waltzing Waters in Ryde closed meaning you can no longer see illuminated fountains dancing to the sounds of classical music. No flowers please.
Maria got in touch to report that they now offer the opportunity to have your hand sucked by giant fish, which she described as a 'surprisingly pleasant experience'. Er...
All in all, it's been a rough few years for tourists visiting the Isle of Wight to see our collection of fountains. Back in 2017, Waltzing Waters in Ryde closed meaning you can no longer see illuminated fountains dancing to the sounds of classical music. No flowers please.
15. Wight Karting
The only time I went go-karting, I felt sick and had to pretend I had eaten some dodgy coleslaw for fear of being mocked by my fellow racers. So, I haven't actually been to Wight Karting (PO33 1QS) so I can't give much in the way of guidance. It advertises itself as being all-weather, although it does appear to be outdoors so you would still get rather wet...
It's near Ryde and costs about £1 a minute, and it also has a cafe.
It's near Ryde and costs about £1 a minute, and it also has a cafe.
16. Isle of WIght Board Game CAfe
If the copy of Monopoly in your holiday home has half the pieces missing, you might prefer to sit in the Isle of Wight's Board Game Cafe.
It opened in Newport in 2019 with a mix of 'classic' games which I've heard of, as well as some more complex ones which require you to do more than roll a dice and climb a ladder.
At the time of writing you pay £4 to use any game you like for 3 hours. You don't pay the cover charge if you're just coming in to eat or drink in the cafe.
If you're interested in such things, you can read our review of an Isle of Wight themed board game.
It opened in Newport in 2019 with a mix of 'classic' games which I've heard of, as well as some more complex ones which require you to do more than roll a dice and climb a ladder.
At the time of writing you pay £4 to use any game you like for 3 hours. You don't pay the cover charge if you're just coming in to eat or drink in the cafe.
If you're interested in such things, you can read our review of an Isle of Wight themed board game.
17. Sir Max Aitken Museum
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Sir Max Aitken was a rather busy man who was an MP, a yacht racer, a powerboat pioneer, a World War II fighter pilot, a newspaper magnate and founder of the London Boat Show. His collection of oddities is on display in Cowes High Street (PO31 7AJ) and is free to visit.
Highlights include a cradle made for the infant King of Rome, son of Napoleon Bonaparte as well as maritime paintings and Giles cartoons. |
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18. Jay Miller's Circus
Although it's not a permanent attraction, Jay Miller's Circus has been coming to the Isle of Wight during the school summer holidays for years. I've not been for a long time, but I fondly remember sitting on my dad's knee and eating candyfloss. I was 23 at the time, which might explain the odd looks I was getting from other circus-goers.
19. Theatres
The Isle of Wight doesn't exactly have a West End, but there are a pretty decent range of theatres, ranging from TV stars on tour through to enthusiastic amateurs showing off their jazz hands.
There are other theatres which aren't in use at the time of writing (Ryde, Sandown). If you're interested in the history of such things, there is a great page on the Arthur Lloyd website.
- Victorian-era Shanklin Theatre seats 600+ and attracts some household names (Ruby Wax, Danny Baker and Jimmy Carr in the last couple of years, for example) alongside some tribute acts, some drama as well as the occasional psychic-who-looks-like-a-used-car-salesman. Expect to pay £10 - £25 for a ticket.
- Medina Theatre (in Newport, near the Isle of Wight Festival site) seats 400+ and offers local classical concerts, pantomimes, plays, ballet and tribute acts.
- Apollo Theatre is a former methodist church in Newport town centre (near to lots of places to eat). They put on a number of amateur dramatic performances each year, alongside films and jazz concerts. Tickets are usually around £8-£10.
- Ventnor Winter Gardens has closed and re-opened in recent years. The imposing building seats 400. At the time of writing, there's only a small number of performances on offer.
- Cowes has a small theatre called Trinity Theatre which seats about 200.
- Quay Arts Centre in Newport (also mentioned at #8) is a former brewery warehouse with a 130 seater theatre and a lean towards the artsier side of theatre.
There are other theatres which aren't in use at the time of writing (Ryde, Sandown). If you're interested in the history of such things, there is a great page on the Arthur Lloyd website.
20. Golf driving range
There's an undercover driving range at Westridge Golf Centre near Ryde where you can happily swing your club whilst the rain pours down. At the time of writing it is 25 balls for £4, which with my success rate is about 50-100 attempts at hitting the ball.
21. Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum
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The free Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum in Ryde (PO33 2BE) is indoors. The website explains to visitors that the depot which houses the exhibits is 'typical of a bus garage of the Tilling era'.
I must admit to having no idea what that means, but it is presumably of great significance to those who know their Bedfords from their Bristols. |
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The Museum is run by volunteers and only opens on certain days (and closes in winter). You could even get a bus there for the full bus-tastic experience. There's a small cafe and bookshop and we found some pencils and colouring which kept the children happy for a few minutes.
Read our blog about our visit to the bus museum
Read our blog about our visit to the bus museum
22. Lilliput Antique Doll and Toy Museum
Perhaps you fancy something a bit more peaceful on a rainy day- how about the Lilliput Antique Doll and Toy Museum in Brading which has more than 2000 exhibits?
It isn't massive, so don't expect to fill a whole day here.
It isn't massive, so don't expect to fill a whole day here.
23. Ryde District Heritage Centre
Ryde's got a fair amount of history about it, including being home to the country's oldest Pier and the only commercial hovercraft service in Europe. Such things are featured in the Heritage Centre, which is run by volunteers and is in an underground bit of the Royal Victoria Arcade on Union Street.
24. Random Rooms
This one will appeal to fans of 90s favourite The Crystal Maze, where that bald guy from Rocky Horror occasionally gave away a barge holiday to a group of strangers from Walsall. Random Rooms in Newport follows a similar principle where a group of up to six people are given an 'escape room' challenge which involves cracking a code or something similar. I’ve not been yet but reviews are very good.
My mother went for a friend's birthday and found it a bit bemusing but she does sometimes try to use the cordless phone to operate the TV.
At the time of writing it costs £60 for a group of up to 6, so potentially £10 per person - although if you can’t work that out yourself you probably aren’t ready for a brain-stretching challenge.
It is recommended for teenagers upwards.
My mother went for a friend's birthday and found it a bit bemusing but she does sometimes try to use the cordless phone to operate the TV.
At the time of writing it costs £60 for a group of up to 6, so potentially £10 per person - although if you can’t work that out yourself you probably aren’t ready for a brain-stretching challenge.
It is recommended for teenagers upwards.
25. The Wight Military and Heritage Museum
I'm still scarred by a school trip to the Imperial War Museum in London because a boy called Matthew was sick all over me just before we arrived. Worst of all, he completely ruined my copy of Match magazine which had a free poster of Neil Shipperley which I had prepared a place for on my wall. I haven't been able to step into a military museum since.
If you've not endured such childhood events then you might enjoy the Isle of Wight's own military museum which is in Northwood near Cowes and advertises itself as an all-weather attraction. It is volunteer run and offers rides in armoured vehicles amongst other things.
If you've not endured such childhood events then you might enjoy the Isle of Wight's own military museum which is in Northwood near Cowes and advertises itself as an all-weather attraction. It is volunteer run and offers rides in armoured vehicles amongst other things.
26. Afternoon Tea
This is a good one for the adults on a soggy afternoon (or for your daughter if she is Violet-Elizabeth from the Just William books). You can get tea for two at the Bembridge Coast Hotel or you might prefer The Champagne Tea at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor.
27. Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Ideally, I'd visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in the sunshine, but you spend most of your time covered up so it is worth considering on a rainy day. You'll be under cover on the train, and in the 'Train Story' building which is a museum with some child-friendly things. There are a couple of climbing frames which are outdoors and a woodland walk which is (unsurprisingly) outdoors but if you're just contending with a bit of drizzle then it's probably achievable.
See our guide to getting discounts to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
See our guide to getting discounts to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
28. Museums and ARtsy stuff
There are quite a few smaller museums and artsy things which are indoors including:
- The Museum of Island History in Newport's Guildhall re-opened in 2016 after a brief closure. It's not huge, so don't plan a full day with a picnic and two hours in the gift shop, but it's worth a visit whilst shopping in Newport and the building itself is pretty grand (it was designed by John Nash who was the architect for Buckingham Palace and Brighton's Royal Pavilion). It costs a couple of pounds to get in.
- Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater Bay (PO40 9QE) is a photographic museum with tea rooms.
- The Quay Arts Centre in Newport (PO30 5BW) often has displays from local artists.
- Brighstone is a village (albeit a large one), so the fact that it has its own museum about local life is pretty remarkable. It is run by volunteers and is pretty quaint, so don't expect an IMAX cinema out the back and multi-million pound exhibitions sponsored by oil companies. Still, I'm sure they would appreciate visitors dropping in more than a huge great museum would, and the handful of reviews. Opening hours are limited but it is open all year round.
- Cowes hosts the famous Cowes Week and it's also home to the Classic Boat Museum (PO31 7DJ) or the 'Boat Museum and Restorations workshop' to give it its proper title. On the other side of the river in East Cowes is the separately housed Classic Boat Museum Gallery (PO32 6EZ). It is a relatively small museum (entry is £4 at the time of writing) which shows off sailing and powerboats. The Gallery is an extra £1 if you buy a combined ticket.
29. The Isle of Wight Guru Car Park Tour
If you've come to the Isle of Wight to see our stunning vistas and coastline then you may feel slightly miffed at spending the week sat in a ball pool. Your best option may well be the Isle of Wight Guru Car Park Viewpoint Tour, which is our selection of great views and beaches you can see without leaving your car.
Some phrases you may want to try out during your journey to maintain a positive mood:
Some phrases you may want to try out during your journey to maintain a positive mood:
- "Y'know, I think it's brightening up!"
- "Aren't we lucky? We've got the beach to ourselves today..."
- "Most people don't get to see the Isle of Wight when it's as grey as this"
- "That fog is very atmospheric isn't it? It feels like we're on a Hollywood film set"
30. Isle of Wight Pearl
Coach parties pour in to Isle of Wight Pearl on the Military Road (near Brighstone) with its showroom 'dedicated to the art of pearl jewellery'. I'm more interested in the cafe which has nice sea views and is dedicated to the art of cream teas and strawberry jam.
31. Isle of Wight Garden Centres
There are plenty of garden centres on the Isle of Wight, but Busy Bee Garden Centre in Ryde is notable for its size. It is one of those garden centres where it takes you a while to find the plants, once you've wandered past the vases, kitchen gadgets, duvet covers and coats. It's good fun at Christmas with things like singing penguins which raise money for local charities.
Other options include Medina Garden Centre and Thompson's.
Other options include Medina Garden Centre and Thompson's.
32. John CAttle's Skate Club
You might assume that a skateboarding club would be aimed entirely at grunting teenagers wearing NOFX and Less Than Jake hoodies (Ed: please update your references from 1998).
Well, not at John Cattle's Skate Club in Wootton which is a non-profit skate club which runs adults only sessions as well as general skating sessions and lessons for children.
The website says they've had women over 60 coming along to skateboard for the first time. Reckon I might book my mother onto an intensive skateboarding week for her birthday.
Well, not at John Cattle's Skate Club in Wootton which is a non-profit skate club which runs adults only sessions as well as general skating sessions and lessons for children.
The website says they've had women over 60 coming along to skateboard for the first time. Reckon I might book my mother onto an intensive skateboarding week for her birthday.
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 opening times and details with attractions directly if you are planning a long journey - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate.
