Isle of Wight Attractions

From theme parks to animal parks, historic sites to natural delights, the Isle of Wight has loads of great places to visit. Check out the extraordinary range of attractions and distractions over the next few pages for some great ideas of where to go, what to do and how to make the very most of your time on the IOW. We have some special inclusive Day Return tickets which include entry to some of the Island's top attractions, including the marvellous Dinosaur Isle. You can find more details here.

Pick a section below to start planning your day out!

Animal Parks

If your an animal lover then make sure you head to one of these attractions...

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Family Parks

You'll find something for all the family on the IOW, take a look at our list of family suited attractions on the Island.

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History and Culture

If your fascinated by the past then the Isle of Wight has plenty of rich heritage attractions for you to see.

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Outdoors

If your love the outdoors then the Isle of Wight has numerous beauty spots.

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Wight History Trail

Centuries of historical highlights on an Isle of Wight trail through the past

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Wight Church Trail

Wightlink’s newest themed booklet extends the scope of our Wight History Trail guide to include some of the Isle of Wight’s most distinctive churches.

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Secret Wight

Wightlink Reveals Closely-Guarded Island Secrets

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Out & About on Foot

Great Ideas for Vistors on Foot

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Isle of Wight’s top attractions, tours and things-to-do

A short trip from London and just 20-40 minutes from Bournemouth, Isle of Wight’s accessibility, combined with its far-away feel, makes it of great appeal to travellers. The Island is best known for its stunning scenery and beautiful beaches, but with a plethora of varied attractions, Isle of Wight offers sites, tours and things-to-do to suit any taste or budget.

The Island’s best attractions have been tried, tested and reviewed by TripAdvisor’s 50 million-strong community. The following are in the Isle of Wight’s 10 best attractions according to those who really matter – travellers themselves*:

Owl & Monkey Haven : A home to an ever-growing community of birds of prey and primates, some of which are the only ones of their kind in the country. As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Enchanting place. Owners have put their heart & soul into building a quality sanctuary.” Read more reviews

Osborne : A former retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (circa 1845), which still retains many of the royal couple's possessions, art work and photographs. As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Really friendly staff, very interesting house and lovely grounds.” Read more reviews

Seaview Wildlife Encounter : This wildlife attraction offers interactive animal experiences, keeper presentations, beautiful parklands and great views. As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “What a lovely place! You are met by a vast number of ducks as soon as you enter the gates, they were really friendly and our kids loved feeding them.” Read more reviews

Carisbrooke Castle : The historic Norman castle where Charles I was imprisoned. As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Lovely old castle, the views from the ramparts are OUTSTANDING. We spent 4 hours there and enjoyed the whole experience immensely.” Read more reviews

Isle of Wight Zoo : The Isle of Wight Zoo is home to many animals including lemurs, jaguars and lions in addition to one of Britain's largest collection of tigers, many of whom are rescue animals. As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “It was well worth the money and the animals were well looked after.” Read more reviews

For more information on Isle of Wight, from Trip Advisor go to the website

*List is according to TripAdvisor’s popularity index. Please note the popularity index is dynamic and can change at any time. List was accurate as of 18 April 2012