Things to do on the Isle of Wight in May

May is a great time to visit the Isle of Wight. Not only are we lucky enough to have two bank holidays here in the UK, there’s plenty family fun to be had during half term too.

The countryside is in bloom and the weather is mild, making the perfect time to get outdoors. Each day brings new adventures and opportunities to immerse yourself in the island’s natural beauty and rich heritage. Just make sure you book your visit early to get your chosen dates – accommodation and ferries tend to get booked up in advance, especially over peak holiday weekends and you don’t want to miss out.

When the weather is fine, there’s nothing better than a picnic in the open air. Immerse yourself fully with the Isle of Wight’s natural environment and head to a farm shop to pick up your ingredients! Shops at Briddlesford Farm, The Isle of Wight Farm Shop and Harvey Browns Food Hall have a cornucopia of local produce.

Head to Culver Down, Blackgang Viewpoint or Brading Down for the best views; Compton Bay or Red Cliff in Yaverland if you like a bit of sea to go with your sandwich; or St Helens Duver for a mix of coast and countryside.

Visit Goodleaf Tree Climbing and they’ll help you climb a beautiful, mature oak tree in the historic Appley Park in Ryde. With experienced staff on hand to help, Goodleaf offers families a fantastic day out in stunning, natural surroundings with panoramic views. There are even some treetop hammocks to stop and admire the views!

The tree is about 15 metres high and you’ll use rope and harness to climb it – meaning this experiences is suitable for children aged eight and above. Make sure you book your experience in advance.

Derek Curtis, an expert on exotic mammals, started building Amazon World 34 years ago from scratch, assembling an unrivalled collection of rare and endangered creatures – some you won’t see anywhere else in the UK!

Today, a trip around the site will bring you face to face with everything from armadillos and anteaters to red ruffed lemurs, many of which are part of important breeding programmes to help protect their species from extinction. Look out for their Meet the Animals talks, happening daily, where you can learn about the creatures direct from the keepers themselves.

Step off the beaten path and explore the Island on foot this May. The Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival works with the Isle of Wight Ramblers Association, the National Trust and a number of volunteer ‘Walk Leaders’ to host a range of gentle, moderate and strenuous walks during festival week (9 to 17 May in 2026 ). There will be more than 100 walks, across 18 days, for all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to connect with like-minded people and discover lesser-known areas of this beautiful island.

If classic transport is your vibe, then the Rydabus event in Ryde, is just the ticket. On Sat 16 and Sun 17 May 2026 you can hop aboard buses from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Organised by the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum, some are from the museum itself, others are from bus companies and there are even buses brought across by private enthusiasts!

Buy a programme online to get ahead of the crowds – inside you’ll find timetables, route maps and offers and discounts, so you can plan your visit.

Up to 2,000 adventurers will walk, jog or run the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge over the weekend of 2-3 May 2026. There are half & quarter Island options available, meaning you can choose a distance that suits you. It tales you along the spectacular southern cliffs, past the iconic Needles, and up to historic Cowes at the halfway stop. For Full Island challengers it’s on to historic Ventnor, and back to base camp in Chale after an epic 106km journey.

New for 2026, The Isle of Wight Dance Weekender will transform Robin Hill Adventure Park into a two-day celebration of high-energy dance anthems, house, garage, and pop from 9 to 10 May. This family-friendly weekender promises big tunes, big stages, and full-on summer vibes, with world-class DJs and chart-topping acts performing across three  arenas.

There’s an impressive lineup for this debut year, with some of the most iconic names in UK pop, dance, and garage. Professor Green will headline the main stage, Majestic is set to deliver a headline DJ set packed with crowd-pleasing anthems and Gok Wan will bring his impeccable taste, energy and party-starting tunes to the festival.

Other acts appearing through the weekend include 90s and 00s favourites Artful Dodger, Blazin’ Squad, Black Box, East 17, K-KLASS, Livin’ Joy, Oxide & Neutrino, Phats & Small, Shades of Rhythm, So Solid Crew, Sweet Female Attitude and Utah Saints.

ℹ️ Visiting at a different time of year? Find out what else you can do during your time on the Isle of Wight on our Things to Do web pages.