Top 25 things to do on the Isle of Wight

11. Step back in time with Godshill’s thatched cottages and tea rooms

Godshill is a really pretty old village on the Isle of Wight. It’s like stepping back in time. There are cute thatched cottages, and a lovely church on a hill as well. As well as some cute little independent shops, there are also lots of tea rooms. Pop into one for a cream tea one afternoon, with scones, jam and cream.

12. Play arcade games on Sandown Pier

Another great British seaside tradition is to play arcade games. Most of the seaside towns have some games, but my favourite place to go is Sandown Pier. There’s a great area of arcade games, with all the classic favourites. There are video games, 2p machines, and even a mini bowling alley where you can challenge your friends to a round of bowling. You can have fun here for hours.

13. Make a sandcastle on Sandown Beach

Sandown Beach is a lovely place for a family day out. The wide expanse of sandy beach is perfect for kids to make sandcastles, and adults as well! It’s another lovely beach on the Isle of Wight, and a great place to spend a sunny day.

14. Ride the Chairlift at the Needles

At The Needles Landmark Attraction, you can ride the chairlift down to Alum Bay pebble beach. It’s only a short ride, but it’s much more fun than walking down the steps, and definitely more fun than walking back up!

15. Play dinosaur and pirate themed mini golf in Shanklin

There are several fun mini golf courses on the Isle of Wight. My favourite gold courses are in Shanklin. There are two golf courses here. One is dinosaur themed, and the other is pirate themed. I preferred the pirate one, as I felt it was more challenging and the set was better. But it’s fun to play both courses if you’ve got time. They give you golf clubs and balls, and also a score card so you can play with friends and see who wins!

16. Walk the coast path at St Catherine’s Point

The Isle of Wight coast path is definitely one of my top 25 things to do on the Isle of Wight. There are miles of coastal paths, all with amazing views out to sea. I enjoyed walking along the coast path at St Catherine’s Point, on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. There was a point on the coast path where I saw the most amazing view, where I could see all along the coast to the Needles on the Western point of the island. It’s views like this that make me just love walking the coast path on the Isle of Wight.

17. Watch the monkeys play at Monkey Haven

Another great zoo on the Isle of Wight is Monkey Haven. This sanctuary for rescued monkeys is a great place to spend a few hours. I loved seeing all the monkeys run around and play in their enclosure, especially the black and white capuchins. I also really loved reading all the information boards that told you about the monkeys. The boards told you about the sad history of how the monkeys were rescued, but also gave some really fun details about each monkey’s favourite things, so you could really get to know each individual character. The zookeeper talks were really good as well. You could see the monkeys up close as they were fed, and hear more about their stories.

18. Enjoy the views on Compton Beach

One of the most scenic beaches on the Isle of Wight is Compton Beach. On the south west coast of the island, it’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon, and also to stay into the evening. The cliffs have different coloured sands, and I loved the views out to the white cliffs towards the Needles as well. I was lucky to visit on an evening that had amazing light, with dark clouds and the sun just peeking through. It was a really magical evening.

19. Buy souvenirs in Yarmouth

Yarmouth has some great shops, and it’s one of my favourite places to go shopping on the Isle of Wight. There are some cute souvenir shops, selling postcards, fudge and other souvenirs. And one of my favourite shops sells coloured glass, that’s handmade on the Isle of Wight. There are some lovely things that you can buy to take home.

20. Watch the Hovercraft at Ryde

I always find it fascinating watching the Hovercraft come in at Ryde. It comes across the sea from Portsmouth, and it’s so fast as it flies across the water. It comes straight up onto land at Ryde. It’s a really fast way to travel between mainland England and the Isle of Wight as a foot passenger if you don’t need to take a car.

21. Eat ice cream on Ryde Beach

Another of my top 25 things to do on the Isle of Wight is to eat ice cream at the beach. Ryde Beach is a great place to get ice cream. There are ice cream stalls with loads of different flavours. And you can sit on the lovely soft sand on the beach as you eat your ice cream. I also really like the views across the water at Ryde, where you can see across the Solent to Portsmouth and see the iconic Spinnaker Tower in the distance.

22. Visit the Model Village at Godshill

The Model Village is a really nice place to wander around in the pretty village of Godshill. I enjoyed seeing the miniature model of the village, with the thatched cottages and church. And also all the mini figures of people as well, all going about their business in the model village. It’s not a huge area, but it’s nice to wander around for an hour or so.

23. Look at yachts in East Cowes Marina

There are plenty of marinas on the Isle of Wight, with hundreds of yachts of all shapes and sizes. East Cowes marina is one of my favourites. There are so many yachts here. You can walk along the edge of the marina and look down, choosing which ones you’d like to own yourself. Some of them cost millions, but it’s always nice to dream!

24. Buy a sand souvenir at The Needles

If you want to take home another souvenir, you can visit the Sand Shop near the car park at The Needles Landmark Attraction. Here, you can fill up your own shaped glass bottle with layers of different coloured sands, all from the cliffs below. It’s a great way to make a really unique souvenir. Alternatively, you can buy a pre-filled sand bottle that’s been filled professionally, with some amazing shapes in the sand layers.

25. Take a road trip around the island

The last of my top 25 things to do on the Isle of Wight is to take a road trip around the island. There are miles of roads, and so many have lovely views. Take your time driving, and if you see a nice area, just pull over to have a look. You might be surprised what hidden gems you find along the stunning stretches of coastline.

If you’re looking for a guide to take with you to the Isle of Wight, I‘d recommend this one (affiliate). It has lots of great details, including maps and places to eat.

Enjoy my top 25 things to do on the Isle of Wight! If you’re planning a trip there, check out my blog on the best itinerary for 5 days on the Isle of Wight, as well as the top scenic spots and top family-friendly activities. I’d also recommend heading over to the nearby Jurassic Coast on the South Coast of the UK – check out the top things to do on the Jurassic Coast here. And for more beautiful coastal scenery, visit North Devon and the Gower Peninsula, Wales.