Isle of Wight family holidays: top UK destination guide

Those who've visited this top family-friendly destination will agree. The Isle of Wight, placed close to the south coast of England, is a beautiful and welcoming place to park your van and enjoy a memorable family break.

Last year, the Isle of Wight swept the board at the annual BBC Countryfile Magazine Holiday Destination of the Year Awards. Claiming the top position in both the best beach and best village categories to end up in the number one spot as the country's top award-winning tourist spot.

Here's why the Isle of Wight is one of our Top 5 UK Holiday Destinations for Families and deserves a place on your travel wish list.

Planning Your Stay on the Isle of Wight

You should plan to stay for at least a week on the Isle of Wight if you want to make the most of your seaside holidays. You can try out a few campsites or settle down in one spot and travel to all the sights from there. The Isle of Wight is only 23 miles long, and there are plenty of buses available as well as car hire facilities, so you'll have no trouble getting around.

Some of the top camping and caravanning destinations on the Isle are:

• The seaside resort town of Sandown

• Whiteclifff Bay

• Woodside Bay

• St Helen's

• The Shanklin countryside

• West Wight

Among these welcoming landscapes, you'll find plenty of grassy, electrified campsites to choose from with excellent amenities for every member of the family

Child-Friendly Holidays on the Isle of Wight

Now that you know where to lay your hat, let's investigate some of the outstanding activities for small children available on the Isle. Caravanning holidays are one of the best ways to enjoy time with your children so be sure to enjoy some of these top attractions on your visit to the Isle of Wight.

Gorgeous pleasure beaches are the number one attraction for everyone who visits the Isle of Wight, with 57 miles of beautiful seascapes and calm waters for paddling. Many of the island's beaches offer plenty in the line of family fun with cafes and shops, arcades, funfairs and play areas. Others boast miles of tranquil space for sunbathing and sandcastle construction away from the tourist crowds.

There are also a host of interesting spots to take your children too.

Amusement Parks on the Isle of Wight

The Needles Park on the island's southern tip is a great place for a family day out boasting rides, glass blowing, boat rides, sweet-making workshops, crazy golf and the chance to make sand souvenirs. Here you can also hitch a ride on the famous chairlift from the clifftops of Needles Rocks to Alum Bay Beach below.

Robin Hill Adventure Park & Gardens has a falconry as well as plenty of playgrounds, rides, and gardens to keep inquisitive little minds busy, while Blackgang Chine prides itself on being an adventure park meets adventure playground par excellence. The new Underwater Kingdom and dinosaur displays are among the best things for kids to do on the island.

Animal Attractions for Children

The Amazon World Zoo Park has 200 resident species and fascinating daily 'meet the animals' sessions as well as an adventure playground. The Isle of Wight Zoo is home to several big cats and a stamp trail for kids to follow in search of them.

Monkey Haven is a rescue centre for monkeys where little ones will get the chance to see lemurs, gibbons and monkeys as well as snowy and eagle owls up close. If you don't find any dinosaur fossils of your own on the beach, head to Dinosaur Isle Museum. This attraction overflows with interesting dinosaur facts and fun displays centred on these ancient beasts.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a cute attraction for lovers of all things equine, and the West Wight Alpacas is an interesting stop to learn more about these gentle animals. Be sure to grab some yummy pizzas from the onsite cafe afterwards.

One of the Most Scenic Holiday Destinations in the UK

The Isle of Wight is one of the most beautiful islands in the UK, with many of its prettiest spots designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can enjoy this gorgeous wonderland with picnics, walks and hikes.

Don't miss these top walks on the Isle of Wight:

• The Needles & Tennyson's Monument from Nodewell Farmeasy

• Bowcombe Down from Carisbrooke

• Freshwater and Norton from Yarmouth

• St Catherine's Hill & Coastal Path

• Carisbrooke, Bowcombe Down & Upper Watching

• Gatcombe and Shorwell from Carisbrooke

• Compton Down from Brighstone circular

If you want to settle down with a gorgeous view or two in sight, plan a picnic at Chillerton Down near Gatcombe, in the Brightstone Forest , at Totland Bay , or around Steephill Cove.

Other beautiful spots for your checklist include Woodside Beach , St Catherine's Lighthouse , Bembridge Windmill , the Mermaid and Stag Rocks , and Compton Bay.

Getting Active on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is one of the UK's top summer destinations and has no shortage of action attractions for visitors of all ages.

It's a favourite spot for yachting and boating enthusiasts with opportunities for cruises out to sea and on inland waterways, fishing charters, harbour cruises, and yachting excursions up for grabs. If you prefer to travel under your own steam, hire a kayak, jet ski, paddleboard or pedalo and head out onto the waters.

Adrenaline junkies will delight in the opportunity to paraglide, kitesurf, tree climb, skydive, or mountain bike. You can go horse riding along country lanes, bridleways and open sandy beaches or hot air ballooning over Robin Hill Country Park.

Adult Outings on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight abounds with places of interest for those in search of a little history or peace and quiet. There are around a dozen quaint old churches to visit and most of them offer gardens and a tranquil spot to enjoy a cuppa and a scone during your visit. The best ones are Quarr Abbey , St. Lawrence Old Church , and Carisbrooke Priory.

Other historic sites include Yarmouth and Carisbrooke castles. At Carisbrooke Castle , you can climb up to the keep to enjoy a 360-degree view over most of the island, watch the donkeys working the well, visit the interesting onsite museum.

Osborne House is one of the island's favourite attractions for families since it was once occupied by Queen Victoria. You can still see the gardens and terraces planted by Prince Albert while the royals were in attendance.

Other gorgeous English heritage dwellings on the Isle of Wight include the Appuldurcombe House from the 18th century, Nunwell House dating back to the 16th century, and Farringford , once the home of Tennyson. Be advised that these two dwellings are privately owned, so you can't just turn up without a booking.

What is it like to visit the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight is an exceptionally welcoming destination, with friendly locals and a laid-back atmosphere. The island has a long association with the arts and you'll still find that it's a retreat for artists, poets, writers and craftsmen.

You can view some of their creations at local galleries and craft markets or at one of the many annual festivals and events held on the Isle of Wight.

Speaking of events, the island hosts numerous gatherings during the summer months. Try to catch up with some of these if you're in the area, or plan your trip to coincide with them:

• Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint

• Isle Of Wight Walking Festival And Walk The Wight

• ​Isle Of Wight Randonnee

• Hullabaloo

• Wolverton Folk And Blues Festival

• Riverfest

• Isle Of Wight Jazz Weekend

• The Awakening

• Isle Of Wight Festival

Most of these take place in May, with the Isle of Wight Festival finishing off the season with a bang during June. No matter when you visit you visit the Isle of Wight you'll encounter the same friendly, welcoming vibe and no shortage of opportunities to relax and socialize.

There are plenty of restaurants and inns where you'll find plenty to eat, drink and celebrate. The area specializes in crab dishes as well as hearty traditional English country fare. Cream teas are a speciality on the Isle of Wight, and the prize for 'best scone' is one of the most hotly contested competitions on the island.

Be sure to browse among the farm stalls selling chillies, garlic, and chutneys and visit some of the local vineyards for some decent locally-made wine.

Isle of Wight Accommodation - Sorted!

If you're looking for a carefree family holiday in one of the country's top holiday destinations, take a look at some of our Isle of Wight caravanning holiday options.

Camplify's unique holiday offering means you get to enjoy all the benefits of a caravanning holiday without the expense of purchasing your own. We have a huge range of choices available all over the UK, so you're bound to find something that suits your family size, budget and interests.

Book your van now and start planning your ultimate family escape on the Isle of Wight!

More UK Holiday Destinations For Families

If you loved Isle of Wight, you should take a look at the following suggestions, because they are some of the best destinations for families that you can find in the UK:

• Lake District

• Yorkshire Dales

• Northern Ireland

• South West Coast

To get to any of these destinations, we recommend hiring a motorhome, van, or caravan near your home or simply renting one at your destination , whichever works best for you.

Just find the one that best suits your family's needs and size and start planning your family adventure today. At Camplify we have thousands of vans to choose from.