Isle of Wight - things to do?

[Legend83]

As I can't face dropping £2k on a summer holiday to the Balearics for me, the wife and the twins (1 year old) I have started looking at hotels in the Isle of Wight as a cheaper alternative.

We have never been and know nothing about it.

Is it fairly child-friendly? What should we put on out to do list? Any hotels recommended? We are looking at the Luccombe Manor Hotel in Shanklin:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g190925-d1...

[Roberty]

Yes it is child friendly, Plenty for the kids and the crumblies.

And for those in the middle then the nightlife is poor other than during one of the three Musics festivals

21-24th June IOW Festival
20-22nd July RhythemTree
6-9th September Bestival

or the world famous Cowes Week Sailing regatta:

11-18th August Cowes Week

But there is plenty of stuff to do and see, the attractions are of varying quality and rather expensive.

But the walks, cylce lanes, beaches and scenery are all well worth a visit if you like the outdoors.

If your bringing a decent car please be aware that the roads although extensive are of a poor quality, cracked, potholed and congested.

[chris7676]

Roberty said:

If your bringing a decent car please be aware that the roads although extensive are of a poor quality, cracked, potholed and congested.

Haven't noticed bad roads, it's congested between Ryde and Sandown, otherwise quite easy to drive around and worth it, especially with the family.

[Roberty]

chris7676 said:

Roberty said:

If your bringing a decent car please be aware that the roads although extensive are of a poor quality, cracked, potholed and congested.

Haven't noticed bad roads, it's congested between Ryde and Sandown, otherwise quite easy to drive around and worth it, especially with the family.

If you haven't noticed the Piss Poor condition of the Islands roads then perhaps you haven't been here!

Like you I have a Boxster S and the daily commute is seriously taking it's toll on the old girl.

Then again maybe cracked, patched and potholed roads are the norm where you live too!

[The Don of Croy]

Went last July for a long w/e with Mrs Don and our 8yo. We took bicycles too for the track from Cowes to Ventnor.

Weather was ace so we walked along the Needles - about 1.5 miles in each direction. Coffee at the old battery. Stunning views through 360 degrees. Avoid the mass market funfair/attraction in the bay unless you like candy floss and gems.

Lots of pub lunch/dinner - good food, not cheap, and a welcome return to 'busy carpets' I'd not seen in a pub for decades...

Came home with a fossil we dug out on the beach - superb ammonite! Leaving a 'fossil' centre at 17:15 on Saturday on the southern coast we could not detect another car in either direction for a good 5 minutes. In July. In the sunshine. Turns out everyone was in Shanklin on the beach or in the arcades.

Think Isle of Man, but maybe with the advent of digital watches.

I would imagine if the weather is wet you'd best get a brolly, and promise SWMBO a hot holiday break in September.

[chris7676]

Roberty said:

If you haven't noticed the Piss Poor condition of the Islands roads then perhaps you haven't been here!

Like you I have a Boxster S and the daily commute is seriously taking it's toll on the old girl.

Then again maybe cracked, patched and potholed roads are the norm where you live too!

Been in the Boxster with very stiff aftermarket suspension!
Definitely not bad road surfaces.

[kooky guy]

chris7676 said:

Been in the Boxster with very stiff aftermarket suspension!
Definitely not bad road surfaces.

Well a lot of them felt pretty poor to me in my Range Rover.

I love the Isle of Wight and would recommend it to anyone. Some of the attractions (particularly some of the forts) are open at rather odd days/times though so worth checking in advance.

[miln0039]

The Isle of White is somewhere people go to die, much like Florida is for yanks.

It's just a bit st - I live in Southampton so have been over quite a bit. It's only good in Cowes week - which isn't child friendly. The rest is a bit six fingered.

I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

[chris7676]

miln0039 said:

It's just a bit st - I live in Southampton so have been over quite a bit. It's only good in Cowes week - which isn't child friendly. The rest is a bit six fingered.

The irony is you live in S..on (!)

Plenty of stuff on IOW, and true lots of old folk live there and it feels a bit 19th century, makes it more interesting rather than off-putting.

[miln0039]

chris7676 said:

The irony is you live in S..on (!)

I agree! I'm not from Southampton but my job keeps me here...well, I live in a village in the countryside outside of Southampton now (thankfully!).

Another reason to avoid then OP - you'd have to go through either Southampton or Portsmouth to get there, both being horrible experiences!

[Roo]

As others have said, plenty to do.

We went every year for a few years and loved it.

It is a bit like going back in time. Which is no bad thing as the last time I went the drivers all seemed a lot more courteous as there's no point rushing anywhere.

[Roberty]

miln0039 said:

chris7676 said:

The irony is you live in S..on (!)

I agree! I'm not from Southampton but my job keeps me here...well, I live in a village in the countryside outside of Southampton now (thankfully!).

Another reason to avoid then OP - you'd have to go through either Southampton or Portsmouth to get there, both being horrible experiences!

Yeah both are st holes, for the best effect drive through the New Forest to Lymington and come across to Yarmouth from there.

And we are not all that odd on the Island some of us can even use the Inter-Web and type! Having Six fingers can be a benefit!

I'm not Island born and Inbred, I'm also just here for my job but I can think of far worse places to be!

Obviously there are a few proper bark at the moon banjo types if you look hard enough but I bet that's the same in any rural community!

[Pugland53]

Roberty said:

chris7676 said:

Roberty said:

If your bringing a decent car please be aware that the roads although extensive are of a poor quality, cracked, potholed and congested.

Haven't noticed bad roads, it's congested between Ryde and Sandown, otherwise quite easy to drive around and worth it, especially with the family.

If you haven't noticed the Piss Poor condition of the Islands roads then perhaps you haven't been here!

Like you I have a Boxster S and the daily commute is seriously taking it's toll on the old girl.

Then again maybe cracked, patched and potholed roads are the norm where you live too!

I have to agree, we've been for the previous two years and the roads are awful!

[Pugland53]

Legend83 said:

As I can't face dropping £2k on a summer holiday to the Balearics for me, the wife and the twins (1 year old) I have started looking at hotels in the Isle of Wight as a cheaper alternative.

We have never been and know nothing about it.

Is it fairly child-friendly? What should we put on out to do list? Any hotels recommended? We are looking at the Luccombe Manor Hotel in Shanklin:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g190925-d1...

As for things to do, Robin Hill is a nice day out for the family, the Needles obviously, and a must do for us is a trip over to Southsea/Portsmouth harbour on the hovercraft - the kids love it.

[miln0039]

Legend83 said:

As I can't face dropping £2k on a summer holiday to the Balearics for me, the wife and the twins (1 year old) I have started looking at hotels in the Isle of Wight as a cheaper alternative.

I wonder if the IOW would be THAT much cheaper to be honest...if the weather is ste then you will have to find things to go and do rather than using the beach etc.

Plus it's the most expensive crossing (per mile) in the world to get to IOW is it not?

ETA - You could do 10 nights all inclusive (so no food bills etc to worry about) in Mexico for about £2.5k in a 5 star resort including flights, transfers etc through First Choice! I agree about the Balearics though - it's similar prices there for 3*!!

Edited by miln0039 on Wednesday 23 May 09:48

[albatross]

Pugland53 said:

Legend83 said:

As I can't face dropping £2k on a summer holiday to the Balearics for me, the wife and the twins (1 year old) I have started looking at hotels in the Isle of Wight as a cheaper alternative.

We have never been and know nothing about it.

Is it fairly child-friendly? What should we put on out to do list? Any hotels recommended? We are looking at the Luccombe Manor Hotel in Shanklin:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g190925-d1...

As for things to do, Robin Hill is a nice day out for the family, the Needles obviously, and a must do for us is a trip over to Southsea/Portsmouth harbour on the hovercraft - the kids love it.

I understand the Southsea-Ryde hovercraft is no longer in operation, so you're probably out of luck...carpe diem?

[miln0039]

albatross said:

I understand the Southsea-Ryde hovercraft is no longer in operation, so you're probably out of luck...carpe diem?

They were still going about 2 weeks ago unless you know something we don't?

[Pugland53]

albatross said:

Pugland53 said:

Legend83 said:

As I can't face dropping £2k on a summer holiday to the Balearics for me, the wife and the twins (1 year old) I have started looking at hotels in the Isle of Wight as a cheaper alternative.

We have never been and know nothing about it.

Is it fairly child-friendly? What should we put on out to do list? Any hotels recommended? We are looking at the Luccombe Manor Hotel in Shanklin:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g190925-d1...

As for things to do, Robin Hill is a nice day out for the family, the Needles obviously, and a must do for us is a trip over to Southsea/Portsmouth harbour on the hovercraft - the kids love it.

I understand the Southsea-Ryde hovercraft is no longer in operation, so you're probably out of luck...carpe diem?

Hmm, the website is still up and running....

[K77 CTR]

Hovercraft was running this morning!!

[Kneetrembler]

miln0039 said:

I wonder if the IOW would be THAT much cheaper to be honest...if the weather is ste then you will have to find things to go and do rather than using the beach etc.

Plus it's the most expensive crossing (per mile) in the world to get to IOW is it not?

ETA - You could do 10 nights all inclusive (so no food bills etc to worry about) in Mexico for about £2.5k in a 5 star resort including flights, transfers etc through First Choice! I agree about the Balearics though - it's similar prices there for 3*!!

Edited by miln0039 on Wednesday 23 May 09:48

Definately not even the closest most expensive Mainland toIsland crossing in the world, Denia to Ibiza by the fast Cat 2hrs is probably the most expensive crossing that I used to do regularly even with my Island residents discount of 50%, we could still easily pay with the discount €489 for 2 people and a car for a return journey,now that is expensive for 2 hrs.