Isle of Wight

[Ole]

Thinking of heading there for a long weekend. Anybody have any recommendation on where to stay/what to do? Prefer near a beach. Have 3 year old boy. Thanks

[Carrie]

We have stayed at Grange Farm at Brighstone Bay in the past, it is a small campsite with a few static caravans but also some self catering cottages. Lots of interesting animals on the farm and a lovely beach.

[Curly]

There's loads of stuff to do with children all over the Island. I would recommend Blackgang Chine or Robin Hill for a long day out. The Garlic farm is a great place to go to have a meal and look around - it's free. Bembridge is posh, whilst Sandown is not, so it depends on what you are looking for. I wouldn't bother with the steam train - waste of money.

[m100]

The Isle of Wight is a great place, I spent a lot of my childhood summer holidays there :). Off the top of my head I would recommend Blackgang Chine (bit pricey but children love it), Amazon World (handy if the weathers bad as a lot of it is undercover) Carisbrook Castle, Osbourne house and the Needles on the coast. Theres an ice rink too (I think in Ryde but not sure). There are lots of beaches-Colwell beack I think is very sandy and quiet.If you can defiantely take/ hire a car as public transport is not great.

[WorkingMummy]

I was born on the Isle of Wight. My parents moved there from London to run a guest house about a decade before I was born and stayed there until I was about three. We returned for holidays frequently throughout my childhood and I have been there twice with my own family.

Basically, what m100 said.

Especially about the car. You could rely on taxis to get you places, but you'd have to lug a car seat down there so better off driving yourself if you can.

If you are fit, a bike ride across the Island is good. From atop of the downs in the middle of the Island, you get great views of the coast. But it is hilly so not for the novice cyclist.

There are coastal walks that are very pretty.

Having said all that, do be prepared for a slightly 1950's holiday camp feel about some places. And be prepared for the odd bungalow and caravan park landscape.

Last time we went, we stayed at a very nice hotel with a gourmet restaurant but now that our eldest is 4 and into doing lots of stuff herself, I would consider a family hotel with some facilities for kiddies on site. Such as maybe:

http://www.child-friendly-hotel.com/index.htm?gclid=CI7Ro4Sa5LUCFUvHtAodWGIAoA