Family Activities

What family activities are available at the site?
Which English Heritage properties are nearby?
What other family-based activities and places of interest are nearby?

What family activities are available at the site?

Explore Queen Victoria’s Palace by the Sea

Suggested time needed: 1 hour
Be bowled over by the grandeur of Queen Victoria’s favourite family home! 

Explore acres of grounds

Suggested time needed: 1- 3 hours
Find out where cork comes from, watch rare red squirrels – not rare on Isle of Wight!

Children’s play area

Suggested time needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Children can let off steam in the purpose built play area with its swings and climbing equipment. Adult supervision required.

Swiss Cottage and garden

Suggested time needed: 20 – 30 minutes
Victoria’s children were encouraged to learn about keeping home.  Explore the miniature chalet built for the royal children and see where they grew their own flowers and vegetables. See the Albert fort built for the royal princes and explore the tiny museum where the children kept unusual objects collected by the Royal family over the years.

Horse & Carriage Tours

Suggested time needed: 2 – 15 minutes
Hop on a carriage for a tour of the grounds.  3 rides available.

Facilities for children and families

High chairs and children’s menus available in the restaurants and café, baby changing facilities.  Great gifts for kids in the shop.

Which English Heritage properties are nearby?

Carisbrooke Castle

Distance: 6 miles
Explore the magnificent battlements of Carisbrooke Castle, prison to Charles I in 1647.  Make friends with the famous Carisbrooke donkeys as they work the well wheel.

Yarmouth Castle

Distance: 9  miles
Enjoy magnificent views over the Solent form Henry VIII’s last and most sophisticated coastal defence.

Appuldurcombe House

Distance: 10 miles
Explore the shell of what was once the islands grandest house and relax in the grounds.

What other family-based activities and places of interest are nearby?

The island’s beaches

Distance: Various
Quiet, busy, sandy or shingles – plenty for families to choose from.

Blackgang Chine

Distance: 16 miles
Cliff top gardens with fantastic attractions.

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