9 Top Isle of Wight Family Holidays Inspiration

Named the Holiday Destination of the Year 2020, the Isle of Wight is our top pick for a family-friendly getaway this summer.

Promising fresh air, family activities and new safety precautions implemented to mitigate against COVID-19, holidays to the Isle of Wight have never seemed a better idea. Abounding in glorious beaches, historical sites and sprawling countryside, the Isle of Wight offers a wide range of accommodation and activities for families, and children of all ages.

Relax while your kids paddle board at The Lakes Rookley or enjoy a family picnic on the private beach at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park; the Isle of Wight truly does have it all.

Here, we round up our favourite holiday stays for families on the Isle of Wight.

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Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is a family-friendly site, offering a  great range of accommodation options including glamping, lodges and caravans, as well as 400 pitching spaces for traditional campers. With its own secluded beach, an outdoor cinema with four weekly showings (bring your own blanket!

), crazy golf and an outdoor adventure playground, this is the perfect retreat for the whole family.

One of the best Isle of Wight holiday parks, Whitecliff Bay also has an outdoor swimming pool, which is currently open.

A stay at Whitecliff Bay promises seaside adventures and action-packed days in a safe environment -  all equipment is cleaned before hire and take-away options are available at The Nab Bar and Eatery. An electric pitch at this fun-filled park costs just £8.80 per night.

If you fancy a day out, visit the nearby Carisbrooke Castle, a twelfth century castle where your kids can meet the resident donkeys, or take a trip to the Isle of Wight Zoo.

Tom's Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm

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Located on a beautiful countryside dairy farm in Yarmouth, to the West of the Isle of Wight, Tom's Eco Lodge is an idyllic and environmentally friendly glamping option. You can make the most of the stunning surroundings in luxury, in eco-pods, cabins, modulogs or tents.

The dog-friendly site is perfect for those who don't want to leave their pets behind. With an onsite adventure park, Tapnell Farm Park, which is currently offering outdoor activities such as go-karting, mini golf and bouncy pillows, this is ideal for families with adventurous and energetic children.

The Tapnell Trail walk, a 6.5 mile circular ramble around the farm is an activity for the whole family to enjoy during their stay.

The site has taken extra safety measures to mitigate against Covid-19, with a compulsory health questionnaire before arrival, and temperature checks before entering establishments such as the Cow Restaurant. Bookings will be protected by Mastercancel after 1 August.

Luccombe Hall Hotel

A more traditional hotel experience, the Luccombe Hall Hotel lies in Shanklin, at the heart of the Isle of Wight's most famous seaside location. Situated on the coast, and offering gardens with lovely views, the Luccombe Hall Hotel won a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019.

It's not difficult to see why, with the Isle of Wight's famed sandy beaches nearby, a heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, and activities such as an outdoor playground and a pitch and putt currently available.

Reviews speak of a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at one of the best family hotels on the Isle of Wight. Take-away breakfast options such as egg muffins can be delivered to your door while the restaurant maintains social distancing measures. Rooms with a sea view, as well as cosier standard rooms, are available.

Currently taking bookings, and with a 67% off discount for children aged 2-15 sharing a room with two adults, Luccombe Hall Hotel is a wonderful option for those seeking a traditional, relaxed holiday on the Isle of Wight.

The Lakes Rookley

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One for sporting enthusiasts, The Lakes Rookley can be found in Rookley Village, at the very centre of the Isle of Wight. The Lakes Rookley provides an enormous range of activities, with archery, rifle shooting (both 8+) and crazy karts (5+) as well as paddle boarding (which starts from just £12.50) on the site's very own lake.

Booking for these activities is available until mid-August.

If you want to unwind while your kids play, simply head to the spacious outdoor pool. Recently, extra health precautions have been put in place at the Lakes Rookley, with a strict system of sanitising wetsuits and a 72 hour gap between wears implemented due to COVID-19, meaning a safe but active holiday for your children.

At the end of the day, wind down in a cosy caravan,  lakehouse, or more luxurious cottage.

One week in a caravan which sleeps a family of four costs just £673, while the 3 bedroom Premium Cottages remain good value for money at £1378 for seven nights.

Landguard Holiday Park

Landguard Holiday Park is an excellent family-friendly option for those seeking a trip with a splash of everything.

Situated in a luscious wooded area, yet just a five minute drive away from the sandy beach of Shanklin, a stay at Landguard Holiday Park means both woodland hikes and sunny seaside swims are possible during your trip to the Isle of Wight.

Onsite, the currently open adventure playground will keep younger children entertained, while the outdoor swimming pool (open from 13 July), means hours of fun for everyone.

Take-away options from the Bar and Restaurant are possible for a socially-distanced stay.

With a range of accommodation options, the Pine Caravan, which sleeps six, starts at £589 for the week. Camping is also available. For a treat, indulge in a luxury lodge at £1589 for the week. This includes facilities such as a fridge-freezer, Flatscreen TV with Freeview and a heated towel rail.

Chale Bay Farm

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For a truly sumptuous family stay on the Isle of Wight, Chale Bay Farm is a top contender. Open for bookings from 4 July, the farm in southerly Ventnor offers three five star self catering apartments, with incredible views of the Isle of Wight's chalk cliffs and the seaside.

Its website boasts hot weather similar to that of Northern Spain, and a shared lawn and gardens (26 acres in total), provides plenty of space for your kids to play.

Some standout features of this luxury accommodation include a heated towel rail, open plan kitchen and DVD player in each apartment. Nearby activities include Godshill Model Village which is open from 18 July, and, for history enthusiasts, Osborne House, one of Queen Victoria's palaces.

With safety measures such as anti-viral fogging treatment for hard surfaces and a removal of all unnecessary items (pack your own board games!), Chale Bay Farm has been deemed as safe to open by Visit Britain. With a 20% off deal for the 2020 summer holidays, book Chale Bay Farm for leisurely family fun on the Isle of Wight.

Tiny Homes Holidays

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Tiny Homes Holidays offers a unique and deeply immersive eco-friendly family holiday on the Isle of Wight. Consisting of four eco-cottages which dot a dreamy meadow near the Cowes coast to the island's north, Tiny Homes Holidays  provides self-catering facilities for families seeking an idyllic and laidback trip.

Each cottage houses a family of four, with environmentally friendly features such as solar power and composting toilets. The site is located by Parkhurst Forest, a site of natural beauty with walking and cycling routes for you and your kids enjoy.

This low-fi retreat provides parents and children with the opportunity to switch off and enjoy their surroundings, while new cleaning measures and protocol means a safe stay during COVID-19.

At £135 for one night in a cottage, Tiny Homes Holidays provides a restful, ethical option on the Isle of Wight, and is perfect for families with children of any age.

North House

If a sophisticated, serene stay is what you're seeking, look no further than North House. Located in the old town of Cowes - replete with picturesque cottages, as well as independent shops for families to explore - North house is a converted Georgian townhouse.

Featuring 14 rooms with elegant, rustic-style furnishings, North House is perfect for smaller families, and is pet friendly too.

You can make the most of close proximity to the sandy shores, with the hotel providing beach picnics for a fun lunch out. The beautiful outdoor swimming pool is currently open, a perfect option for sunny afternoons.

Social distancing measures are currently in place at the hotel's Sister restaurant, The Coast Bar and Dining Room, which is happy to adapt dishes to suit your kids or heat up baby food.

A Cosy Room is £145 per night, while a Spacious room is £245 at this lavish Isle of Wight destination. Guest beds for kids up to the age of ten and travel cots for babies can be added to the double rooms at a small extra cost.

Alternatively, you can splash out and treat your teens to their very own room.

The Orchards Holiday and Camping Park

For a classic camping or caravan experience, this family owned park to the West of the Isle of Wight is a great option for families on a budget. Set in the heart of green countryside, hikers and cyclists will certainly feel at home, with areas such as Newton Creek, a Nature Reserve that protects endangered species.

Another site of natural beauty to visit, the nearby Freshwater contains plenty of rock pools for your kids to explore.

If you want to add some sightseeing to your stay, you're in luck; the charming old town of Yarmouth is just a ten minute drive away, with a castle built by Henry VIII, and magnificent coastal scenery to marvel at, while the Elizabethan gardens at nearby Mottistone have recently reopened.

The Park has implemented extra safety and cleaning measures in light of COVID-19, and is open from 10 July.