20 Attractions to Explore Near Thorness Bay Holiday Park

This town hall in the former medieval borough of Newtown was built in c.1699 and has late 18th-century alterations. After many years of neglect the building was repaired in 1933 under the supervision of John Eric Miers Macgregor OBE, a specialist conservation architect who managed to save the derelict structure.

The Wight Military and Heritage Museum is located in Cowes. The museum holds an interesting mix of tanks, artifacts, other vehicles, small arms and a range of uniforms from the 1940's to the present day. One of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Red Squirrel Trail is a 32 mile long mostly traffic-free cycling route through the heart of the Isle of Wight’s beautiful countryside. The trail takes in estuaries, woodland, farmland, downland, and a stretch of the Island’s fantastic coastline.

The Quay Arts Centre is the Isle of Wight’s leading art gallery and venue for live arts events. It is situated in a converted 19th Century brewery warehouse complex located at the head of the River Medina in the centre of Newport. The complex features three art galleries, a crafts shop, a 134 capacity theatre, conferencing facilities and a cafe and was fully refurbished in 1997 by architect Tony Fretton. The Quay Arts owns and operates Jubilee Stores, also located on Newport Quay.

Newport Minster is a parish church serving at the heart of Newport and the Isle of Wight, where anyone and everyone is welcome. It’s fascinating history has links to Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House and the Royals. Follow it from the Middle Ages, through Elizabethan times, the Civil War and Queen Victoria right up to the present day.

Carisbrooke Castle Museum is the only public museum in the UK founded by a member of the Royal family and is an accredited local history museum run by an independent Charitable Trust. It was founded as a memorial to Princess Beatrice’s husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg, who had died during the Ashanti campaign in 1896 and it holds many important collections that is connected with the history of the Isle of Wight, including social history, medieval history and so more.

Carisbrooke Castle has been an artillery fortress, king's prison and a royal summer residence. Today it’s the quintessential romantic castle, with lots to see and enjoy. Most famously, Charles I was held prisoner here during the Civil War, shortly before his execution. Since then Carisbrooke Castle has remained a symbolic centre for the island, not least as the residence of its governor.

This is the church used by Queen Victoria when she was in residence at Osborne House. YOu can experience victorian architecture on a free guided tour. The church also has a memorial to the Hessian soldiers who fought under the British flag in the 1790s and were invalided to the Isle of Wight. One of the iconic attractions in this area which paves light to the history of this area.

The Classic Boat Museum has been telling visitors and Islanders its wonderful maritime story since 1996. It has an extensive collection of artifacts, models, photographs, and uniforms. It is located on the Isle of Wight at two separate sites on either side of the River Medina; The Boat Collection in Cowes, and The Gallery in East Cowes.

One of the ideal locations for birdwatchers and natural enthusiasts. The long stretch of shingle beach is popular with kite surfers and wind surfers, families, and holidaymakers. From the shoreline, you can look across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Watch yachts, ferries and cargo ships on their way to and from the harbors and marinas dotted along the south coast

A beautiful former holiday home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, located on the Isle of Wight. Relax in the open air as you wander rolling acres of the magnificent Osborne estate. The island palace has seen royal weddings, romances and parties grace its rooms and gardens over the last 160 years and now you can write the next chapter in the story of this unique home, and begin your new life together where one of greatest love stories played out.

The only working Water Mill on the Isle of Wight Set in 35 acres of stunning rural landscape, Calbourne Water Mill contains one of the oldest working water mills in the country, dating back to the Domesday Book. The mill is still working and has supplied flour and animal feeds to the people of the Isle of Wight over many years. You will also find museums on site, including Grandmas kitchen containing kitchen equipment through the ages. Granfers shed with tools from the past.

This Gold award-winning sanctuary is home to a diverse collection of rescued primates and birds of prey. Whooping gibbons, cheeky macaques, cute capuchins and curious owls are just some of the fantastic animals here.

Butterfly World is a butterfly zoo located on the Isle of Wight. It opened on 1 May 1983 as part of the Medina Garden Centre tourist attraction. It includes an indoor sub-tropical garden with free-flying butterflies.

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary and formal gardens, in a unique riverside location comprising of 200 acres. It also has a narrow-gauge steam railway that travels through the gardens and play area. Its Other features include the Hydrangea Walk, the Rock Garden, Iris Garden, the Sundial Garden, Centenary Garden, and Camellia Walk and so more.

Buckler’s Hard was once a hive of shipbuilding activity, providing ships for Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. It now comprises a beautiful.l museum, where you can discover the fascinating story of the village and the ships it built. Listen in on conversations between villagers of the past in the 18th century New Inn and follow the stories of the 19th and 20th-century residents in an exhibition about village life.

The Longstone is a beautiful megalithic monument near the village of Mottistone. It consists of two pieces of local greensand sandstone probably from a vein 100 metres away. The larger stands at 3.9 metres and the smaller lies at its foot. It has now been shown that the stones are what remains of a 6,000-year-old Neolithic communal long barrow for burying the dead.

A beautiful 88 acres of natural parkland with stunning woodland, open rolling countryside and curated water gardens for endless exploration. The park has four main rides: A quarter-mile downhill toboggan, 4D Motion Cinema, 'Cows Express' Junior train ride and the 'Colossus' a swinging galleon boat ride. On the site of Robin Hill is the buried farmstead of Combley Roman Villa. This is explained in the 'Romans at Robin Hill' exhibition when at the park.

Calshot beach forms part of a mile-long shingle spit that reaches out into the mouth of Southampton Water. From here you get a great view of the ships coming and going from one of the UK’s largest ports. It was home to one of the UK’s biggest outdoor and watersport centers The beach also offers panoramic views of the Solent, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.

Yarmouth Castle is an artillery fort built by Henry VIII in 1547 to protect Yarmouth Harbour on the Isle of Wight from the threat of French attack. Just under 100 feet across, the square castle was initially equipped with 15 artillery guns and a garrison of 20 men. It featured an Italianate "arrow-head" bastion on its landward side; this was very different in style from the earlier circular bastions used in the Device Forts built by Henry and was the first of its kind to be constructed in Englan