Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Isle of Wight

"There’s farmyard fun for the whole family at Longdown Activity Farm. Join in with a daily schedule of hands-on activities such as bottle-feeding kid goats and calves, and The Animal Encounter Barn. Lots of friendly farm animals to meet and plenty of indoor and outdoor play equipment too!"

"It has all the farm animals you’d expect from a working farm that you can feed and help look after. They have great indoor activities as well for raining days like a soft play and smaller handheld animals."

"Location: Approximately 3 miles west of Lyndhurst at the northern end of the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive.Remarks: About the most popular of the free New Forest attractions. A very pleasant area with graded walks through the giant Redwood trees. Viewing platforms overlook the fenced areas where a number of fallow deer are kept."

"What people have said: “We spent a couple of hours walking around the forest here. It’s stunning and beautifully kept. Sadly we didn’t see any deer, but there were plenty of horses!"

"A viewing area deep in the new Forest, where these incredible creatures are known to gather. For opening dates and further information, please visit the attraction's website."

"The closest thing in Lyndhurst to a zoo, with hopping frogs and slithering serpents to capture the imagination of youngsters, the New Forest Reptile Centre is a great day out and a fun family place to visit in the New Forest. After meeting the residents of the centre, you can head out on a stroll or hop on your bike and follow a cycle trail through the surrounding woodland. There’s a picnic area where you can take a break to share nibbles, and live wildlife cameras so you might spot a lizard or toad hiding out in the forest too."

"A small animal park that’s home to every species of reptile native to the British Isles. For opening dates and further information, please visit the attraction's website."

"Hengistbury Head is a beautiful spot, less than half an hour along the coast from Bournemouth. It offers views to the Isle of Wight, back towards Bournemouth and also across the lagoon towards Christchurch. If you want to buy your own slice of the English coastline, check out the top-of-the-range beach huts selling for over £300k!"

"Six miles east of Bournemouth town centre is Hengistbury Head, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The “Head” is a promontory looking over the English Channel, and has been occupied by humans since the Upper Palaeolithic. If you don’t have a car you can reach it via the Land Train, or cycle along the promenade."

"Technically it’s just out of the New Forest, but it’s an easy (and fabulous) attraction to add to your itinerary. Hengistbury Head is a headland that juts out of the coast not far from Bournemouth. It’s a bit of a nature lovers playground, with lots of different animals around and a pretty amazing beach."

"A flagship reserve of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, you can walk the 2.5-mile path around the marshes to see many different birds – including dark–bellied brent geese, redshanks, short–eared owls, warblers and wheatears. Visit the Trust's website for more information on the wildlife and to download an illustrated map."

"Hollywood Bowl Eastleigh, The Swan Centre, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5SF. Things to do at Hollywood Bowl Eastleigh review. At Hollywood Bowl in the Swan Leisure Centre in Hampshire, you can get the star treatment when you upgrade to an exclusive VIP lane."

"If you hanker after a coastal location as well as all those acres of forest, then booking into The Mayflower means access to the best of both worlds. Lymington is an upmarket south coast town, with a smart high street, cobblestones and a yacht-lined quay. As you might expect, a nautical theme runs throughout; even the mock tudor facade is painted in greys and blues."

"Musicals and live acts have been performing in this theatre’s 2,300 seat auditorium since 1928. I saw many a pantomime here as a child. It’s also the place to see all of the touring West End shows, as well as comedy, ballet and spin offs from popular television shows like Strictly Come Dancing."