Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park

One of the attractions of the Isle of Wight is that so much is crammed into a relatively small area, and guests can easily get to all the major sights simply by jumping on a bus outside the park. Budding zoologists are spoiled for choice: as well as the Owl and Monkey Haven, there are tigers and big cats at the Isle of Wight Zoo, alpacas, penguins and meerkats at the Seaview Wildlife Encounter, and over 200 species on view at the Amazon World Zoo Park. There’s also a donkey sanctuary at Carisbrooke Castle, where visitors can see where King Charles I was banged up (instead of bawling, he went bowling, and you can still play on the very same green). Historical types should also check out Osbourne House, the seaside palace where Queen Vicky, Bertie and brood used to come to top up their tans. If the sun is shining, the obvious choice is Sandown beach, for sandpies and swimming, followed by dodgems on the pier, or a visit to the animated dinosaurs at Dinosaur Isle. It’s also worth taking a boat trip to see the iconic chalk stacks and lighthouse at the Needles, or going loco on the Havenstreet Steam Railway.

 For oohs, aahs and eeks, Blackgang Chine has loads of exciting and eccentric rides and exhibits crammed into 40 acres of Victorian gardens, and there’s a toboggan run, 3D maze and more rollercoasters at its sister theme park Robin Hill.