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10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks 2021
The Isle of Wight is a fantastic family holiday location with sandy beaches, summertime festivals and a history of Kings and Queens (well, King Charles I and Queen Victoria at least).
It's got a big choice of beaches, ranging from sandy bucket-and-spade locations like Sandown and Shanklin, through to isolated rocky spots along the South Wight coastline. It's also home to the world's largest yachting Regatta (Cowes Week) and the Isle of Wight Festival. As you might have gathered, I'm a big fan.
We’ve picked 10 caravan holiday parks worth a look, including busy family friendly holiday parks with indoor swimming pools as well as some quiet holiday parks.
It's got a big choice of beaches, ranging from sandy bucket-and-spade locations like Sandown and Shanklin, through to isolated rocky spots along the South Wight coastline. It's also home to the world's largest yachting Regatta (Cowes Week) and the Isle of Wight Festival. As you might have gathered, I'm a big fan.
We’ve picked 10 caravan holiday parks worth a look, including busy family friendly holiday parks with indoor swimming pools as well as some quiet holiday parks.
1. Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park Bembridge (busy holiday park, beachside, indoor swimming pool)
**Whitecliff Bay New Year Sale: Save up to 10% on 2021 breaks + 5% deposit until 31/01/21**
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Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park’s trump card is its location next to a beautiful sandy beach, which doesn’t get too busy as it is only really used by residents at a couple of holiday parks.
The park itself is run by Away Resorts and has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, table tennis, a playground, crazy golf, soft play as well as kids' and evening entertainment. They also put on outdoor cinema during the summer and there are various activities you can pay extra for. The beach has a cafe which is a good place to say things like "ahhhh, this is nice". Bembridge is on the east of the Isle of Wight. It’s near to Sandown and Ryde but it’s a long drive to The Needles in the West Wight (well, an hour, which is a long drive by Isle of Wight standards) Reviews average about 8/10 on most sites. My advice is to look at reviews of different grades of caravan on Hoseasons. Price: £975 for a family of four for a week in August 2021 in a 'value chalet' |
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is alongside one of the Isle of Wight's best beaches...
...and it has a big range of caravans, chalets and lodges with hot tubs.
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2. Cheverton Copse Holiday Park Sandown (basic facilities, outstanding reviews)
**Winner: best value Isle of Wight holiday park**
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Cheverton Copse gets the best reviews of all of the Isle of Wight's holiday parks - and it was also the cheapest when we searched.
However, it's not for everyone because there's not a lot to do onsite and it isn't right by the sea. It's best to think of it as a base for a cheap and peaceful holiday, rather than somewhere to slide down some flumes. There isn’t a swimming pool, but there is a games room, a children’s play area and a clubhouse during peak season. It’s a couple of miles inland on the busier and more touristy side of the Isle of Wight, half way between Sandown and Shanklin. Reviews are consistently brilliant, averaging about 9/10 on Hoseasons or 5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor. Price: £739 for a Sussex Silver caravan for a week in August 2021 for a family of four |
Cheverton Copse is a simple holiday park with outstanding reviews...
...and playgrounds for children
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3. The Lakes, Rookley (central location, indoor swimming pool)
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The Lakes, Rookley was previously called Rookley Country Park before it was taken over by Aria Resorts.
It's been undergoing some upgrades although previously it didn't get quite as strong reviews as some holiday parks on the Isle of Wight (about 3.5/5). It’s in a central location which means you’ll never drive more than about 20-25 minutes for a day out. It’s also got indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as a bar, a children’s playground and somewhere to eat. The lakes are used for kayaking and standup paddleboarding. They also put on entertainment during peak periods. The nearest beaches are family friendly ones at Sandown, Shanklin or Ventnor which are all about 15 minutes in the car. Price: £1383 for a week in a three bedroom 'comfort' caravan for a family of four in August 2021 (that was the cheapest option for the dates we checked, although they did have two bedroom caravans on other dates). |
Some of the caravans at The Lakes in Rookley overlook fields...
...whilst some lodges and chalets overlook the lakes
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4. St Helen’s Coastal Resort (outdoor swimming pool, good reviews)
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St Helen’s Coastal Resort was previously known as St Helen's Holiday Park, before it was taken over by Aria Resorts in 2018. It is near to Nodes Point but it’s a much quieter option with simpler facilities.
There’s an outdoor swimming pool which is small but heated, as well as space outside the lodges to kick a ball around. Some of the lodge accommodation has hot tubs. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the beach. I personally really like the local area, which has a nature reserve called The Duver which is looked after by the National Trust. It’s also near to posh Bembridge and there’s a watersports company in the area where you can hire kayaks or standup paddleboards. Reviews average 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor or slightly lower on Google reviews. You couldn’t spend all week onsite, but if you’ve travelled miles and then got on a ferry to waste all your time in a bingo hall then there’s no helping you… It tends to be one of the more expensive Isle of Wight holiday parks when we've done price comparisons. Price: £1665 for a family of four, staying in a 'superior caravan' for a week in August 2021 |
St. Helen's Coastal Resort has a heated outdoor swimming pool...
...and lots of modern caravans and lodges
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5. Nodes Point Holiday Park St Helen's (good facilities, beachside, indoor swimming pool)
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Park Resorts'/Parkdean Resorts' Nodes Point will tick most boxes for a family looking for a beach holiday on the Isle of Wight.
The park is right next to the sandy(ish) beach at St. Helen’s which has knee-deep water for paddling. It’s also got enough onsite to fill a couple of days if the sun doesn’t shine, including an indoor swimming pool, all weather sports court, adventure playground and bar and restaurant. In the summer you can ride horses along the beach and pretend you’re in a 1980s film. It gets solid reviews of 4 out of 5 (TripAdvisor). Nodes Point is at the eastern end of the Isle of Wight in a quiet area, so you’ll need a car if you want to visit busier resorts like Shanklin, Ventnor or Ryde. Price: £1069 for a family of four staying in a Farringford chalet for a week in August 2021 |
Nodes Point is run by Parkdean Resorts and is on the Eastern side of the Isle of Wight
It's right by a beach and has an indoor swimming pool
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6. Landguard Holiday Park Shanklin (indoor swimming pool, 20 minutes walk to beach)
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There are two Park Resorts/Parkdean Resorts caravan holiday parks in Shanklin – Landguard and Lower Hyde (see number 7) – and there’s not a great deal between them.
They both get about 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor and they’re both about 20 minutes walk from the beach. They both have indoor and outdoor swimming pools and generally cost about the same. They both have places to eat, kids entertainment and play areas. In fact, last time I checked they were doing a deal where you could use the facilities at either park once you’ve checked in. Personally, I’d go on price and reviews of individual caravans. The caravans with better reviews get booked up quickly and they aren’t necessarily the more expensive options. Price: £859 for a Pear caravan for a week for a family of four in August 2021 (sleeps up to six so you could bring a couple of extras) |
Landguard in Shanklin is a large holiday park with caravans and lodges...
...and a couple of swimming pools
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7. Lower Hyde Holiday Park Shanklin (indoor swimming pool, near railway, 20 mins walk to beach)
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As discussed in fascinating detail above (number 6), Lower Hyde is the sister holiday park to Landguard in Shanklin. They’re both busy parks with plenty to do, including indoor swimming pools, and they get similar reviews. Landguard's indoor swimming pool is quite a lot larger than Lower Hyde's.
I would recommend either park to families looking for a fairly cheap holiday park with plenty to do onsite, and with a sandy beach within walking distance. Personally, I prefer Shanklin to Sandown, but the latter does have a pier and decent seafront attractions too. One slight advantage that Lower Hyde offers over Landguard is that is a bit nearer to the train station at Shanklin. So, you could easily get the foot passenger ferry or hovercraft to Ryde Pierhead or Ryde Esplanade and then take the short train ride to Shanklin. You’ll be able to get around the Isle of Wight on the buses, though it is a fair bit slower than driving (see our Isle of Wight Guru site for public transport advice). Price: £889 for a 'Clam' chalet for a family of four for a week during August 2021. |
Lower Hyde is the sister park to Landguard
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8. Orchards Holiday Park near Yarmouth (quiet park, indoor and outdoor swimming pools)
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Orchards Holiday Park is a friendly caravan park which is well placed for exploring the West Wight, which (in my opinion) is the prettiest side of the Island.
It’s a quiet location and you couldn’t spend all week onsite, but its trump card is its indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Don’t expect bingo nights or karaoke, but you can hope that the children might put down their smartphones and get some fresh air. It isn’t right by the beach unfortunately, but the Isle of Wight isn’t huge so you can be at the coast in about 10 minutes in a car. It's near to Tapnell Farm Park and there are watersports at Freshwater Bay. Reviews are very good for this one – averaging 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor. Price: £810 for a Pippin caravan for a week in August 2021 for a family of four |
There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools at this Isle of Wight caravan park...
...which is 10 minutes' drive to a popular surfing beach
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9. Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park (outdoor pool, rural location, great reviews)
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Appuldurcombe Gardens is the only holiday park in the South of the Isle of Wight to make our list, and it gets great reviews (generally 4.5/5)
It’s got an outdoor swimming pool in summer and a play area and bar. It’s also right by the remains of an old manor house which has grounds designed by Capability Brown, which makes for a rather idyllic setting. You’ll need a car for this one. It’s a short drive to Ventnor which is a pleasant seaside town which still thinks it is the 19th century or there are some nice walks in the local area. It's also fairly near to Steephill Cove, which is a pretty little beach with cottages and a couple of places to eat. Price: £899 for a week in a Culver caravan for a family of four in August 2021. |
Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park has about 40 caravans...
...an outdoor swimming pool and a bar
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10. Thorness Bay Holiday Park (indoor swimming, beachside)
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Thorness Bay is another Parkdean Resorts holiday park (it was a Park Resorts site before the companies merged).
Generally it doesn’t get as good reviews as you’ll find at the other three Park Resorts sites on the Isle of Wight (Landguard, Lower Hyde and Nodes Point). However, it does have some plus points. In most price comparisons we’ve done it is the cheapest of the four, so is a good option if you want a well equipped and busy family holiday park on a budget. It is also in a very remote location, on the rarely explored North-West coast of the Island (you’ll need a car). The beach is a scrubby natural haven type of place, rather than a sandy beach with ice cream stalls. The beach is mostly just used by holiday park residents, plus a few visiting anglers and is right on the park’s doorstep. Onsite at Thorness Bay you’ll find an indoor swimming pool, as well as a sports court, adventure playground, bar and restaurant and the usual entertainments. Price comparison: £809 for a week in a Regatta Chalet for a family of four in August 2021. |
Thorness Bay is a large holiday park owned by Parkdean Resorts..
...which overlooks a quiet and scrubby coastline
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Price comparison of the Isle of Wight's 10 best caravan holiday parks
Yes, we know that prices vary throughout the year and that there are special offers...
For what it's worth here is our price comparison for a family of four staying in an Isle of Wight holiday park caravan for a week in August 2021. We looked for the cheapest option available and searched in October 2020. Most were arriving and leaving on a Saturday, but a couple were Friday or Sunday arrival instead.
Images are from Parkdean Resorts, Cheverton Copse, Orchard Holiday Park, Appuldurcombe Gardens, Away Resorts and Booking.com.
For what it's worth here is our price comparison for a family of four staying in an Isle of Wight holiday park caravan for a week in August 2021. We looked for the cheapest option available and searched in October 2020. Most were arriving and leaving on a Saturday, but a couple were Friday or Sunday arrival instead.
- Cheverton Copse Holiday Park - £739 *Winner: best value Isle of Wight holiday park*
- Thorness Bay Holiday Park - £809
- Orchards Holiday Park - £810
- Lower Hyde Holiday Park - £889
- Landguard Holiday Park - £859
- Appuldurcombe Gardens - £899
- Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - £1017
- The Lakes, Rookley - £1037
- Nodes Point Holiday Park - £1069
- St Helen’s Coastal Resort - £1665
Images are from Parkdean Resorts, Cheverton Copse, Orchard Holiday Park, Appuldurcombe Gardens, Away Resorts and Booking.com.
