Miles of soft, golden sand and the amusement pier define Sandown, while its attractions range from historic gardens to aviation and dinosaur themes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sandown, you can choose your destination based on what you want your days to revolve around: the beach and pier, leisure activities, or culture and history.
Beach and Pier
Sandown Beach stretches for miles, with the amusement pier running alongside it. Just behind the sea wall at the Blue Flag beach is Dinosaur Isle, the UK’s first purpose-built dinosaur attraction. The beach and dinosaur theme sit side by side here—a distinctive contrast for anyone who would like to combine a coastal stay with a visit to this attraction.
Pier Gardens date back to the pier’s opening in the 1880s. Sandown Pier is also known for its leisure attractions, including Lost World Adventure Golf, Superbowl, bumper cars, a snake slide and amusement arcades. This makes a difference when choosing an outing: alongside the beach scenery, the pier offers several named activities, from golf to rides and amusement arcades.
Leisure in the Gardens
Sandham Gardens is home to Dino Islands, an adventure golf course featuring life-size dinosaurs, volcanoes, bridges and waterfalls. Its design combines a specific leisure activity with striking dinosaur motifs. Visitors can also ride battery-powered electric go-karts on a 150-metre track at Sandham Karts, also in Sandham Gardens.
Sandham Grounds offers a different mix of activities: a putting green, crazy golf and a skatepark. Taken together, these leisure options are quite distinct—from the dinosaur theme at Dino Islands to the go-kart track, putting green, crazy golf and skatepark. You can choose the activity that best suits your travel interests, without assuming that all the options offer the same experience.
Gardens and Monument History
Battery Gardens are on the site of a former military battery dating from 1863. After it ceased to be used for military purposes, the site was converted into a pleasure garden in 1930. Battery Gardens offers views across the English Channel and also has a children’s playground. Here, a historical background, expansive views and a specific leisure facility come together.
Sandown Barrack Battery is a scheduled monument. It is another tangible connection to the town’s history, alongside the former military use of the Battery Gardens site and the creation of Pier Gardens in connection with the pier’s opening. These places represent different chapters in Sandown’s history.
Aviation and Events
The Wight Aviation Museum in Sandown is dedicated to aviation and aerospace innovations and the Isle of Wight’s aviation and aerospace heritage. Its exhibits include a full-size replica of the Black Arrow rocket. The flying boat The Princess is also prominently displayed and is described as the world’s largest all-metal flying boat. The exhibits offer a different focus from the beach, gardens and leisure attractions.
Sandown Carnival organises a series of free public events every year. These include daytime parades and an illuminated evening event; the carnival usually takes place in July and August. If you’re planning your trip around the events, check the current event calendar before booking a hotel.
Getting There and Practical Information
The Island Line runs between Ryde and Shanklin, with Sandown as an intermediate station. If you’re planning to travel by train, check the current timetable. For Sandown Beach, you can borrow beach wheelchairs free of charge from the lifeguard station in Eastern Gardens in July and August, between 11 am and 6 pm. Check availability before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Wroxall, Shanklin, Nettlestone, Freshwater, Totland, Ryde, Binfield, Niton.
Return to the main travel overview: Isle Of Wight.
