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Dinosaur Isle
About 43 minutes from park
About Dinosaur Isle
Whether you’ve got kids who are fascinated by T-Rexes or you fancy yourself a bit of an amateur paleontologist, Dinosaur Isle is a fantastic place to spend a few hours. You’ll find it on the Isle of Wight’s east coast and it’s the only purpose-built attraction in the UK to solely focus on dinosaurs!
What is there to see at Dinosaur Isle?
Did you know that the Isle of Wight was once home to five species of dinosaur? There’s no better place to discover more about them than the Dinosaur Isle museum that’s jam-packed with fossils dating back millions of years! You’ll find it housed inside a fun pterodactyl-shaped building perched above the beach just outside of Sandown. Step foot inside the attraction and prepare to be transported back to the Jurassic era. The entire museum has been laid out like the original landscape of the island when it was still home to mighty dinosaur species like the Iguanodon, the Neovenator, the Eotyrannus and the Ploacanthus. The museum was once located in Newport, but relocated to just outside the coastal village of Sandown in 2001.
Check out life-size models of huge dinosaurs and gaze at fossils exhibited in giant sand pits which tell a rich story of the island’s geology. If you’re lucky, you might even be at the museum when a new fossil is being installed! There’s an introductory exhibit as you enter the building which takes you on a walking tour through the ages of the dinosaurs, plus you’ll find numerous interactive attractions throughout, including an awesome robot dinosaur. After you’ve finished exploring the museum’s incredible exhibits, why not grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria or wander down to the beach for some fresh sea air? You could also take part in a guided fossil walk – you’ll find more details about these on the Dinosaur Isle events page.
How to get to Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle is situated on the coast between Sandown and Yaverland. From Newport, the journey by car will take roughly 20 minutes. You’ll want to head east along Staplers Road and then take a right turn onto Long Lane. Drive on until you reach Downend and then take the third exit on the roundabout heading south. Turn off at the next left and continue down The Downs Road. Carry on for a few minutes and then turn right onto Brading Down Road. When you reach Morton, turn right on The Mall and then immediately left on Marshcombe Shute. Drive for about half a mile and then take the right hand turn towards Yaverland. Drive through the village and look out for Dinosaur Isle on your right.