Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Dinosaur Isle is always our stop off for the rainy day of our holiday. As we were in the middle of a heatwave we didn't have a rainy day. It was lovely and cool in there! There's loads of little activities for young kids. Keeps them entertained for quite a while which I found compensates for the relatively small size of the attraction. Carers also get in free, so make sure to take advantage of that if you can. Dino' Isle doesn't seem to have changed at all over the years. That is until you get into the gift shop at the end. It used to have a great selection of Dinosaur themed items at the end. After our last visit it seems to have turned into mainly a toy shop on par with the other smaller shops in Sandown. Not many dinosaur themed items in the shop unlike previous years we've been there. If you could sort out the gift shop this would be a 5*. This is a great little stop over, especially if you have younger children.
John TitleyJohn Titley
10
Dinosaur Isle is Britain's first purpose built dinosaur museum and visitor attraction; based in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The Island's diverse geology contains a wealth of fossils that tell us much about the past and gives clues to the effects of possible future environmental changes. Starting about 126 million years ago the rocks record the best exposures of dinosaur material in Europe. Progressively younger rocks record a variety of animals that were living on the land, in the rivers, and those that flew above lakes and lived in the seas. Plants are also well recorded on the Island. These remains show that for much of the time we were once a lot warmer and further from the sea. The youngest fossils are those from the more recent cold climates of the Ice-Ages. This story is displayed in the museum's galleries for you to learn and enjoy. The museum provides an all-year education service for schools and other organizations, and a programme of public walks at places of geological and palaeontological interest. The collections were started by members of the Isle of Wight Philosophical Society over 200 years ago, and have been added to over the years. Many of Dinosaur Isle's fossils appear in scientific publications, and continue to be researched. Dinosaur Isle is the most recent building to house the collection, opening in 2001.
SYED ATIFSYED ATIF
10
Sadly the enjoyment of this place was let down by two factors, parking and queues. The outdoor queue doesn't run along the sheltered area by the wall but straight back down an unsheltered path which in bad weather is quite challenging given how long you must wait to get in to this place on a rainy day. Parking was terrible, although plentiful the people (Isle of Wight Council) running the car park reinvest no money in maintaining the aged and decaying payment machines to the extent it's not clear whether they are active and functional at all. See picture attached to make up your own mind. It's a shame that this aspect must sully an otherwise pleasant experience but the museum must accept responsibility given its the place where most families will leave their vehicles during their visit. Do something about this situation please!
tjl101tjl101
00
We got there bit late around 3:20 and last entry was at 3. So, was bit disappointed. But, surely recommended as I received goid report from other visitors. Parking is not free. Cost us £4.70 for 4 hours. Sandy beach about 100 yards from Dinosaur isle definitely worth visiting. There is a kids play area which really expensive for kids. For 2 adults and 2 kids will cost you £56. Dinosaur golf also worth visiting and only cost £5.50 kids. Although, coffee costed £2.50 is bit expensive compare to 100 yards opposite to kids play area only costs 80p. We didn't find Staff women so friendly and cheerful who was serving coffee and also provides tickets for dinosaur golf.
Andy SinghAndy Singh
10
Great dinosaur 🦕 museum. Staff there are very friendly and informative. If you ever find a fossil they are happy to look at it and tell you what it is. The museum is very interactive lots of things for kids to touch and figure out what it is. Lots of buttons everywhere to press. We even got to touch real fossilised dinosaur bones and other fossils. This place is wheelchair ♿️ and Buggy friendly. They have lots of parking spaces around the museum and have a good amount of disabled parking bays. The entrance is on ground level with no steps so easy to get in and out with wheelchairs or baby strollers.
Lei HangLei Hang
30
This place was way better than I thought and a bargain at £8 for an adult. I think some of the displays were a bit too much information for little kids but there is interactive displays to keep them entertained. Any kid who is a huge fan of dinosaurs will have a field day!! Great collection of fossils. As 2 adults we felt like kids again 😁 The gift shop has everything you can imagine dinosaur related and is full of pocket money priced items. The clerk was great fun too 😁 If parking in the adjoining car park, let them know as you get £2.50 off your parking.
Kelliann SmithKelliann Smith
30
Nearby Attractions Of Dinosaur Isle
Yaverland Beach
Sandown Beach
The Burlington Hotel

Yaverland Beach
4.6
(463)Click for details

Sandown Beach
4.6
(279)Click for details

The Burlington Hotel
3.8
(227)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Dinosaur Isle
Caulkheads
The Ocean Deck Bar & Restaurant
The Reef
The Sundial
Bellamys Bistro
Eastern Eye Indian Restaurant & Takeaway
The Old Corner Bank
Muzza's
The Tap
Sandown Boulevard

Caulkheads
4.3
(571)Click for details

The Ocean Deck Bar & Restaurant
4.3
(427)Click for details

The Reef
4.4
(659)$$
Click for details

The Sundial
4.4
(297)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
Culver Parade, Sandown PO36 8QA, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 1983 404344
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Website
dinosaurisle.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.1
(932 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
Description
Dinosaur Isle is a purpose-built dinosaur museum located in Sandown on the Isle of Wight in southern England. The museum was designed by Isle of Wight architect Rainey Petrie Johns in the shape of a giant pterosaur. It claims to be the first custom-built dinosaur museum in Europe.
attractions: Yaverland Beach, Sandown Beach, The Burlington Hotel, restaurants: Caulkheads, The Ocean Deck Bar & Restaurant, The Reef, The Sundial, Bellamys Bistro, Eastern Eye Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, The Old Corner Bank, Muzza's, The Tap, Sandown Boulevard

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