Isle of Wight with Kids: Blackgang Chine Theme Park Review

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If you’re planning a fun day out with the kids in the Isle of Wight, then you’ll definitely want to read my review of Blackgang Chine Theme Park. I’ve included photos of our visit, information about what’s there, who the park is suitable for, entrance costs and more! We had a brilliant week on the Isle of Wight – it’s a fantastic place to visit with the kids, with lots of days out in easy driving distance. The weather was boiling so we felt like we were abroad too, which is always a bonus!

We stayed with Parkdean Resorts at Lower Hyde Holiday Park – which we booked for the bargain price of £78 through the Sun Newspaper Holidays. And Finn and Lola’s favourite day out, during our Isle of Wight getaway, was our visit to Blackgang Chine Theme Park so let’s start the review – here’s what we thought…

Visit: June 2022 (Updated January 2025)

Where is Blackgang Chine located?

Blackgang Chine is located on the Isle of Wight near Ventnor – on the southwestern coast of the island – it’s about a 30-minute drive from the ferry terminals at Cowes or Fishbourne. Parking is free and there’s plenty of space to park. The theme park is positioned on the clifftops overlooking the English Channel, making it a scenic location for a fun day out – the views are amazing. It’s the oldest theme park in the UK, having opened in 1843!

What rides and attractions are there at Blackgang Chine Theme Park?

Blackgang Chine is such a unique and quirky place, with lots on offer to keep the kids busy all day. It has a mix of rides, play areas and different worlds to explore. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that this isn’t your typical theme park. There’s no glitzy branding or huge rollercoasters – instead it has a whimsical charm that feels like stepping into an old-fashioned storybook. Even though we visited term-time during the week, the park was still busy as it’s a popular place for school trips – I even visited myself when I was in year 6! But the schools queued separately for some of the rides, letting the public through in between, so my two didn’t wait long for anything. (I’m not sure if that’s a policy from Blackgang Chine or whether the teachers from the visiting schools were just very courteous!)

Finn and Lola had a lovely time, here were some of their favourite attractions and themed areas at Blackgang Chine:

Waterforce: The Waterforce waterslide is one of the best attractions at Blackgang Chine – my kids loved it and went on it lots of times! It’s the perfect way to cool down a bit on a hot day too if you’re visiting over the summer months.

Restricted Area 5: The walk-through dinosaur area is a must for any dinosaur lovers!

Evolution: The Evolution drop ride was another attraction that Finn and Lola enjoyed and went on several times.

Cowboy Town: There are lots of different imagination lands at Blackgang Chine which are great fun to explore – our favourite was Cowboy Town.

Play Areas: The play areas are great fun, and there are several dotted around, as well as a huge pirate ship playground in the middle of the park.

There was also a small rollercoaster called Cliffhanger – my two loved it and made us go on it again and again! Somehow I didn’t end up photographing it – I must have been too busy being dragged on the ride! 😂 (Update for 2024: This rollercoaster has unfortunately now been removed from Blackgang Chine.)

What age is Blackgang Chine Theme Park suitable for?

I think if you’ve got kids between the age of about 3 and 11 then this sort of family adventure park is spot on. There were bits for older and younger kids, and plenty to keep everyone entertained – adults included! My husband and I also joined in with the rides and played with the kids, and we all had a brilliant day. The main rides are generally for children above 1m, but there are still lots of activities for the younger ones, and the lands of imagination are great places for toddlers and younger kids to explore. We also visited Blackgang Chine when our children were about 3 and 5 years old and they loved it then too!

In case you’re wondering which particular rides are suitable for your children, these are the minimum height and age restrictions: Extinction 1.2m, Waterforce 1m accompanied or 1.2 for lone riders, Shipwrecked 1m, Evolution 1m, Pirate Barrels 90cm, Jolly Robin 1.1m and Snakes & Ladders 1.1m.

What facilities are there at Blackgang Chine?

The site is perched on the edge of the coast, looking out over the sea, making it a stunning place to explore and sit for a picnic. It’s a beautiful spot in itself, and it’s definitely extra special in the sunshine. There are restaurants and food huts around the site, as well as toilets and a gift shop. We brought a picnic (as usual!) so I can’t comment on the quality of the food – we didn’t purchase anything other than ice-creams for the kids, which I’m told were delicious.

Some rides might be closed in the event of wet weather or high winds, so make sure you check the forecast before you book – the park is very exposed on the coastline. Blackgang Chine Theme Park is also dog friendly – furry friends are welcome if well behaved and on a short lead. Blackgang Chine also run events throughout the year – so have a look on their website before you visit to see what’s on.

How long do you need at Blackgang Chine?

Personally, I think it’s easy to spend a good 5 hours at Blackgang Chine Theme Park. There’s lots on offer to keep the kids busy and it’s quite a big place to get around if you’re exploring all of the different lands of imagination too. It’s easy to spend the whole day there! Check out the park map for everything on offer:

You’ll also want to stay late, or head back after dinner, for their Summer Fest firework nights. This runs once a week – with a DJ, foam party and fireworks – and it’s included with your entry ticket so certainly well worth heading back for an evening of family fun! For 2025, this event is running every Wednesday from 30th July to 27th August over the summer holidays.

When does Blackgang Chine Open?

Standard opening times at Blackgang Chine Theme Park are 10am – 4.30pm. This extends to 5pm during the summer, and for the summer festival events they open until 9.30pm. The park closes over some of the winter months, and for 2025 reopens on Saturday 22nd March. It’s not always open daily outside of the summer months, so check their website before you plan your trip.

How much does it cost to visit Blackgang Chine Theme Park – is it good value for money?

Children under 1m can enter the park for free. For 2025, standard admission tickets range from £15.95 – £31.95 dependent on the date. You can use their calendar online to see the price for your date – and the higher ticket prices run at peak times over the school holidays. It’s also worth noting that tickets are slightly cheaper pre-booked online than purchased on the gate. Entrance tickets are valid for a week from the initial admission date, so you can visit again during your holiday if you’d like, which makes it better value for money. Off-peak, a family of four can visit for just over £60 in total – which makes it a lot more affordable than some other family attractions, particularly if you’re visiting more than once that week.

If you’re visiting Blackgang Chine over the summer holidays you can also benefit from the free summer festivals at no extra cost. When we visited we paid £40pp – and this was a joint ticket which gave us entry to both Blackgang Chine Theme Park and Robin Hill Country Park. (Robin Hill has since been sold, it re-opens in April 2025 but they have their own ticket prices now.) Season tickets for Blackgang Chine Theme Park are £55 which gives you an annual ticket – so if you’re local and looking for regular days out that would be brilliant value for money, especially if your kids are under 1m and entering for free!

Make sure you check out Blackgang Chine on the ‘Love to Visit’ website too (click here to head straight there) – they offer discounted tickets for UK attractions so it may be cheaper not to book directly. And, if you’re visiting the Isle of Wight with kids under 11, have a fun and quirky day out at Blackgang Chine Theme Park – I hope that my review has been helpful. For lots of family holiday itinerary ideas for your trip, check out my guide: The 10 best things to do on the Isle of Wight with kids.

Where are the best places for families to stay near Blackgang Chine?

We’ve been to the Isle of Wight several times with the kids – for our last trip we stayed at Lower Hyde Holiday Park and had a lovely time – check out my Lower Hyde Review for more info. There are 6 holiday parks in particular that are well set up for families when it comes to kids’ activities, swimming pools, their proximity to the island’s best beaches and attractions, and a wide range accommodation options to suit all budgets. (All of the sites also have hot tub lodges available if you’re after a little bit of luxury!) Here’s a quick glimpse at my top picks, and you can find out more about them here: The 6 best Isle of Wight holiday park getaways for families.

Parkdean Resorts: Lower Hyde Holiday Park – 20 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.
Away Resorts: Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park – 15 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.
Parkdean Resorts: Nodes Point Holiday Park – 40 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.
Parkdean Resorts: Landguard Holiday Park – 25 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.
Away Resorts: The Lakes Rookley Holiday Park – 15 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.
Parkdean Resorts: Thorness Bay Holiday Park – 30 minute drive to Blackgang Chine.

How do I get to the Isle of Wight?

Getting to the Isle of Wight is super easy, with regular ferries running from various locations on the south coast. The main ferry operators, Wightlink and Red Funnel, offer services from Portsmouth, Lymington and Southampton. If you’re travelling by car, you can take a vehicle ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Lymington to Yarmouth, or Southampton to East Cowes. If you’re on foot, there are high-speed passenger ferries, such as the Wightlink FastCat from Portsmouth to Ryde or the Red Jet from Southampton to West Cowes, which take just 20-30 minutes. The ferry ride itself is part of the adventure – I think it really adds to the magic of a family holiday on the Isle of Wight. To get the best price for your ferry journey – use comparison website Direct Ferries. Have a fabulous time! 😍

Useful information for your visit:

Website: https://blackgangchine.com/
Pets: Dogs welcome on a lead in outdoor areas
Parking: Yes, free
Facilities: Restaurants, food huts, parking, toilets, picnic areas, gift shop
Address: The postcode for SAT NAV is PO38 2HN
For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.