Unlike many theme parks, Blackgang Chine doesn’t have many rides but what it does have is far more important – the tools to spark children’s imagination and the room to let them run, play and explore.
You can catch a 40 minute ferry journey aboard Wightlink Ferries from Lymington to Yarmouth which you will see the kids exploring the ship and standing outside to watch as you cross the Solent.
Blackgang Chine is a short 20 minute drive from the Port. When you arrive you will see a giant stood outside surrounded by cannons, perfect for excited kids. You can park up in the free car park and head inside.
The first thing you see after the admission gates is Restricted Area 5 and if your kids are dinosaur mad children they will not be able to wait to ignore the “warning signs” and see what they can see………they won’t be disappointed!
Huge, animatronic dinosaurs fill the enclosure with life-like sounds which allow you to imagine what life might have been like when they roamed the earth. Favourites include the Argentinosaurus, which is bigger than a double decker bus and the biggest animatronic T-Rex in the country. The ground actually shook when he roared!
As you come out of the enclosure you will find some giant insects to wonder at, walk past and explored the Crooked House before finding the jewel in Blackgang Chine’s crown – the all new Underwater Kingdom.
Proceed through a magical underwater cave which will take you to an incredible coral reef. Your kids will love being under the sea and you will hear instructions from an animatronic crab to help him find his family who had wandered off.
You will discover an abandoned sunken shipwreck to explore and the most amazing array of colourful, larger than life animatronic sea creatures as you venture further into the deep. On the final part of your journey your kids will find the biggest mammal of them all impressively floating above our heads, moving its tail as if it were swimming.
There are so many other areas to explore. The pirates in Pirate Cove, complete with pirate ships to climb and water pistols to fire. Sheriff in Cowboy Town where you can stop a bank robbery, put the kids in jail and ride a stagecoach.
You can also play a real life game of Snakes and Ladders up and down a huge wooden play frame complete with stairs and long winding slides to whizz down.
For children that do like to experience thrills, there is also the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster, Waterforce slide and the teacups to ride.
Blackgang Chine is the UK’s oldest theme park and is 174 years old this year. Their very first exhibit was a huge fin whale which is still on display to this day and I urge you to go and see this magnificent beasts skeleton which you can actually walk through.
If you are visiting with young children please be aware that the park is very hilly, although completely accessible for buggies or wheelchairs. There are plenty of toilet and baby changing facilities available as well as food stands throughout the park and the large Chine café by the entrance which serve the most amazing fish finger sandwiches!!
