The Isle of Wight may enjoy more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the UK, but even here it rains occasionally. Fortunately, this provides the perfect opportunity to explore some of the Island’s wonderful indoor activities that could pass you by.

The Island is the most important site for prehistoric remains in Europe so, not surprisingly, it has two dinosaur museums. Brighstone’s Dinosaur Farm Museum (01983 740844), the oldest on the Island, is an ideal spot in which to spend a few hours when you’re on West Wight. Its family-friendly atmosphere offers activities for children, including 3D dinosaur jigsaws, a fossil sandpit and dino rubbings. After this, you could pop along to the nearby White Mouse Inn for coffee, or head to the “cream-tea” village of Brighstone, where there are numerous food outlets.

The second dino attraction is Dinosaur Isle (01983 404344) in Sandown, which houses both fossils and dramatic life-size reconstructions in a collection dating from 1819. Your visit may even inspire you to find a few fossils of your own, as in the case of six-year-old Owain Lewis, who last summer discovered fossilised wing bones belonging to a flying pterosaur while foraging at Compton Bay. Originally housed in an upper storey of Sandown Library, the museum is now on the seafront, close to Browns Café (and mini golf course), where you can enjoy a coffee or a snack after your visit.

Sandown doesn’t lack cafés and restaurants—Chinese, Turkish, Indian, Greek—plus good pub grub. And you can’t beat Fat Harry’s in the High Street, for good old English fish and chips.

If you’re in a seaside mood, on the Pier you’ll find everything from bouncy castles to dodgems. Or get your entertainment fix at Wight City Leisure (01983 403658), near the Isle of Wight Zoo, which is a giant amusement arcade with video games and pinball machines.

One attraction everyone will love is Amazon World Zoo Park (01983 867122), near Sandown. Colourful birds circle, waterfalls cascade into rivers, macaws and flamingos hide in the jungle, hairy spiders and enormous snakes vie for attention with the piranha fish and, when you are tired out, you can watch the film about the rainforest while the kids play in the tunnels.

More spine-tingling experiences can be had at Brading The Experience (01983 407286), a waxworks museum that has scary Chamber of Horrors figures as well as great British legends, including Queen Victoria. You can also explore World of Wheels, a collection of steam engines and vintage cars, then pop to the Carousel Café for scrumptious home-made cakes.

Just outside the town, Brading Roman Villa (01983 406223) is housed in a stunning new Exhibition and Visitor Centre with superb café and shop. Its mosaics are among the finest in Europe but, best of all, children are encouraged to dress up from the selection of Roman clothes and weapons available.

You can still enjoy a daily swim, despite the rain. At West Wight Sports Centre (01983 752168) the main pool is 3m deep and has two diving boards. Newport’s extensive Medina Leisure Centre (01983 523767) offers a multitude of activities, including swimming, climbing, fitness classes, badminton and gym training.

And for evening entertainment, catering for different age groups poses no problem. In Newport you can combine the cinema with a meal at the Chicago Rock Café, or, if you are adults-only, try a meal in the 17th-century Castle Pub in the High Street.