Location & Opening Times
You will find a fantastic family day out at The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on Yaverland Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QB, directly opposite Yaverland beach. We really are a sanctuary by the sea.
This is on the South-East side of the Island and is easily accessible by road. Adjacent is a large private car park where you can park all day for just £3 when visiting the Sanctuary.
Opening Times
We are open all year round 7 days a week.
April – September (Spring/Summer)
10am – 5pm
October – March (Winter)
10am – 4pm
Last admission is one hour before closing.
Parking
Parking is available at the Sanctuary – the cost to park is £3 for Sanctuary visitors – please ensure that you enter the code shown at the top of the parking sign to secure this discounted price. Please note that the parking is not owned or controlled by the Sanctuary nor do we derive any revenue from it.
Daily Animal Talks & Encounters
Off peak schedule – Monday to Friday
| Time | Talk |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Monkey Feed or Enrichment |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Lemur Dome Open |
| 12:00 | Meerkat Encounters (£10pp) |
| 12:30 | Big Cat Feed or Enrichment |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lemur Dome Open |
| 14:00 | Big Cat Talk |
| 14:30 | Reptile Encounter |
Off peak schedule – Weekends
| Time | Talk |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | Monkey Talk |
| 11:30 | Big Cat Talk |
| 12:00 | Meerkat Encounters (£10pp) |
| 12:20 | Meerkat Talk |
| 13:40 | Farm Encounter |
| 14:00 | Big Cat Talk |
| 14:30 | Reptile Encounter |
| 15:00 | Small Cat Talk – Lynx or Serval |
Come and enjoy our spectacular Lemur dome which is open
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 12:00 and 13:30-14:30 and
Weekends 10:30am – 16:30pm.
Getting to Us
Buses 2, 3 and 8 serve Sandown and timetable information can be found at the Southern Vectis website.
Island Line Trains serve Sandown Station which is a 20 minute train ride from Ryde Station. From Sandown Station there is a walk of 20-30 mins to our Sanctuary. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 0845 6000 650.
Hovertravel If you’re travelling on foot from Portsmouth it couldn’t be simpler. Just hop on a 10 minute Hovercraft service from Portsmouth to Ryde and grab a bus or train to Sandown. Buses – take the No. 8 bus which pulls up outside the Sanctuary or bus No. 2 or 3 which goes into Sandown, with a 15 minute walk along the beachfront to the Sanctuary.
If you’re travelling from the Mainland to the Island by car you have the choice of a Southampton to East Cowes crossing with Redfunnel, or a Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Lymington to Yarmouth crossing with Wightlink. Both services offer relaxed and comfortable crossings whilst you take in the views of the Solent.
Beryl Scooter – Scooters available at Beryl bays at Sandown Pier, Avenue Road, Dinosaur Isle and the Wildheart Sanctuary’s car park.
Bicycle – We have a bike rack next to admissions to secure your bicycle to while you visit us.
Walking – We are just a 15-minute walk from Sandown town centre.
Memberships
A membership is a fantastic way to support the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary and join our mission to protect wildlife and rescue animals from suffering and harm.
As well as unlimited visits to our sanctuary, you can enjoy free parking right next to one of the island’s best beaches! And why not enjoy 10% off all food and drink in our Wildheart Café and Gift Shop? Plus, you can get priority access to our exclusive events!
Annual membership offers fantastic value for all ages – and don’t forget that children aged 2 and under always enter the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary for free. For our members with disabilities please remember that you are offered a free carer entry with your membership by showing proof of a registered disability at the point of purchase.
Did you know that it costs us more than £1,000 a month to care for just one of our tigers?
If you are a UK taxpayer please remember to sign a Gift Aid form. This enables the Trust to claim as additional 25p in every £1.00 from HMRC at no extra cost to you!
| Ticket Type | General Admission | Admission with 10% Gift Aid |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £14.00 | £15.40 |
| Child (3-14 Years) | £12.00 | £13.20 |
| Senior / Student | £13.00 | £14.30 |
| Infant (2 and under) | FREE | FREE |
| Island Resident | £11.00 | £12.10 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £47.00 | £51.70 |
| Family Additional Child | £11.50 | £12.65 |
| Disabled Carer* | FREE | FREE |
Donating through Gift Aid means that we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. It helps us to take good care of all the animals in our care. In order to donate through GiftAid only a 10% donation is required.
*A registered carer accompanying a disabled visitor will be admitted free of charge. Supporting documentation should be provided.
Our Sanctuary Map
Our brand new interactive map allows you see each of our animals homes and navigate to them quickly as well as being able to quickly identify all areas of our sanctuary.
Visit Us In Sandown Bay
We can be found on Yaverland Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QB, directly opposite the beach.
Accessibility
A registered carer accompanying a disabled visitor will be admitted free of charge. Supporting documentation should be provided, for example a current DLA letter. Normal admission prices apply to visitors with disabilities.