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Things to do in Wroxall

Live events and local listings within 3 miles — updated as organisers publish.

Part of our things to do on the Isle of Wight guides — or jump to what's on this weekend.

Wroxall sits inland from Ventnor, close to Godshill, Shanklin and Whitwell, with downland, old estate history and one of the island's most loved animal attractions nearby. It is not a resort town, and that is useful. Wroxall gives IOW Guide a chance to serve people looking for quieter local plans: a visit to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, a walk towards Wroxall Down or Stenbury Down, or a heritage stop around Appuldurcombe House.

For families, the Donkey Sanctuary is the obvious anchor, especially because it feels gentle, local and repeatable rather than like a once-only attraction. The surrounding countryside adds value for walkers and anyone who wants a calmer day than the seafront towns provide. Wroxall also links naturally into Ventnor and Godshill, making it a practical inland connector between south-coast activity and the more rural middle of the island.

Tomorrow

1 event

Thursday 9 July 2026

1 event

Music
80's Mania

A high-energy 1980s tribute concert at Shanklin Theatre with live band, dancers and more than thirty-five chart hits from the decade.

· Shanklin Theatre · £31.00 · Booking required

Tuesday 14 July 2026

2 events

Friday 17 July 2026

2 events

Saturday 18 July 2026

2 events

Sunday 19 July 2026

2 events

Monday 20 July 2026

1 event

Tuesday 21 July 2026

1 event

Wednesday 22 July 2026

1 event

Thursday 23 July 2026

2 events

Friday 24 July 2026

1 event

Saturday 25 July 2026

2 events

Sunday 26 July 2026

1 event

Thursday 30 July 2026

1 event

Friday 31 July 2026

1 event

History

Wroxall's history is closely tied to the Appuldurcombe estate and the rural landscape around it. Appuldurcombe House was once one of the island's grandest houses, and even as a ruin it gives the area a sense of scale and lost status. The village also had railway links, including the historic line that connected Ventnor with the wider island network, helping shape movement through the valley.

The surrounding downs give Wroxall another identity. Wroxall Down and Stenbury Down are part of a landscape of routes, viewpoints and agricultural history rather than beach tourism. That matters for content, because Wroxall should not be forced into a seaside template. Its strength is rural East Wight: animals, walking, heritage and proximity to better-known towns without the same crowds.

Today, Wroxall works well as a page for people who want a plan with breathing room. It can be a family animal visit, a countryside walk, a heritage detour, or a link between Ventnor and Godshill. Internal links should prioritise the Donkey Sanctuary and neighbouring town pages, while external references can cover Appuldurcombe and the downs until dedicated content exists.

For Sarah, Wroxall is the kind of place that proves the island has more going on than the loudest event posts suggest. It offers a practical, wholesome outing and a route into quieter countryside. Written well, the page helps locals choose a day that feels grounded, memorable and close to home rather than defaulting to the same two or three coastal options.

Wroxall also gives the site a chance to support gentler, values-led outings. The Donkey Sanctuary is not just an attraction; it connects with care, rescue, volunteering and the kind of wholesome family visit that feels good afterwards. Pair that with downland and Appuldurcombe history, and Wroxall becomes more than an inland village. It becomes a practical answer to the question of what to do when you want something calm, local and worthwhile.

That mix gives Wroxall a role in the wider site. It can support family days, walking routes and heritage browsing while linking cleanly to Ventnor, Godshill and Shanklin.

Keep the wording grounded in rescue, countryside and nearby village links, too.

That keeps Wroxall clearly connected to family days, rural walks and nearby town pages.