Civic regeneration projects rarely get the adrenaline pumping but a Portsmouth landmark offers a feature as scary as the most screamtastic theme-park ride. Soaring 557ft above the harbour, the Spinnaker Tower, £35m worth of glass and steel engineering designed as a focus for the city’s docklands regeneration, challenges visitors to walk across the largest glass floor in Europe at a height of 328ft.

My five-year-old nephew examined the floor warily from all sides before agreeing to take off his shoes and joining the melee of children gleefully sliding across in socked feet. I positioned myself safely at the side.

You can see the Isle of Wight – our actual destination – from the crow’s nest of the Spinnaker. We left the ferry at Ryde and drove along the coast to the Upper Chine Holiday Cottages and Apartments, seven holiday cottages in three acres of grounds with an indoor swimming pool, tennis court and children’s play area, which are a 10-minute walk from Shanklin Old Village.

We headed for the Isle of Wight Zoo, in Sandown, and its 20 tigers – the largest collection in the UK and soon to become media stars in ITV’s Tiger Island series, which starts tonight. Coming face to face with the animals, which include Diamond, a gorgeous rare ginger tabby Indian tiger and Zena, a white tigress, was a thrilling but sobering experience – both very friendly, they came right up to the glass wall that separated us. My nephew was full of questions, which the keepers were happy to answer. The zoo is also involved in a conservation project for lemurs and you can watch them being fed each day. The regular tours are informative but, at an hour long, they are more suited to older children and adults.

Dinosaur Isle, a short walk from the zoo, is renowned for research as well as exhibits that include the remains of the 15 types of dinosaurs that have been found on the island. Children can play with the animatronic velociraptor built by the designers who created the dinosaurs for Jurassic Park; they can excavate their own fossils or go on fossil hunts on the beaches at Brook and Yaverland.

Spinnaker Tower, 023 9285 7520, www.spinnakertower.co.uk, entry costs £7.20 per adult, £6 per child (5-16), family £25; Wightlink, 0870 582 7744, www.wightlink.co.uk. Short-break return for car and four passengers £55; Upper Chine Holiday Cottages & Apartments, 01983 867 900, www.upperchinecottages.co.uk, from £300 per week; Isle of Wight Zoo, 01983 403 883, www.isleofwightzoo.com. Entry £5.95 per adult, £4.95 per child (5-16) and senior citizen, families from £19.25; Dinosaur Isle, 01983 404 344, www.dinosaurisle.com. Entry £4.85 per adult, £2.85 per child (3-15), family, £13.50, seniors and concessions, £3.60 www.islandbreaks.co.uk; www.visitportsmouth.co.uk;

www.wightlink.co.uk/familyfun

Family retreats

- Bruern Holiday Cottages near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, share a heated outdoor swimming pool and spa bath. There are 12 self-catering cottages with access to a walled garden with Wendy house and climbing frame. Prices from £1,218 high season (sleeping two) for one week. 01993 830 415, www.bruern-holiday-cottages.co.uk

- Guesthouse East is 160ft from the beach in Eastbourne and has boutique rooms with their own kitchens that can sleep up to four. Rooms begin at £40 per adult per night, with special children’s rates. 01323 722 774, www.theguesthouseeastbourne.co.uk

- An upscale caravan park in the New Forest, Sandy Balls has a choice of lodge, caravan or tent. Cost: £386 for a family of four in a tent (high season). 01425 653 042, www.sandy-balls.co.uk