The Isle of Wight is no longer overlooked for being the preserve of the family bucket and spade holiday. Sure, the sailors always knew about this fantastic island with its incredible varied coastline, and the family campers with their buckets and spades certainly knew about its reliable weather, and local foodies knew about it too, but for ages it flew under the radar. But then the music festival came to the island, and suddenly it started to get hip. Campsites got yurts and vintage camper vans, the foodie scene really hotted up, and seaside kitsch got cool. So now the best places to stay on the island are as eclectic a bunch as the visitors, from traditional old-fashioned B&Bs to chic guesthouses and elegant coastal hotels.

Some of our Isle of Wight Collections:

• Best Luxury Hotels on the Isle of Wight
• Best Hotels in Cowes
• Best Hotels in Ventnor
• Best Hotels in Yarmouth
• Best Hotels in Seaview

The best places to stay in the Isle of Wight are incredibly busy during the peak summer months, and almost impossible to book during the festival. So if you're planning a visit during July or August, do yourself a favour and plan well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay on the Isle of Wight

For a seaview

• The Seaview Hotel in Seaview, does have excellent sea views, luckily! There are 28 rooms and suites, some of them perfect for families, decorated in either classic seaside chintz, or contemporary simplicity. There’s a busy terrace with two restaurants, which are popular with visitors and locals, probably because of the sea views. And the fact that you’re so close to the water’s edge.
• The Hambrough is an enchanting villa set on top of a cliff in Ventnor, overlooking the Channel. There are just seven stylish rooms, each of them with a pampering bathroom and a balcony for enjoying the view. There's also a highly regarded restaurant.

For an escape

• The Wight Mouse Inn is a delightfully rural inn in a sleepy village on the Isle of Wight’s quiet, southern coastline, near Blackgang and Chale. Outside the windows are great expanses of empty (but beautiful) landscape, while inside there’s a hint of country chintz to the 11 simple, cosy rooms with their pale colours and pine furnishings. The pub is very good too.
• The Fishbourne is an easy escape to get to, close to the Wightlink ferry port at Fishbourne, but it’s surrounded by countryside and the five light, airy rooms have tranquil water views. The rooms are above a pub, which has plenty of atmosphere, and local regulars, and there’s an innovative British restaurant which specialises in seafood.

For romance

• North House, a 19th century Grade II listed property, is an elegant choice in Cowes, with sea views, and a sublime seafood menu. There’s a boutique feel, with period features, but antique-style contemporary furnishings. And there’s a pool.
• For something grander try the Albert Cottage Hotel, an impressive hotel on the outskirts of East Cowes. Each of the ten rooms have been individually decorated with aplomb, and feature antiques, original artworks and huge windows overlooking the gardens. And there’s a superb restaurant.

For Families

• The George Hotel in Yarmouth is a family friendly Georgian property with a huge sun terrace overlooking the Solent, and superb period features inside, including a17th century panelled hall and bedrooms with crooked wooden floors. It’s between the pier and Yarmouth Castle, and less than a minute from Fort Victoria, so the location is great. There are 17 rooms and suites, and the larger ones have antique panelling and private decks.
• The Royal Hotel ticks lots of boxes, with its beautiful exterior, glorious sea views, buzzy bar and smart restaurant, but it’s the scale of the hotel which has picked the category for us. With its 52 rooms and suites, there’s lots of choice when it comes to room configuration, and the family suites are very spacious. Plus, you’re minutes from the beach.

The Isle of Wight’s Best B&Bs

• Gotten Manor — The Old House is a wonderful place to escape from modern life. This historic B&B conversion is quaint with its original stone walls and low doorways, and is decorated simply, with antiques and Persian rugs. In addition to the two B&B rooms the are three converted, self-catering barns you can book. There’s no restaurant and the closest pub and shop is a three mile walk. But it’s so charming it’s well worth the extra effort.

Prefer an apartment or cottage?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private cottage we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel information

• Two ferry routes serve the Isle of Wight; one runs from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and the other Lymington to Yarmouth. Portsmouth has an international airport and both Lymington and Portsmouth have good train connections across the UK.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• The UK is known for its unpredictable weather, but, surprisingly considering it’s a small island in the middle of water, the Isle of Wight has a microclimate that’s a bit more reliable than many places in the UK. Spring days often start with rough seas and fog which burns through to sunshine, summer is dry and sunny, autumn is mild and sunny still, but with less daylight hours of sunshine, and winter is often crisp and still sunny.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay on the Isle of Wight?

• You might want to expand your search to include the best places to stay in Lymington, which is just across the water from Yarmouth, or the best places to stay in Portsmouth, a ferry trip from Fishbourne.
• Or you could have a look at our recommendations for 13 of the Best Hotels in the New Forest which is also just across the water.
• Expand your search to include all our recommendations in neighbouring Hampshire.
• Or, if it’s a hotel on an island you’re looking for check out our list of 10 of the UK’s Best island Hotels!
• Alternatively, you can contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in The Isle of Wight