A peaceful boating-hub in southern England’s Isle of Wight, Yarmouth is a charming destination for those looking for a taste of quintessential British boating life, overlooking the Solent. Whether you’re travelling as a couple or a family, the area features plenty of activities including exploring Yarmouth Castle, strolling along the pier, watching the boats come into the port, or admiring the view from the Royal Solent Yacht Club. Accommodation options range from simple, self-catering properties to small, family run hotels — perfect for a relaxing escape.

For those keen on getting out on the water, you can rent boats in the small and iconic harbour, or book a fishing trip into the Solent. For beachlife, hire a car or jump on a bus and head over to Alum Bay, for its multicoloured sandy beach and spectacular view of The Needles — a series of chalk rock formations that tumble into the sea, and are the symbol of the Isle of White.

The island is small, so everything is within a short drive. The beauty of Yarmouth is that you can only arrive by sea — via a ferry from Lymington — so it has something of an other-worldly, lazy-days atmosphere. Consequently it's a wonderful place for a weekend break, both for romantic couples and families.

However, as with the rest of the island, it gets incredibly busy here during the peak summer months and school holidays. So if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Yarmouth, do your homework and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Yarmouth

For traditional charm

• The George Hotel is a handsome, relaxed Georgian hotel with great Solent views. Their restaurant is highly popular, and the bedrooms are elegantly furnished, some with antique panelling and private decks. Family friendly, this is a great base in a central location for sailing or exploring the Island.

For an apartment or cottage

• If you're travelling with family or a group of friends it may be a better option to book a house or apartment. For a wide range of properties for all tastes and budgets we recommend you visit our online partner Booking.com.

Travel information

• The closest international airport is at Southampton. However, for a wider choice of connections fly into the London airports (Heathrow or Gatwick), and hop on one of the numerous trains that run down to Brockenhurst (a few stops further on from Southampton), where you will need to change trains to Lymington Pier. From here, there is a regular ferry to Yarmouth — it takes around 30 minutes to cross the Solent.
• 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.
• If you plan to hire a car, we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in the Isle of Wight.
• 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.