The Best Boutique Hotels to Book on the Isle of Wight

Built in the 17th century and Grade II heritage-listed, the Newport Quay Hotel is one of the handsomest and most architecturally interesting places to stay on the Isle of Wight. Spread over three floors, its 12 sensitively restored rooms blend period features such as original A-frame timber ceiling joists with modern luxuries such as deep king-sized beds, skylights and digital TVs. The courtyard running the length of the building is the ideal place to linger over an evening drink.

Overlooking the Solent forts and the British mainland beyond, the Seaview is an imposing red-brick Victorian hotel located in the village of the same name. Despite the antique grandeur without, it’s fully updated within, offering a mixture of suites and guest rooms with quality king-sized beds, L-shaped sofas, flat-screen TVs and nautically themed decor. Guests seeking extra privacy can book the fully detached Myrtle Cottage – a picturesque, whitewashed Georgian fisherman’s residence offering four sensitively renovated rooms. Electric-vehicle charging points are also available.

This boutique restaurant-with-rooms is one of the best places to stay on the Isle of Wight. Offering seven plush rooms, many with superb sea views, it benefits from one of Britain’s sunniest microclimates, sheltered from the north by the National Trust-protected St Boniface Down. Enjoy the warmth over a drink in the Hambrough’s lovely Secret Garden. And, with delights such as dry-aged beef with smoked potatoes and red-wine sauce issued from its acclaimed kitchen, there’s little need to look further afield for dinner.

A great choice for dog-owners, walkers and cyclists, Sentry Mead is a handsome mock-Tudor bed and breakfast overlooking the western entry to the Solent. Close to attractions such as the Headon Warren walking trails and the Needles Battery (an 1862 coastal redoubt built to rebuff a French invasion that never came), it’s the ideal base from which to explore the Isle of Wight’s “wild west”. Drying rooms, bike storage and ample garden and beach space for dogs to run all complement the cosy, contemporary rooms.

Converted from a ‘gentleman’s residence’ to a superior hotel with 22 guest rooms and family suites, the Havelock offers sensational views of the English Channel. Inside, the rooms are immaculately clean and up-to-date, all with gleaming en-suite bathrooms and some with balconies for taking in the sea air. In the summer, beautifully landscaped gardens bloom radiantly, and the outdoor heated pool comes into its own. Start the day in the light-filled breakfast room with local eggs and other produce.

The Enchanted Manor is the centrepiece of the Enchanted Realm – a New-Earth haven of relaxation, nourishing food and healing. A stately stone manor built in 1838 near the village of Niton on Wight’s sunny southern coast, the guesthouse is a genuine fantasy vision within. Rooms such as Oberon, Starlight and Atlantis feature elaborately draped four-poster beds with high thread-count cotton bedding. Breakfast options for vegetarians and vegans are a stand-out, and regular ‘healing retreat’ packages are offered throughout the year.

Nautical pictures, model yachts and miniature cannons decorate this charming boutique hotel in Cowes, as befits a grand house in the island’s yachting epicentre. Built in 1873 as a private residence, the Villa hosted royalty before opening as a hotel in 1985. Overall, its Victorian heritage and delightful view of the Solent have been meticulously retained, without sacrificing any modern comforts. Larger parties can choose to rent Little Orchard – a six-bedroom, whitewashed, Art-Deco house sitting prettily in the Villa’s landscaped gardens.

This handsome red-brick B&B in Godshill – perhaps the prettiest village on the Isle of Wight – is perfect for couples seeking luxurious solitude. All three of its deluxe suites are solidly furnished with timber-framed, king-sized beds, heavy curtains, soft carpets, desks and free-standing wardrobes. And the traditional comforts extend into en-suites with cast-iron roll top baths and separate brass showers. Breakfast options range from the full English to eggs benedict, and the riotously flowered outdoor spaces really come alive in the summer.

Golden velvet sofas, spectacular sea views and a pretty wrought-iron pagoda are just a few of the highlights at this grand boutique hotel. Sitting on a clifftop, this sensitively restored Edwardian mansion offers all manner of mod cons in its individually styled rooms that glitter with chandeliers and are named after the likes of Lewis Carroll and John Keats. Children over the age of seven are welcome, and made-to-order breakfasts can include eggs royale, artisan breads and locally made jams.

A truly unique experience, a stay at this converted WWII fort makes a thrilling change from the traditional B&Bs we all know and love. This tiny private island in the Solent boasts 23 en-suite bedrooms, all with sea views, and there’s a restaurant serving hearty British cuisine, as well as a laser tag arena and cabaret bar. Thrill-seekers can opt for a spray-drenched, exhilarating RIB speedboat ride past other military forts nearby.