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The Best Boutique Hotels to Book on the Isle of Wight

Ventnor Beach is just one of the sandy seafronts you can enjoy when spending the weekend in a stylish hotel on the Isle of Wight
Ventnor Beach is just one of the sandy seafronts you can enjoy when spending the weekend in a stylish hotel on the Isle of Wight | © Minkimo / Alamy Stock Photo

Known for its beaches, dinosaur remains and the dramatic Needles cliffs, the breathtaking Isle of Wight lies just off England’s south coast. With rolling green hills, sandy beaches and a charm all of its own, this island is a popular spot with international travellers and UK mainlanders alike. Overlooked by a 19th-century lighthouse, it has a long list of quaint and cosy B&Bs to choose from, but if you’re after something more glamorous, there are plenty of fancier spots to try. Here’s our guide to the best boutique places to stay on the Isle of Wight, bookable with Culture Trip.

Newport Quay Hotel, for a stay in a heritage-listed landmark

Hotel

Long triple bedroom with mansard-sloped ceilings and grey carpeting at the Newport Quay Hotel on the Isle of Wight, UK
Courtesy of Newport Quay Hotel / Expedia

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.

The Seaview Hotel, for splendid watery vistas

Hotel

Stylish, light-filled dining room with large table and view of greenery outside at the Seaview Hotel on the Isle of Wight, UK
Courtesy of the Seaview Hotel / Expedia

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.

The Hambrough, for terrific on-site dining

Bed and Breakfast

A bed, couch and two chairs in a guest room at the Hambrough, with a balcony facing the sea
Courtesy of the Hambrough / Expedia

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.

Sentry Mead, for fresh-air enthusiasts

Hotel

The handsome Tudor-style exterior with lawn seating and bountiful foliage at Sentry Mead, Isle of Wight
Courtesy of Sentry Mead / Expedia

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.

The Havelock, for fantastic English Channel views

Hotel

Hacienda-style outdoor pool area with potted plants, trees and sunloungers at the Havelock, Isle of Wight
Courtesy of the Havelock / Expedia

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, for ‘healing retreat’ packages and vegetarian breakfasts

Bed and Breakfast

Bedroom with elaborately draped four-poster bed, antique furnishings and fireplace at the Enchanted Manor, Isle of Wight
Courtesy of the Enchanted Manor / Hotels.com

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.

Villa Rothesay Hotel, for nautically themed lodgings with sea views

Hotel

Aerial view of the Villa Rothesay Hotel sitting at the waterfront in a greenery filled area on the Isle of Wight
Courtesy of Villa Rothesay Hotel / Expedia

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.

Koala Cottage, for a secluded romantic getaway

Bed and Breakfast

Spacious king bedroom with carved wood furnishings, ornate drapes and soft carpeting at Koala Cottage, Isle of Wight
Courtesy of Koala Cottage / Expedia

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.

Haven Hall, for an Edwardian mansion stay

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Large luxury king room with chandelier, crown moulding, antique furnishings and bay windows at Haven Hall, Isle of Wight
Courtesy of Haven Hall / Expedia
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.

No Man's Fort, for a stay in a converted military fort

Hotel, Treehouse

Large luxury room with sleigh bed, vaulted ceilings and wood furnishings at No Mans Fort on the Isle of Wight
Courtesy of No Man's Fort / Expedia
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.

This is an updated version of an article originally by Annie Hopkins.
Looking for more fabulous hotels on the Isle of Wight? Check out our guide to the best hotels to book on the Isle of Wight, bookable with Culture Trip.

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