The Best Hotels to Book on the Isle of Wight

An immaculately preserved Victorian manor, Villa Rothsay has a distinguished past. Built in 1873, it was patronised by Queen Victoria’s son Edward. A hotel since 1985, it retains period features such as a timber-lined, antique-stuffed drawing room, bay windows and wrought-iron balconies in sea-facing rooms. Add the six-bedroom Little Orchard cottage, set in landscaped gardens and boasting a superior kitchen with a four-oven Aga, and you’ve got one of the best hotels on the Isle of Wight.

This Victorian manor house has an exceptional clifftop location – just one of many standout features that make a stay here delightful. Add beautifully preserved period details in the reception, stairway and restaurant, easy access to Shanklin Old Village and the sandy beach below and a genuine welcome that extends to dogs and families, and you’ve got a holiday you won’t soon forget. A separate three-bed apartment and outdoor pool round out this superb package.

The clifftop setting of Luccombe Hall, offering eye-catching views of the English Channel, makes it one of the best hotels in the Isle of Wight. Two of the best places to enjoy that view are the heated outdoor pool, and the manicured gardens surrounding it. Whether you choose a standard room or an executive suite with a sea-facing balcony, all accommodation is furnished to the same luxurious, contemporary standard. The gorgeous village, nature reserve and beach of Shanklin are all an easy walk away.

Overlooking the Solent, this Victorian townhouse is one of the loveliest hotels in Seaview. Spread over three floors, its cosy rooms retain all their period charm while also providing flat-screen digital TVs, gleaming ensuites and all the modern touches you’d expect from a superior bed and breakfast. Larger groups and dog owners will love Myrtle Cottage, a charmingly restored Georgian fishing residence alongside the main hotel. The restaurant, the Aquitania, has a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

This grand, yellow-stone Victorian mansion is set in manicured gardens with lawns sloping towards the sea, and is not oversold when it’s described as a haven. Private paths lead along clifftops and down to sandy beaches where you can enjoy one of the sunniest microclimates in Britain. Inside, rooms such as the Victoria and Albert and the Charles Dickens feature period lounge furniture, granite bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes, giant beds and unobstructed sea views.

The George is a converted 17th-century townhouse once owned by the governor of the Isle of Wight, Robert Holmes, and frequented by Charles II. Now a hotel and beach club, it occupies a splendid site on the Solent in the historic centre of Yarmouth. Leading directly onto the shingled shoreside next to Yarmouth Pier, the garden is a delightful place for a sundowner from the beach bar. From the prestige terraced room to the family suite, all rooms are ensuite and richly furnished.

Step back in time with a stay at the Wight Mouse Inn, which boasts polished wood floors and heavy oak beams. The view from the hotel is a real selling point: it looks across Tennyson Down and Freshwater Bay, a particularly special place in summer. This is a family-run business, with friendly and accommodating staff who go out of their way to ensure you have a pleasant stay. Rooms are decorated in a neutral palette, with traditional wood furniture throughout.

This lovely seaside pub-with-rooms is a good place to stay for gourmets and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The crab sandwiches are a local favourite, and a visit to the Bembridge Windmill at the end of a scenic 20-minute walk along a coastal path is a must. The bedrooms feature comfortable beds and high ceilings and are flooded with plenty of natural light.

At this boutique B&B, large bay windows let in plenty of light and offer stunning sea views. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated, with large bathrooms and stylish loungers, plus thoughtful touches such as coffee machines. There’s no restaurant, but the afternoon tea is delicious, and you’re only five minutes’ walk from the beach here. Nearby Godshill Model Village (a 15-minute drive away) is an interesting excursion.

If the charming name doesn’t reel you in, the location, in one of the most popular villages on the Isle of Wight, certainly will. Decked out with antique furniture, Koala Cottage consists of a clutch of cosy rooms and spacious, individually decorated suites with beautifully crafted dressing tables. Looking for a bit more privacy? Opt for the wooden chalet with its own whirlpool and sauna.