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10 Best Isle Of Wight Holiday Cottages For Large Groups 2024
If you're planning an Isle of Wight holiday for three generations of the same family plus assorted hangers-on and aunts then you'll probably be looking for a large property that can cope with at least 10 or 20 people.
Here is my pick of 10 of the highest rated and best value large self catering holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight. If you're doing stag do research, check out our guide to activities for an Isle of Wight stag weekend or see our guide to 8 of the best Isle of Wight manor houses for more of this sort of thing.
Here is my pick of 10 of the highest rated and best value large self catering holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight. If you're doing stag do research, check out our guide to activities for an Isle of Wight stag weekend or see our guide to 8 of the best Isle of Wight manor houses for more of this sort of thing.
1. The Marine Villa/Charleston House, Shanklin, Sleeps 18
This massive holiday house is pretty spectacular. Marine Villa (also known as Charleston House) is a 1920s gentleman's residence with fantastic views and a dining room suitable for a sword fight scene in a Bond film. Its water feature is something else and its art deco touches are pretty cool too. It's actually not all that expensive if you spread the cost out between 18. It has six bedrooms in total.
The location is on the cliffs over Shanklin with sea views from the end of the garden. Shanklin is a traditional bucket-and-spade sort of place that is great for kids, with a long sandy beach and multiple minigolf courses on the esplanade. There are also several places to eat on the seafront. You can walk to the seafront from the house in about 10 minutes.
One of the bedrooms is wheelchair accessible and it also has an accessible wet room.
The location is on the cliffs over Shanklin with sea views from the end of the garden. Shanklin is a traditional bucket-and-spade sort of place that is great for kids, with a long sandy beach and multiple minigolf courses on the esplanade. There are also several places to eat on the seafront. You can walk to the seafront from the house in about 10 minutes.
One of the bedrooms is wheelchair accessible and it also has an accessible wet room.
Marine Villa is an art deco style house...
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...with a good sized dining room
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2. Lucerne, Cowes, Sleeps 12
Cowes is a busy town during the summer, particularly during Cowes Week when every sailor and his dog turns up. The beach is shingly and not really a swimming beach, but we love having a wander and watching the cruise ships from the long esplanade that leads to Gurnard. Cowes town centre has more evening life than most Isle of Wight towns and there's a good choice of restaurants and pubs.
Lucerne sleeps 12 people in six bedrooms. It's only six minutes walk from Red Funnel's foot passenger ferry from Southampton, so it's a good choice if some of your party are arriving on foot.
Other plus points are that there's a table tennis table and space for 2-3 cars. Free parking spaces are like gold dust in Cowes during summer.
There are two lounges, which should reduce the risk of arguments between families. Several of the beds are super king size too.
Lucerne is a dog friendly property.
Lucerne sleeps 12 people in six bedrooms. It's only six minutes walk from Red Funnel's foot passenger ferry from Southampton, so it's a good choice if some of your party are arriving on foot.
Other plus points are that there's a table tennis table and space for 2-3 cars. Free parking spaces are like gold dust in Cowes during summer.
There are two lounges, which should reduce the risk of arguments between families. Several of the beds are super king size too.
Lucerne is a dog friendly property.
Lucerne has two lounges - including a snug which leads to outside seating
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The garden has space for eating out and a table tennis table
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3. The Hermitage, near Ventnor, Sleeps 20
The Hermitage is a swanky manor house with 11 acres of land, sea views, 10 bedrooms, a gym and pool table. A friend of mine was taken there by his employees for a team-building thing and spoke very highly of it (my employee always picked Travelodge, which doesn't seem fair).
In case you're interested, I'll tell you that it was built in the 1890s. Be honest, you're not really interested, are you?
You'll find it in the rural South Wight, a couple of miles inland from Blackgang and Ventnor.
In case you're interested, I'll tell you that it was built in the 1890s. Be honest, you're not really interested, are you?
You'll find it in the rural South Wight, a couple of miles inland from Blackgang and Ventnor.
The Hermitage is big enough for several families to get together...
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...and it's rather nice inside
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4. Rossiter's Vineyard Barns, near Yarmouth, Sleeps 26 in 5 barns (or smaller groups)
Rossiter's Vineyard Barns near Yarmouth in the West Wight is an appealing option if you're concerned that your Aunt Maude will be bickering with your mother-in-law after 20 minutes under the same roof.
There are five properties, so you can strategically spread people out, just like you would when creating a seating plan for a wedding. The only downside is that they are separate properties so dining together might be a challenge and you'll need to book early if you want to get all five of them for yourselves.
Of course, you don't have to book all five so these would be suitable for groups of about 10-15 as well. Most of the properties have wine related names and are called Rossiter's Cottage (sleeps 6), Rondo (sleeps 4), Dornfelder (sleeps 4) and Orion (sleeps 6).
The barns only opened in 2018 so they're nice and modern. Three of the properties have hot tubs so you can sit outside and say things like "ahhhh, this is nice".
There are five properties, so you can strategically spread people out, just like you would when creating a seating plan for a wedding. The only downside is that they are separate properties so dining together might be a challenge and you'll need to book early if you want to get all five of them for yourselves.
Of course, you don't have to book all five so these would be suitable for groups of about 10-15 as well. Most of the properties have wine related names and are called Rossiter's Cottage (sleeps 6), Rondo (sleeps 4), Dornfelder (sleeps 4) and Orion (sleeps 6).
The barns only opened in 2018 so they're nice and modern. Three of the properties have hot tubs so you can sit outside and say things like "ahhhh, this is nice".
There are 5 adjacent barns at Rossiter's Vineyard...
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...and some come with hot tubs
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5. Island Riding Centre, Newport, sleeps 60+ in 11 cottages (or smaller groups)
The highly-rated Island Riding Centre near Newport has eleven modern holiday cottages in a courtyard so you could book a few and drag along dozens of relatives. By my count, the maximum capacity is 66 people, but you'd need to book long in advance to get them all.
They range in size from two bedroom to four bedroom, and are in pleasant countryside with horses galloping around in the adjacent fields. They were built in 2017 and visitors can sign up for things like horse riding on beaches.
The largest property sleeps 10 people and is called Horse Chestnut Cottage. Some of the properties are dog friendly including Gallops Retreat (sleeps 6) and Bay Cottage (sleeps 4). Others are designed to be accessible including Hold Your Horses (sleeps 8) and Wild Horse Retreat (sleeps 5). You can compare all 11 cottages here.
The location is on the outskirts of Newport. That means you aren't right by a beach, but you have the advantage of being able to reach several beaches within about 20 minutes including Sandown, Shanklin and Bembridge.
They range in size from two bedroom to four bedroom, and are in pleasant countryside with horses galloping around in the adjacent fields. They were built in 2017 and visitors can sign up for things like horse riding on beaches.
The largest property sleeps 10 people and is called Horse Chestnut Cottage. Some of the properties are dog friendly including Gallops Retreat (sleeps 6) and Bay Cottage (sleeps 4). Others are designed to be accessible including Hold Your Horses (sleeps 8) and Wild Horse Retreat (sleeps 5). You can compare all 11 cottages here.
The location is on the outskirts of Newport. That means you aren't right by a beach, but you have the advantage of being able to reach several beaches within about 20 minutes including Sandown, Shanklin and Bembridge.
The Island Riding Centre has several holiday cottages in a courtyard
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The Orchard has accessible facilities...and a firepit!
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6. The Needles Headland Cottages, West Wight, Sleeps 14 in 3 cottages (or smaller groups)
The National Trust has three holiday cottages in a row called 'The Needles Headland Cottages'. These are a top choice if you want a good view and want a bit of private space.
The cottages sleep a total of 14 people and are called Varvassi, Irex and Pomone. They are former coastguard cottages that overlook Alum Bay in the West Wight. That's a good location for visiting The Needles and beaches such as Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay and Colwell Bay.
As I've said many times on this website, the West Wight is my favourite part of the Isle of Wight. The walk from The Needles to Freshwater Bay and Compton Bay is one of my favourites. However, these remote cottages are about as far west as you can travel on the Isle of Wight. If you plan to spend most of your time in the East Wight (Shanklin, Sandown, Ryde, Bembridge) then you will have long drives of 45-55 minutes.
The cottages sleep a total of 14 people and are called Varvassi, Irex and Pomone. They are former coastguard cottages that overlook Alum Bay in the West Wight. That's a good location for visiting The Needles and beaches such as Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay and Colwell Bay.
As I've said many times on this website, the West Wight is my favourite part of the Isle of Wight. The walk from The Needles to Freshwater Bay and Compton Bay is one of my favourites. However, these remote cottages are about as far west as you can travel on the Isle of Wight. If you plan to spend most of your time in the East Wight (Shanklin, Sandown, Ryde, Bembridge) then you will have long drives of 45-55 minutes.
The Needles Headland Cottages are close to this footpath overlooking Alum Bay
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This is one of three adjacent cottages owned by the National Trust
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7. Burwyns, Ventnor (ish), sleeps 16
If you want panoramic views of the South Wight and your own sauna, you might consider Burwyns near Ventnor. It looks fairly ordinary from the outside but it's got a modern open-plan interior and six bedrooms including one with a balcony (so you might end up politely arguing over rooms). It also lets you bring a couple of dogs. There are quite a few steps to climb, as the whole of the South Wight is on a great big hill, so not one to choose if you are a wheelchair user. Reviews are very positive.
For those who don't know the Isle of Wight very well, Ventnor is in the south of the Island. You'll either conclude that it feels a bit cut off or wonderfully secluded and other worldly, depending on your point of view. This particular property is near Ventnor Botanic Gardens and Steephill Cove. The beach is only accessible on foot and down a steep hill (hence the name...) but it's a really lovely secluded spot. It's also not too far from the busier and more accessible beach at Ventnor.
For those who don't know the Isle of Wight very well, Ventnor is in the south of the Island. You'll either conclude that it feels a bit cut off or wonderfully secluded and other worldly, depending on your point of view. This particular property is near Ventnor Botanic Gardens and Steephill Cove. The beach is only accessible on foot and down a steep hill (hence the name...) but it's a really lovely secluded spot. It's also not too far from the busier and more accessible beach at Ventnor.
Burwyns is a dog friendly holiday home...
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...with space for 16 people
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8. The Mill House, Brighstone, Sleeps 12
Pretty Brighstone is in the quieter West Wight, with gorgeous sandy beaches but not a whiff of the bucket and spade tourism of places like Sandown and Shanklin (not that there's anything wrong with buckets and spades!). Mill House is ideal for a quiet holiday spent trying to work out how an AGA works or going for coastal walks, or playing the piano. See our guide before you decide which Isle of Wight town you should stay in.
Mill House also won a bronze award at the South East's Tourism Awards in 2019 in the 'Self Catering Accommodation' category.
Mill House also won a bronze award at the South East's Tourism Awards in 2019 in the 'Self Catering Accommodation' category.
The Mill House in Brighstone is an award winner
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"Does anyone know how to use an AGA?"
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9. Kingston Barns, Sleeps 15 in 4 properties
Kingston Barns is another good option for those family gatherings where you want a bit of your own space. You can hire The Stables, The Dairy, The Pigsty and The Cattle Byre together. The first three converted barns sleep four people and the last one sleeps three people. There is some extra space for cots, so you could potentially squeeze in 19 people.
You will find Kingston Barns in an inland part of the sleepy West Wight - halfway between Shorwell and Chale. Compton Bay, Ventnor and Freshwater Bay are about 15 minutes away in the car or there are less well-known beaches about 10 minutes away.
There isn't a large dining room that will seat all 19 of you for mealtimes (you may secretly consider this a blessing). However, there's a nice outdoor space where you could gather together for a bit of al fresco dining, until a wasp comes along to ruin it.
The barns are close to Kingston Manor, which is also mentioned in this guide.
You will find Kingston Barns in an inland part of the sleepy West Wight - halfway between Shorwell and Chale. Compton Bay, Ventnor and Freshwater Bay are about 15 minutes away in the car or there are less well-known beaches about 10 minutes away.
There isn't a large dining room that will seat all 19 of you for mealtimes (you may secretly consider this a blessing). However, there's a nice outdoor space where you could gather together for a bit of al fresco dining, until a wasp comes along to ruin it.
The barns are close to Kingston Manor, which is also mentioned in this guide.
The four properties at Kingston Barns sleep 3-4 people and have space for a cot
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You can hire all four barns if you get in early
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10. Bembridge Manor, Sleeps 16
Bembridge Manor House in the East Wight also goes by the name of The Pink House for obvious reasons.
It has the significant advantage over the others on our top 10 of being right on the seafront. The beach is genuinely 'a stone's throw' from the garden, whereas most properties that claim such things turn out to be half a mile away.
It sleeps 16 people in 8 bedrooms and you can also bring along two dogs if you want to. There's a tennis court and a table tennis table, as well as enough dining space for everyone to eat together.
When we checked, it was scoring very well with customers, albeit from a fairly small number of reviews.
Bembridge is a posh village which has a harbour, a lifeboat station and the UK's oldest working phonebox. It's also got an airport, but don't worry it's not quite like being under the Heathrow flightpath...
It has the significant advantage over the others on our top 10 of being right on the seafront. The beach is genuinely 'a stone's throw' from the garden, whereas most properties that claim such things turn out to be half a mile away.
It sleeps 16 people in 8 bedrooms and you can also bring along two dogs if you want to. There's a tennis court and a table tennis table, as well as enough dining space for everyone to eat together.
When we checked, it was scoring very well with customers, albeit from a fairly small number of reviews.
Bembridge is a posh village which has a harbour, a lifeboat station and the UK's oldest working phonebox. It's also got an airport, but don't worry it's not quite like being under the Heathrow flightpath...
At low tide, the beach at Bembridge Manor is bigger...
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...and you get a good view of it from the dining room
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11. Shalfleet Manor and Shalfleet Manor Barn, sleeps 14 or 20
Shalfleet Manor sleeps 14 people, whilst they also have a separate property called Shalfleet Manor Barn in the grounds that sleeps another six (I'd stick the noisy side of the family in this one). The rooms are huge and there's a tennis court and outdoor swimming pool for lounging around. The grounds are a whopping 60 acres in all.
Shalfleet isn't right by the sea, but it's towards the pretty West Wight.
Shalfleet isn't right by the sea, but it's towards the pretty West Wight.
Shalfleet Manor dates back to the 16th century, which is even older than Barry Cryer's joke book
12. Kingston Manor, near Chale, Sleeps 16
Kingston Manor near Chale has got a lot of history about it, with parts of it dating back 800 years. It's got huge 15 acre grounds, so you can wander around pretending you are Lord of the Manor for a few days. There's a big dining room called 'The Great Hall', eight bedrooms, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a games room.
It's in the South Wight, about 10 minutes in the car from the Isle of Wight's crumbliest stretch of coastline. My favourite beach - Compton Bay - is about 15 minutes from the house and is good for bodyboarding and surfing. However, it's a less child-friendly stretch of the coastline with only basic toilets and an ice cream van if you're lucky. For young children, you'll want to head over towards Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor or Ryde, which are about 20-30 minutes from Kingston Manor.
It's in the South Wight, about 10 minutes in the car from the Isle of Wight's crumbliest stretch of coastline. My favourite beach - Compton Bay - is about 15 minutes from the house and is good for bodyboarding and surfing. However, it's a less child-friendly stretch of the coastline with only basic toilets and an ice cream van if you're lucky. For young children, you'll want to head over towards Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor or Ryde, which are about 20-30 minutes from Kingston Manor.
Fancy being Lord or Lady of the Manor for a few days?
13. Northcourt House, Shorwell, Sleeps 20 or 30+
Northcourt House is in Shorwell, which is a pretty little village in the West Wight. The Manor is older than the United States of America and can sleep about 20 people, or 30 plus if you also rent Little Northcourt. Inside it's a classy manor house with a terrace for summer evenings and a grand piano so your children can play 'chopsticks' at great volume. My favourite stretch of Isle of Wight coastline is about 10 minutes to the west by car.
Northcourt House has two adjacent houses you can hire
Accommodation for really big groups...
If you are visiting the Isle of Wight as part of a school, church group or some other big rabble then there are a few options which can accommodation groups of 100 or more people:
- Urban Saints Westbrook (up to 110 people)
- YMCA (up to 113 people)
- UKSA (up to 270 people)
