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10 Best Places To Stay In Cowes 2025
Cowes is awash with property for rent – mostly self-catering rented accommodation but there are also a handful of decent hotels and several bed and breakfasts.
Prices tend to skyrocket during Cowes Week when the town becomes the centre of the yachting world and sales of deck shoes and red trousers go into a frenzy.
Outside of Cowes Week it is generally a quieter town, but it is picturesque with some interesting old buildings, a pleasant esplanade and interesting independent shops (rather than the depressing row of vape shops and tanning salons that you get in some high streets).
Prices tend to skyrocket during Cowes Week when the town becomes the centre of the yachting world and sales of deck shoes and red trousers go into a frenzy.
Outside of Cowes Week it is generally a quieter town, but it is picturesque with some interesting old buildings, a pleasant esplanade and interesting independent shops (rather than the depressing row of vape shops and tanning salons that you get in some high streets).
Cowes hosts the world's largest yachting regatta
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The beach at Cowes isn't sandy but it has good views of the busy Solent
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1. Best Western New Holmwood (Hotel)
There aren't many hotels in Cowes but the Best Western's New Holmwood tends to come out as one of the best in the town itself in the reviews (there are more hotels if you travel further afield). It's certainly one to consider if you want the option of dinner provided, although Cowes has a good choice of places to eat in the warmer months.
Its best selling point is probably its location on the esplanade with unobstructed views of the Solent so you can sit and admire cruise ships and container ships floating past. Reviews are very positive at 4.5/5.
The Fountain Inn is another town centre hotel, but it doesn't get such good reviews (3.5/5 when I checked). However, it has nice sea views from some rooms, and it is practically in the car park of the Red Jet ferry from Southampton, so it's not far to drag your cases if you're arriving as a foot passenger.
Its best selling point is probably its location on the esplanade with unobstructed views of the Solent so you can sit and admire cruise ships and container ships floating past. Reviews are very positive at 4.5/5.
The Fountain Inn is another town centre hotel, but it doesn't get such good reviews (3.5/5 when I checked). However, it has nice sea views from some rooms, and it is practically in the car park of the Red Jet ferry from Southampton, so it's not far to drag your cases if you're arriving as a foot passenger.
The views from New Holmwood are lovely jubbly
2. The Caledon (B&B)
The Caledon has a dozen guest rooms and is only about five minutes walk from the town centre. The décor is modern but has more of a guest house feel to it than a hotel.
It also has all important car-parking on site - although do be aware that the Red Funnel car ferry arrives in East Cowes so drivers need to get the short floating bridge that links the two towns. If the floating bridge is not working (which is often the case...) then you need to drive for 25 minutes via Newport or attempt a Dukes of Hazzard style jump across the river.
Reviews for the The Caledon are stonkingly good with lots of people commenting on the cleanliness.
It also has all important car-parking on site - although do be aware that the Red Funnel car ferry arrives in East Cowes so drivers need to get the short floating bridge that links the two towns. If the floating bridge is not working (which is often the case...) then you need to drive for 25 minutes via Newport or attempt a Dukes of Hazzard style jump across the river.
Reviews for the The Caledon are stonkingly good with lots of people commenting on the cleanliness.
The Caledon's room have a simple and modern design
3. Villa Rothsay (Hotel)
There are 14 bedrooms at the Villa Rothsay, which describes itself as a 'boutique' hotel. It scores 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
It is set back a couple of roads from the seafront, but you can get to the shingle beach at Cowes in about three minutes. If you can afford it, go for one of the 'J Class Rooms', which has a balcony with a sea view.
They now offer evening meals in their drawing room, which gives more of a hotel experience.
The building dates back about 150 years and has a notable history with previous visitors including Edward Heath and Edward VII, when he was known as the Prince of Wales. Previous owners were also instrumental in creating the famous Fastnet yacht race
It is set back a couple of roads from the seafront, but you can get to the shingle beach at Cowes in about three minutes. If you can afford it, go for one of the 'J Class Rooms', which has a balcony with a sea view.
They now offer evening meals in their drawing room, which gives more of a hotel experience.
The building dates back about 150 years and has a notable history with previous visitors including Edward Heath and Edward VII, when he was known as the Prince of Wales. Previous owners were also instrumental in creating the famous Fastnet yacht race
Villa Rothsay Hotel is popular with sailors during Cowes Week
4. Thorness Bay Holiday Park (Campsite and Caravans)
**Thorness Bay offers: Caravan holidays from £99 + discount Isle of Wight ferry travel**
I've included Thorness Bay for those looking for a low-cost option near to Cowes, as the accommodation prices in the town during August can be enough to make even a superyacht owner's eyes water. Thorness Bay is not within Cowes, but it's only about four miles away. These sorts of sites are great for kids, as they can generally run/cycle around screaming without you feeling you are ruining everyone else's holiday. There's also plenty of entertainment laid on for you.
The holiday park is one of four run by Parkdean Resorts on the Isle of Wight. Reviews average 3.5/5 on most review sites.
In our holiday park and camping price comparisons, Thorness Bay is usually one of the cheaper options on the Isle of Wight.
The park has direct access to a beach, which is quiet and hard to access unless you are staying at the holiday park. It's a shingly and scrubby beach but it has great sunsets.
The holiday park is one of four run by Parkdean Resorts on the Isle of Wight. Reviews average 3.5/5 on most review sites.
In our holiday park and camping price comparisons, Thorness Bay is usually one of the cheaper options on the Isle of Wight.
The park has direct access to a beach, which is quiet and hard to access unless you are staying at the holiday park. It's a shingly and scrubby beach but it has great sunsets.
Thorness Bay is a few miles outside of Cowes
5. One Fifty Cowes (B&B)
This bed and breakfast only has four rooms so you can expect more attention to detail than you'd get from a bigger hotel or guest house. The attractive décor is probably best described as chic, with a bit more of the owner's own personal tastes being on display. Some people like to be anonymous on holiday but if you want friendly advice and a warm welcome then this is a great choice.
Reviews are remarkably good (5/5 at the time of writing). Guests praise the attention to detail and the personal touch which the host offers.
Reviews are remarkably good (5/5 at the time of writing). Guests praise the attention to detail and the personal touch which the host offers.
One Fifty Cowes is another B&B with outstanding reviews
6. Blue Winds (Self catering, sleeps 2-6)
Blue Winds is a neat little apartment that gets very positive reviews and has a rooftop balcony for admiring the Solent (albeit from a little distance away). It's very centrally located, so it'll only take a couple of minutes to get into the town centre in Cowes. Reviews average 5/5 on Google reviews.
Blue Winds has Solent views and very positive reviews
Fancy staying near the Isle of Wight Festival? See our guide to rooms in Newport.
7. Pinkmead Estate and Vineyard (self catering, Sleeps 8)
Here's a rather grand self-catering choice for a family gathering. Pinkmead Estate covers 24 acres in a riverside location by the River Medina just outside Cowes. Quirky highlights include a private jetty, so you can bring your own yacht (assuming the tide is right...and you have a yacht) and a boat house with kayaks so you can paddle about on the river during your holiday.
There's even a yoga studio, baby grand piano and outdoor pizza oven. So just the essentials then.
There's even a yoga studio, baby grand piano and outdoor pizza oven. So just the essentials then.
Pinkmead Estate comes with a private jetty
8. Rosetta Cottage and East Rosetta Cottage (Self catering, sleeps 6-10).
These two adjacent properties are part of the National Trust's collection of historic places to stay on the Isle of Wight.
Rosetta Cottage is notable as the place where Winston Churchill's parents met and rather swiftly married. Conveniently, the cottages also offer terrific sea views overlooking Cowes beach.
The National Trust give their properties an 'acorn rating' with the most plush properties getting a five acorn rating. This one scores four acorns, so it's pretty decent. It also has a nice garden overlooking the beach, which is unusual for seafront properties. If it wasn't an historic home the garden would have been gobbled up to make space for another property years ago.
Rosetta Cottage is notable as the place where Winston Churchill's parents met and rather swiftly married. Conveniently, the cottages also offer terrific sea views overlooking Cowes beach.
The National Trust give their properties an 'acorn rating' with the most plush properties getting a five acorn rating. This one scores four acorns, so it's pretty decent. It also has a nice garden overlooking the beach, which is unusual for seafront properties. If it wasn't an historic home the garden would have been gobbled up to make space for another property years ago.
You might like to book both halves of Rosetta Cottage in Cowes for a 16-person party
9. Foresters Hall (Hotel) formerly North House
Foresters Hall is one of the posher hotels in Cowes. They've got 14 bedrooms, a library, a swanky restaurant and - for those feeling brave enough - an outdoor swimming pool. It's in a good location, so it'll only take about 10 minutes to walk from the Cowes passenger ferry.
It's the sort of place which has been reviewed by broadsheet newspapers and it has decor that would impress Mrs Guru, with Farrow and Ball wallpaper and velvet armchairs. Reviews average 4.5/5, although a lot refer to the hotel when it was called North House.
It's the sort of place which has been reviewed by broadsheet newspapers and it has decor that would impress Mrs Guru, with Farrow and Ball wallpaper and velvet armchairs. Reviews average 4.5/5, although a lot refer to the hotel when it was called North House.
Foresters Hall was given an impressive score of 8/10 from The Telegraph
10. Marinus Apartments (self catering apartment, sleeps 4)
The Marinus apartments can be found in a modern block of flats overlooking a harbour and the Red Funnel car ferry. They are a good choice if you like a balcony view with plenty of activity, rather than a view of a beach.
The apartments are all privately owned but you can find them on various booking sites. We've dug out 16 Marinus and 28 Marinus. They both sleep four in two bedrooms.
Cowes Yacht Haven is a five minute walk away so they are convenient for Cowes Week.
The apartments are all privately owned but you can find them on various booking sites. We've dug out 16 Marinus and 28 Marinus. They both sleep four in two bedrooms.
Cowes Yacht Haven is a five minute walk away so they are convenient for Cowes Week.
The Marinus Apartments overlook a busy estuary
