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10 Best Places To Stay In Sandown 2026
Sandown is home to the UK’s best beach, at least according to Countryfile Magazine in 2019. The sand goes on and on, meaning you can find space for sandcastle building even on a summer’s day.
Sandown's also got lots of seafront attractions and a big range of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering apartments. There aren't holiday parks and campsites in the town itself, but there are several within 10 minutes' drive including Cheverton Copse and Whitecliff Bay.
Honestly, if you asked me to rank my favourite Isle of Wight towns and villages...I would put local rival Shanklin ahead of Sandown. Shanklin's seafront has fewer empty and unloved hotels.
However, Sandown has plenty going for it. Don't dismiss it because of one comment from some self-appointed Guru.
The Esplanade has a modern minigolf course, an excellent playground, some bouncy nets, pitch and putt, Dinosaur Isle and Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (all at the Yaverland end of the seafront).
The other end of the beach has Sandown Pier, which is the last of its kind on the Isle of Wight. There are competing walkways and piers in Yarmouth, Ryde, Totland and Bembridge but Sandown is the only kiss-me-quick pier left.
Sandown’s also got a railway station, so it’s a practical place to visit if you’re arriving as a foot passenger.
Here are 10 places to stay in Sandown. We’ve selected a mix of hotels, self-catering apartments and cottages, campsites and holiday parks.
Sandown's also got lots of seafront attractions and a big range of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering apartments. There aren't holiday parks and campsites in the town itself, but there are several within 10 minutes' drive including Cheverton Copse and Whitecliff Bay.
Honestly, if you asked me to rank my favourite Isle of Wight towns and villages...I would put local rival Shanklin ahead of Sandown. Shanklin's seafront has fewer empty and unloved hotels.
However, Sandown has plenty going for it. Don't dismiss it because of one comment from some self-appointed Guru.
The Esplanade has a modern minigolf course, an excellent playground, some bouncy nets, pitch and putt, Dinosaur Isle and Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (all at the Yaverland end of the seafront).
The other end of the beach has Sandown Pier, which is the last of its kind on the Isle of Wight. There are competing walkways and piers in Yarmouth, Ryde, Totland and Bembridge but Sandown is the only kiss-me-quick pier left.
Sandown’s also got a railway station, so it’s a practical place to visit if you’re arriving as a foot passenger.
Here are 10 places to stay in Sandown. We’ve selected a mix of hotels, self-catering apartments and cottages, campsites and holiday parks.
The UK's best beach? Countryfile Magazine gave Sandown the thumbs up
1. Royal Cliff Apartments (self catering, sleeps 2 - 8)
The Royal Cliff Apartments in Sandown have balconies with sea views...
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...and they are right by the coastal footpath which leads to the beach
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If you want a modern self-catering apartment in Sandown with a sea view and a balcony, I would start with the Royal Cliff Apartments.
They're in a prime location alongside the coastal path that links Sandown and Shanklin. The smaller ones just have one bedroom, whilst the bigger ones have three bedrooms.
For your money you get an elevated sea view and a swanky apartment with a balcony and nice modern décor. The images show croissants but I can’t guarantee that they come as standard.
Apartments at Royal Cliff are owned by different people, but we've found a few of them for hire on Hoseasons and HolidayCottages.co.uk, including:
Crucially, parking is included so they are a good choice if you’re bringing the car.
From the Royal Cliff Apartments, you can head left and walk down to Sandown seafront in a couple of minutes. The beach is a bit busy here, but you can hire watersports equipment or lose some money in the arcade at the pier.
Alternatively, head right as you face the sea and walk for five minutes to reach the top of the path that leads down to Dunroamin Beach (also known as Lake Beach).
This part of the beach is much quieter than Sandown Bay and is a favourite spot of ours on a busy day. It’s more of an effort to get to, and there isn’t much parking nearby, but you’re rewarded with fewer people to annoy you.
Dogs aren’t allowed in these apartments. Prices vary as they are set by the owners, so it's worth shopping around a bit.
They're in a prime location alongside the coastal path that links Sandown and Shanklin. The smaller ones just have one bedroom, whilst the bigger ones have three bedrooms.
For your money you get an elevated sea view and a swanky apartment with a balcony and nice modern décor. The images show croissants but I can’t guarantee that they come as standard.
Apartments at Royal Cliff are owned by different people, but we've found a few of them for hire on Hoseasons and HolidayCottages.co.uk, including:
- Lookout (two bedrooms, sleeps four)
- Bonview (two bedrooms, sleeps four)
- Shoreside (one bedroom, sleeps four)
Crucially, parking is included so they are a good choice if you’re bringing the car.
From the Royal Cliff Apartments, you can head left and walk down to Sandown seafront in a couple of minutes. The beach is a bit busy here, but you can hire watersports equipment or lose some money in the arcade at the pier.
Alternatively, head right as you face the sea and walk for five minutes to reach the top of the path that leads down to Dunroamin Beach (also known as Lake Beach).
This part of the beach is much quieter than Sandown Bay and is a favourite spot of ours on a busy day. It’s more of an effort to get to, and there isn’t much parking nearby, but you’re rewarded with fewer people to annoy you.
Dogs aren’t allowed in these apartments. Prices vary as they are set by the owners, so it's worth shopping around a bit.
2. Premier Inn Sandown Esplanade (hotel with a sea view)
Premier Inn has two 'Sandown' hotels including one on the seafront
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The views and location are excellent, although parking isn't free
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If you want the familiarity of a chain hotel in Sandown then I’d go for the Premier Inn (Esplanade). There is another Premier Inn that is described as being in Sandown, but it’s actually in Lake according to my geography.
The Premier Inn (Esplanade) hotel has sea views and easy access to the beach, whereas the Premier Inn Sandown (Merrie Gardens) is inland, next door to a KFC. Personally, I’d rather look at the glistening sea than Colonel Sanders.
The Premier Inn on the Esplanade opened in 2021 so it’s still looking shiny and new. There’s a restaurant attached, so you can get a gut-busting breakfast included.
The notable downside with the Premier Inn on Sandown Esplanade is that it doesn’t have any of its own parking. The on street parking next to the hotel is a vicious bun fight in the summer, but there’s a council car park four minutes walk away.
For that reason, it’s most suited for visitors arriving on foot. You can catch a passenger ferry from Portsmouth Harbour or a Hovercraft from Southsea, which will get you to a train in Ryde. From there, it’s a few short stops to Sandown. See our ferry guide for more travel advice or our tips for cheap ferry travel from Portsmouth.
If parking is your priority then the Premier Inn Sandown (Merrie Gardens) is better.
The pricing of Premier Inn is very much demand-led. If you book at the last minute for a Saturday night in August then you’ll pay more than for a wet Wednesday in January that you booked seven months in advance.
Read our full comparison of the Isle of Wight's three Premier Inn hotels.
The Premier Inn (Esplanade) hotel has sea views and easy access to the beach, whereas the Premier Inn Sandown (Merrie Gardens) is inland, next door to a KFC. Personally, I’d rather look at the glistening sea than Colonel Sanders.
The Premier Inn on the Esplanade opened in 2021 so it’s still looking shiny and new. There’s a restaurant attached, so you can get a gut-busting breakfast included.
The notable downside with the Premier Inn on Sandown Esplanade is that it doesn’t have any of its own parking. The on street parking next to the hotel is a vicious bun fight in the summer, but there’s a council car park four minutes walk away.
For that reason, it’s most suited for visitors arriving on foot. You can catch a passenger ferry from Portsmouth Harbour or a Hovercraft from Southsea, which will get you to a train in Ryde. From there, it’s a few short stops to Sandown. See our ferry guide for more travel advice or our tips for cheap ferry travel from Portsmouth.
If parking is your priority then the Premier Inn Sandown (Merrie Gardens) is better.
The pricing of Premier Inn is very much demand-led. If you book at the last minute for a Saturday night in August then you’ll pay more than for a wet Wednesday in January that you booked seven months in advance.
Read our full comparison of the Isle of Wight's three Premier Inn hotels.
3. Cheverton Copse Holiday Park (self catering Caravans)
Cheverton Copse is a highly rated - and excellent value - caravan site
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Facilities are simple but they'll keep younger children entertained
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Cheverton Copse is an excellent choice for a quiet caravan holiday park near Sandown.
It doesn’t have a swimming pool or loads of entertainment, but it’s in a nice woodland location and there are three playgrounds and a clubhouse.
We’ve included it thanks to its outstanding reviews of 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor. It also tends to do very well in our annual price comparison of Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks. You can get a week in August for about half the price of some rival caravan holiday parks.
Cheverton Copse is a couple of miles inland, near to Sandown’s airport. The airport is pretty small and only takes light aircraft, so it’s not quite like staying under the flightpath for Heathrow.
If you aren’t bringing a car, you’ll need to walk about a mile from the railway station at Lake which connects with the ferries at Ryde.
It is sometimes cheaper to book Cheverton Copse via Red Funnel, as they will give you a discount on the ferry.
If you're looking for a busy holiday park with lots of kids' activities and a swimming pool then you are better to go for Landguard in Shanklin, Nodes Point in St Helens or Whitecliff Bay Caravan Holiday Park in Bembridge.
It doesn’t have a swimming pool or loads of entertainment, but it’s in a nice woodland location and there are three playgrounds and a clubhouse.
We’ve included it thanks to its outstanding reviews of 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor. It also tends to do very well in our annual price comparison of Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks. You can get a week in August for about half the price of some rival caravan holiday parks.
Cheverton Copse is a couple of miles inland, near to Sandown’s airport. The airport is pretty small and only takes light aircraft, so it’s not quite like staying under the flightpath for Heathrow.
If you aren’t bringing a car, you’ll need to walk about a mile from the railway station at Lake which connects with the ferries at Ryde.
It is sometimes cheaper to book Cheverton Copse via Red Funnel, as they will give you a discount on the ferry.
If you're looking for a busy holiday park with lots of kids' activities and a swimming pool then you are better to go for Landguard in Shanklin, Nodes Point in St Helens or Whitecliff Bay Caravan Holiday Park in Bembridge.
4. The Trouville (Large Seafront Hotel)
The Trouville is over the road from the beach at Sandown
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67 of the 88 bedrooms at the Trouville have a sea view
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The Trouville is a whopping hotel on Sandown's esplanade. It's a good choice if you prefer big hotels with plenty of people around and a bit of atmosphere in the evening.
Smaller hotels carry a risk of ending up sat next to the same boring couple every day at breakfast. They will insist on telling you about their last cruise when you'd rather tuck into your kippers in silence.
There are 88 rooms at the Trouville and about three-quarters of them have a sea view. You can eat every meal at the hotel if you'd rather not walk up and down Sandown to find a restaurant. The Trouville doesn't have a swimming pool but it has table tennis, a pool table and short mat bowls.
The location is excellent - it's just over the road from the beach. The Trouville has a car park which is a short walk away. However, there's only space for 21 cars so you need to book it and pay a small fee each night (£3 per night, according to the website). There are also council car parks in Sandown but those are more expensive (about £60 for a week).
Reviews for The Trouville average 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
Smaller hotels carry a risk of ending up sat next to the same boring couple every day at breakfast. They will insist on telling you about their last cruise when you'd rather tuck into your kippers in silence.
There are 88 rooms at the Trouville and about three-quarters of them have a sea view. You can eat every meal at the hotel if you'd rather not walk up and down Sandown to find a restaurant. The Trouville doesn't have a swimming pool but it has table tennis, a pool table and short mat bowls.
The location is excellent - it's just over the road from the beach. The Trouville has a car park which is a short walk away. However, there's only space for 21 cars so you need to book it and pay a small fee each night (£3 per night, according to the website). There are also council car parks in Sandown but those are more expensive (about £60 for a week).
Reviews for The Trouville average 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
5. Colonel's House (self catering, sleeps 10)
Colonel's House is a good choice if you're attempting a large family holiday. It's right by the beach in Sandown and it sleeps 10 people in five bedrooms. The furniture and interior décor is all very nicely done and it's got a parking space.
It's near to Sandham Gardens in a modern apartment block. From memory, it is on the site that was once Wight City Arcade. It had an excellent Bowlingo Alley, which cost £1 (Ed: lovely bit of nostalgia, keep it up).
Nearby Sandham Gardens is a favourite spot of ours to fill a few hours. It's got a large playground and skate park as well as a minigolf course with a smoking volcano (it's possible that it was just a vaping customer but I'm pretty sure it was the volcano). There are a couple of seafront places to eat out in Sandown.
You've also got a good choice of beaches from this spot. We like the beach at Yaverland, which is to the left of the apartment and is much quieter than Sandown in peak season.
It's near to Sandham Gardens in a modern apartment block. From memory, it is on the site that was once Wight City Arcade. It had an excellent Bowlingo Alley, which cost £1 (Ed: lovely bit of nostalgia, keep it up).
Nearby Sandham Gardens is a favourite spot of ours to fill a few hours. It's got a large playground and skate park as well as a minigolf course with a smoking volcano (it's possible that it was just a vaping customer but I'm pretty sure it was the volcano). There are a couple of seafront places to eat out in Sandown.
You've also got a good choice of beaches from this spot. We like the beach at Yaverland, which is to the left of the apartment and is much quieter than Sandown in peak season.
The balcony at Colonel's House overlooks the UK's best beach (according to Countryfile Magazine at least...)
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The large apartment is part of a block next to Sandham Gardens
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6. Chaston Manor Hotel (B&B)
Chaston Manor Hotel doesn't look anything special from the outside but it's an excellent choice if you want a bit of local hospitality rather than the chain hotel experience of Premier Inn. Despite the name, I would consider it more of a B&B or guest house than a hotel as they don't provide evening meals.
It stands out from many other B&Bs and guest houses in Sandown thanks to reviews on TripAdvisor of 5/5.
Chaston Manor Hotel doesn't have a sea view, but the beach is only seven minutes' walk away.
It stands out from many other B&Bs and guest houses in Sandown thanks to reviews on TripAdvisor of 5/5.
Chaston Manor Hotel doesn't have a sea view, but the beach is only seven minutes' walk away.
If you want a more personal B&B then Chaston Manor Hotel is a good choice...
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...and it has it more modern decor than some rival guest houses
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7. Alverstone Ponds (Self catering log cabins, Sleeps 2)
These two log cabins just outside Sandown will suit a loved-up couple who want somewhere quiet and quirky. You can choose from Hobbit's Landing and Willows End.
Both cabins have got log burners, one bedroom and pleasant views over the lakes. You can also bring along a dog, although they might ruin their romance if they keep breaking wind.
The flip side of getting peace and quiet here is that you'll need to get in the car for evening meals. Sandown seafront is a couple of miles away and Alverstone itself is sleepier than a teenager after a night out.
We've got a whole guide to romantic Isle of Wight holidays, if that's what you're looking for.
Both cabins have got log burners, one bedroom and pleasant views over the lakes. You can also bring along a dog, although they might ruin their romance if they keep breaking wind.
The flip side of getting peace and quiet here is that you'll need to get in the car for evening meals. Sandown seafront is a couple of miles away and Alverstone itself is sleepier than a teenager after a night out.
We've got a whole guide to romantic Isle of Wight holidays, if that's what you're looking for.
The log cabins at Alverstone Ponds are a good choice for couples
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There are log burners, although you may not need one in July
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Fancy staying near the Isle of Wight Festival? See our guide to rooms in Newport.
8. Reef Apartments (self catering, sleeps 6)
The two apartments above the Reef restaurant in Sandown are a good choice if you enjoy being in the thick of it on holiday. They are both on the Esplanade in a busy spot on a summer's day. I wouldn't choose them if you want isolation and a back-to-nature experience.
The apartments are called Nemo and Dory (parents, ask your children).
Inside, they are modern and well-equipped and they a terrific elevated seafront view. There isn't a balcony, but you'll still be able to hear the waves at high tide.
One downside worth noting is that there are quite a few stairs to climb to reach the top floor. Apartments like this don't tend to have lifts, so you need to do a bit of climbing for the view.
The apartments are called Nemo and Dory (parents, ask your children).
Inside, they are modern and well-equipped and they a terrific elevated seafront view. There isn't a balcony, but you'll still be able to hear the waves at high tide.
One downside worth noting is that there are quite a few stairs to climb to reach the top floor. Apartments like this don't tend to have lifts, so you need to do a bit of climbing for the view.
You won't get much closer to the beach than Reef Apartments in Sandown...
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...which are above a busy beachfront restaurant
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Looking for cheap camping or touring? This Red Funnel ferry + pitch bundle is a bargain
9. The Wight (Hotel/guest house with swimming pool)
The Wight Hotel provides breakfast and has a bar, games room and snooker room
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The hotel also has as swimming pool and sauna for guests
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Sandown has lots of mid-sized hotels, many of which are on the seafront. Some of them are looking a bit sorry for themselves and others look like they might fall down with a light breeze.
The Wight Hotel bucks the trend and is certainly one of the better hotels in the town. It scores 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor and has about 40 bedrooms.
There’s an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna as well as a bar, games room and snooker room.
The Wight just offers bed and breakfast (apart from during a few special events) so it's more of a B&B or guest house with good facilities. There are plenty of places to eat out on the seafront at Sandown.
You won’t get a sea view from The Wight. It’s only about 100 metres from the beach but it’s in a part of Sandown that is as flat as a pancake. On the plus side, there’s a car park for guests and it’s only 15 minutes' walk to Sandown’s railway station.
You'll also find this hotel called 'The Wight Montrene', which sounds like a mythical animal.
The Wight Hotel bucks the trend and is certainly one of the better hotels in the town. It scores 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor and has about 40 bedrooms.
There’s an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna as well as a bar, games room and snooker room.
The Wight just offers bed and breakfast (apart from during a few special events) so it's more of a B&B or guest house with good facilities. There are plenty of places to eat out on the seafront at Sandown.
You won’t get a sea view from The Wight. It’s only about 100 metres from the beach but it’s in a part of Sandown that is as flat as a pancake. On the plus side, there’s a car park for guests and it’s only 15 minutes' walk to Sandown’s railway station.
You'll also find this hotel called 'The Wight Montrene', which sounds like a mythical animal.
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