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10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
Do you need to make it up to a spouse for forgetting an anniversary/birthday? If so, three days on a campsite isn't going to cut it. So, bite the bullet and enjoy one of the Isle of Wight's best luxury hotels.
There are smaller boutique places to stay, 3 star, 4 star and 5 star hotels, as well as large luxury accommodation brimming with spa facilities and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
There are smaller boutique places to stay, 3 star, 4 star and 5 star hotels, as well as large luxury accommodation brimming with spa facilities and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
1. Royal Hotel, Ventnor
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The Royal Hotel in Ventnor has had a reputation for luxury for decades and has won multiple awards since it opened in 1832 (it has been listed in every Michelin guide since it started in 1911). The style at the 4 Star hotel is 'English country house' with highlights including an outdoor heated swimming pool and a fancy restaurant which offers fine dining (I took the wife there once and she was well impressed). It also does a good afternoon tea if you fancy a taste of opulence without an overnight stay.
TripAdvisor customers give The Royal 4.5/5. |
Ventnor seafront
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2. Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa, Wootton Creek
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Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa is probably the first place to look if you want a spa break on the Isle of Wight. It's a large and modern hotel which isn't part of a big chain and gets very good reviews of 4.5/5 from customers.
It's got 4 stars and plenty of luxurious facilities for a relaxing break as well as treatments such as massages. There's an indoor swimming pool and the intriguingly named 'experience shower'. The setting is lovely - not especially rural but it overlooks a 20 acre lake and it is very close to the Portsmouth to Fishbourne car ferry. |
Lakeside Spa, Wootton Creek
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3. Hambrough Hotel, Ventnor
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There are just seven rooms at the 5 Star (AA) The Hambrough, where it is a case of quality over quantity. Like much of Ventnor, the sea views (from six out of seven rooms) go on for miles. The hotel's attached restaurant recently had a Michelin star (it doesn't at the time of writing but is still highly regarded) and customers give the hotel an average score of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
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Hambrough Hotel, Ventnor
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4. Seaview Hotel
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Unsurprisingly, the Seaview Hotel is in pretty (and quite posh) Seaview which has the paradisiacal Priory Bay as its main beach.
It's another of the Isle of Wight's luxurious boutique hotels with about a dozen rooms, some of which are modern and some are more eclectic. The restaurant has a Michelin Bib Gourmand which is an award for good value posh nosh. At the time of writing, the 3 Star hotel was scoring an impressive 4.5/5 from reviewers on TripAdvisor. |
Priory Bay in pretty Seaview
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5. Haven Hall Boutique Hotel and Flats, Shanklin
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Haven Hall in Shanklin opened in 2017 after a big refurbishment with 14 bedrooms, half of which have their own lounges and kitchens. It's a sort of semi-B&B, semi-self catering place with breakfast on offer as well as decent facilities. As far as I can tell they don't do evening meals, but there are plenty of nice places on Shanklin seafront.
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The grounds and decor are really well done. It's in a prime location with sea views across Shanklin and the coastal path is pretty much in the back garden. It's also got an outdoor swimming pool.
When we checked, Haven Hall was achieving the near-impossible and scoring 5/5 on TripAdvisor (I always assume that a small proportion of customers will be unhappy whatever you do...).
When we checked, Haven Hall was achieving the near-impossible and scoring 5/5 on TripAdvisor (I always assume that a small proportion of customers will be unhappy whatever you do...).
6. George Hotel, Yarmouth
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This 17th century luxury townhouse is in a fabulous town centre location, with the Solent pretty much in the back garden. The George Hotel is metres from Yarmouth Castle and the Wightlink ferry so it is a busy spot. There are 19 rooms at the 3 Star hotel, which scores 4/5 from customers on TripAdvisor.
I seem to remember reading something about Pippa Middleton visiting The George. Presumably she liked the royal name. |
Views from The George. Image: Expedia
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Fancy staying near the Isle of Wight Festival? See our guide to rooms in Newport.
7. Koala Cottage, Godshill
Another 'boutique' hotel option is Koala Cottage, which at the time of writing has five stars from the AA and 5/5 on TripAdvisor. The decor is described as 'opulent' and a stay is described as an 'experience' with three suites available. The breakfast menu uses mostly local and organic ingredients.
8. Bembridge Coast Hotel
Bembridge Coast Hotel is not perhaps quite as 'luxury' as some others in this list (it has 3 AA stars rather than 4 stars or 5 stars) but I've included it because of its range of facilities and its enviable seafront location overlooking the Solent in the lovely village of Bembridge. Customers give an average review score of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
A stay includes, 'Archery, Cross Bow, Pistol and Rifle shooting, Pitch & Putt, tennis, French Boules, mini putting, Walks and talks, Indoor and outdoor bowls'. There's also a leisure club with an indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and gym and there is a big discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you book through them. Bembridge Coast is one of two Warner Leisure Hotels on the Isle of Wight (the other being Norton Grange in Yarmouth).
See our comparison guide of Warner's Bembridge Coast Hotel and Norton Grange Coastal Village
A stay includes, 'Archery, Cross Bow, Pistol and Rifle shooting, Pitch & Putt, tennis, French Boules, mini putting, Walks and talks, Indoor and outdoor bowls'. There's also a leisure club with an indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and gym and there is a big discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you book through them. Bembridge Coast is one of two Warner Leisure Hotels on the Isle of Wight (the other being Norton Grange in Yarmouth).
See our comparison guide of Warner's Bembridge Coast Hotel and Norton Grange Coastal Village
9. No Man's Fort, Middle of the Solent
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Not strictly speaking on the Isle of Wight but the Solent is home to a number of dramatic circular forts built by Lord Palmerston in the 19th century to defend us from those pesky French invaders. The threat seems to have subsided so No Man's Fort is now open for luxury retreats. It's not cheap, but it's most packages include breakfast and dinner and transport to the fort. Reviews average 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
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Not your usual B&B
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10. Albert Cottage Hotel, East Cowes
Albert Cottage Hotel was part of the Osborne House estate, so you'd expect it to be one of the luxury Isle of Wight hotels. It is relatively small with 10 bedrooms, but it has two acres of land and it tends to be popular as an Isle of Wight wedding venue. They also do ferry discounts for guests if you book through them. Reviews average 4/5.
11. Auckland House Hotel, Shanklin
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Auckland House Hotel opened in 2019 after investors revamped one of Shanklin's guest houses which was looking a little past its best. The whole place was gutted and turned into a smart 25 bedroom hotel. It doesn't have a swimming pool or sea views, but there is a hot tub and a swanky modern restaurant and bar.
For those who don't know the Isle of Wight, Shanklin is a traditional English seaside resort with a clifftop walk, sandy beach and enough sticks of rock to rot a thousand teeth. |
Cushions-a-plenty at Auckland House Hotel
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12. Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Wootton Creek
OK, this one isn't a hotel but the modern self catering lodges, hot tubs, shingly beach and woodland walks at Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat will appeal to couples. It's a good option if you are looking for a luxury holiday cottage on the Isle of Wight but you want a bit of privacy. As well as the lodge facilities, there is also an air conditioned gym, restaurant and spa facilities.
There's an adjacent holiday park which is run by the same company which is called Woodside Coastal Retreat which has fewer facilities but is closer to the beach. You can use the facilities regardless of which park you choose.
The site has had various uses over the years, including the venue for the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, a Warners Holiday Park and a naturist camp. Visitors are now requested to keep their clothes on. Reviews average 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
There's an adjacent holiday park which is run by the same company which is called Woodside Coastal Retreat which has fewer facilities but is closer to the beach. You can use the facilities regardless of which park you choose.
The site has had various uses over the years, including the venue for the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, a Warners Holiday Park and a naturist camp. Visitors are now requested to keep their clothes on. Reviews average 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
13. Hillside Hotel, Ventnor
Hillside Hotel is an 18th century thatched luxury country house with a modern interior and rave reviews (5/5 on TripAdvisor). There are 12 bedrooms, alongside a number of apartments most of which have sea views (pretty much everywhere in Ventnor has gorgeous sea views as the town is on a steep slope). The attached restaurant has a 'Scandinavian twist', which I'm assured does not just mean lots of meatballs.
Looking for something a bit cheaper? Try our Isle of Wight holiday park guide
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ All the information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check details directly - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. Review scores checked October 2019.
