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  • Home
  • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
  • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
  • Planning your holiday
    • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
    • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
    • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
    • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
    • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
    • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
  • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
  • Family holiday parks, caravans, lodges
    • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
    • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
    • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
    • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
    • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
    • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
    • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
    • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
  • Camping & glamping
    • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
    • Isle of Wight Glamping
  • Hotels & guest houses
    • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
    • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
    • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
    • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
    • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
    • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
  • Cottages & self catering
    • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
    • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
    • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
    • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
    • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
    • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
    • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
    • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
  • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
  • Free days out, attraction discounts
    • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
    • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
  • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults
    • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
    • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
    • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
    • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
    • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
  • Rainy day & winter attractions
    • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
    • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
    • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
  • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens
    • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
    • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
    • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
  • Quirky days out
    • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
    • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
    • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
    • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
  • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor
    • 15 things to do in Ryde
    • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
    • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
    • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
    • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
  • Best Isle of Wight beaches
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Festivals & carnivals
    • Major festivals and carnivals
    • Isle of Wight Festival 2020 lineup and tickets
    • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
    • Isle of Wight Festival History
    • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
  • Public transport
  • Useful information/contact
    • FAQ
    • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • Souvenirs
    • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
    • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
    • Isle of Wight Map
    • Contact us/about/disclaimer
  • Weather, surf & tide forecasts
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • Isle of Wight tide times
  • Car journey games & viewpoints
    • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
    • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
    • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
  • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
  • Blog
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
Isle of Wight Guru
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10 of the best places to stay in Cowes

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.
Cowes harbour
Cowes hosts the world's largest yachting regatta
Outside of Cowes Week it is generally a quieter town but it is picturesque with some interesting old buildings and a pleasant esplanade.

1. Best Western New Holmwood (Hotel)

New Holmwood
The views from New Holmwood are lovely jubbly
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 were very positive at 4.5/5 when I checked. 
Search latest deals at New Holmwood

2. Mimosa Lodge (B&B)

Mimosa Lodge is not the cheapest option in Cowes but it is good value for the quality of the accommodation. Its location just outside of the main town means that it offers guests much more space and greener surroundings - as well as sea views for the top floor accommodation. The decor is classy - certainly not your stereotypical British Bed and Breakfast with tasteless floral wallpaper. Reviews on TripAdvisor were averaging 5/5 when I checked, which is very unusual.
Mimosa Lodge Cowes
Search latest deals at Mimosa Lodge

Check out our Isle of Wight holiday park, glamping and camping guides

3. North House (Hotel)

North House 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 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 averaged 4.5/5 when I checked.
North house bedroom in cowes
Search latest deals at North House

4. 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 decor 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.
Bedroom at One Fifty Cowes
Search latest deals at One Fifty

Not sure which Isle of Wight town to stay in? Check out our guide

5. Thorness Bay Holiday Resort (Campsite and Caravans)

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 yacht owner's eyes water. Thorness Bay is not within Cowes, but it's only about four miles away. These sort 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. It's worth looking through the individual ratings for the different accommodation.

In our holiday park and camping price comparisons, Thorness Bay is usually one of the cheaper options on the Isle of Wight.
Search latest deals at Thorness Bay

6. Blue Winds (Self catering, sleeps 2-6)

Blue Winds is a neat little apartment which 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 were averaging 9.5/10 when we checked.
Blue winds in cowes
Search latest deals at Blue Winds

7. The Caledon (B&B) 

The Caledon has a dozen guest rooms and is only about five minutes walk from the town centre. The decor 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 you'll need to get the short floating bridge which links the two towns.

Reviews are stonkingly good with lots of people commenting on the cleanliness.
The Caledon in Cowes
Search latest deals at The Caledon

Fancy staying near the Isle of Wight Festival? See our guide to rooms in Newport.

8. Fountain Inn (Hotel)

The Fountain Inn 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. That also means that it has nice sea views from some rooms. The decor is modern and it is slap bang in the middle of the town centre. It's not so good for parking because it is so central, but ideal if you are on foot. Reviews averaged 3.5/5 when I checked.
Fountain Hotel
The Fountain Hotel is very central
Search latest deals at Fountain Inn

9. Pinkmead Estate (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.
Pinkmead Estate
Search latest deals at Pinkmead Estate

10. 42a (self catering apartment, sleeps 4)

We've included 42a for those who want to feel like they are really in the thick of it during Cowes Week. The flat is above a shop in the high street and is tastefully decorated with polished floorboards and the kind of little trinkets that my wife keeps trying to buy for our house. Be warned though, it will not be quiet on the streets below during Cowes Week so expect buzz and atmosphere rather than tranquillity and silence.

Reviews were averaging 5/5 when I checked.
42a apartment in Cowes
Search latest deals at 42a

Related guides from Isle of Wight Guru:

Children swimming at a holiday park
10 best caravan holiday parks
Carisbrooke Castle gatehouse
20 quirky places to stay
30 days out for children & families
Hot tub at a holiday lodge
5 Isle of Wight holiday lodges
Child at Compton Bay
Which is the best beach for...?
Bedroom at Hambrough Hotel
10 best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
Surfing dog
Dog friendly holidays
Glamping pod
Glamping on the Isle of Wight
Red funnel car ferry
Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel

Where to stay

Holiday parks
​
Lodges
Posh hotels
Cheap​
​Quirky
​Big houses
​Camping
​Glamping
​Dog friendly
Last minute
​Coach trips
Airbnb
Accessible

Days out

Beaches
Families
Toddlers
Teenagers
Adults
Historic
​Festivals
​
Rainy days
​Quirky
​Shanklin
​Cowes
Ryde
Ventnor
​IOW Fest 2020

Saving money

Ferries
Accommodation
​Attraction discounts
Eating out
​
Free attractions

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