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Where’s The Best Place To Stay On The Isle of Wight For...?
A 2024 guide for toddlers, children, teenagers, couples, dog owners, walkers and disabled holidaymakers
A tasty bit of evening sun at Compton Bay in the West Wight
Choosing the best place to stay on the Isle of Wight depends somewhat on who you are visiting with.
Get it wrong and you'll endure a week of whinging children and grumpy spouses. Get it right and, er, no-one will notice most probably.
I tend to think that parents with young children are best to steer clear of the Isle of Wight’s luxurious hotels. Mine woke everyone up at 6am and then played a game of competitive-porridge-flicking at breakfast.
You also may need to factor in other things like bringing a dog or limited mobility. Or you might be trying to find accommodation that will satisfy three aunts, seven cousins and a father-in-law who would rather just be left alone.
Get it wrong and you'll endure a week of whinging children and grumpy spouses. Get it right and, er, no-one will notice most probably.
I tend to think that parents with young children are best to steer clear of the Isle of Wight’s luxurious hotels. Mine woke everyone up at 6am and then played a game of competitive-porridge-flicking at breakfast.
You also may need to factor in other things like bringing a dog or limited mobility. Or you might be trying to find accommodation that will satisfy three aunts, seven cousins and a father-in-law who would rather just be left alone.
Here’s our guide to finding the best Isle of Wight accommodation for you, whether you are:
- a family with toddlers and young children
- a family with junior school and teenage children
- a romantic couple, who would rather avoid noisy families
- older visitors
- a big group of several families gathering together for a chaotic holiday
- dog owners, who want to feel welcome rather than like you are being a nuisance
- a visitor who wants to walk the Isle of Wight’s lovely coastal path
- someone with reduced mobility, such as a wheelchair user
1. Where’s the best place to stay on the Isle of Wight with toddlers and young children?
Winner: big name holiday parks
I reckon that Isle of Wight visitors with toddlers and pre-schoolers are best to start by looking at a well-equipped holiday park or resort. The old-fashioned idea of grotty chalets and canteen food should be overlooked. Things have moved on somewhat (well, mostly), so you need to put aside your snobbery.
You might have never stayed in a holiday park like Nodes Point - but they are ideal for young children and toddlers
The Isle of Wight has several holiday parks which offer things like indoor swimming pools, onsite family restaurants, playgrounds and kids' entertainment during peak times. Your children won't be ruining anyone's holiday if they wake up at 5am and demand a trip to the beach.
The big chain holiday parks are your best bet here as they have the best range of things to do onsite. The Isle of Wight has eight resorts which are run by either Away Resorts or Parkdean Resorts.
Personally, I would start with Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park or Nodes Point Holiday Park. They both tick several boxes for me including:
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park also has a small soft play area and an outdoor swimming pool, which is ideal for a once-in-a-blue-moon heatwave.
The big chain holiday parks are your best bet here as they have the best range of things to do onsite. The Isle of Wight has eight resorts which are run by either Away Resorts or Parkdean Resorts.
Personally, I would start with Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park or Nodes Point Holiday Park. They both tick several boxes for me including:
- indoor swimming pools (not huge, but big enough for a rainy day rescue plan)
- an onsite playground
- easy access to a nice beach (Whitecliff Bay is down a steep hill but we've done it with a pushchair and didn't swear too much)
- kids' activities during peak times
- somewhere to buy chicken nuggets and chips onsite if you can't face cooking or travelling miles
- a hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you book is through them. The level of discount varies but I've seen some deals which are about half price (see ferry deals from Parkdean Resorts or Away Resorts).
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park also has a small soft play area and an outdoor swimming pool, which is ideal for a once-in-a-blue-moon heatwave.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is good for young children with swimming pools, beach access and a playground
Outside of school holidays, some of these holiday parks are exceedingly cheap so I would upgrade to a lodge or posher caravan.
Both resorts score 4/5 on most review sites and are in the East Wight. You can get to family-friendly resorts like Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde in about 10-15 minutes.
Other similar holiday parks worth considering include:
If you are less bothered about onsite facilities but just want some of your own space and a beach then look at Woodside Coastal Retreat and Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat. You get nice sea views and hot tubs at Woodside Coastal Retreat but there isn't as much for young children. The local beach is scrubby rather than sandy.
Both resorts score 4/5 on most review sites and are in the East Wight. You can get to family-friendly resorts like Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde in about 10-15 minutes.
Other similar holiday parks worth considering include:
- Parkdean's sites at Landguard Holiday Park, Lower Hyde Holiday Park and Thorness Bay. These all have their advantages but Landguard and Lower Hyde require a short drive to the beach and Thorness Bay is slightly behind on review scores.
- Away Resorts sites called The Bay, Colwell, St Helen's Holiday Resort and The Lakes, Rookley. Again, they are all decent but they don't have as many toddler friendly activities as Whitecliff Bay. The Bay and The Lakes both have indoor swimming pools. The Bay is close to a sandy beach whilst The Lakes is 20 minutes inland. St Helens has an outdoor pool and requires a short drive to the beach.
If you are less bothered about onsite facilities but just want some of your own space and a beach then look at Woodside Coastal Retreat and Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat. You get nice sea views and hot tubs at Woodside Coastal Retreat but there isn't as much for young children. The local beach is scrubby rather than sandy.
A playground with a view at Thorness Bay Holiday Park
2. Where’s the best place to stay on the Isle of Wight for families with junior school and teenage children?
Winner: holiday parks, camping or glamping
Your options expand somewhat when you are visiting the Isle of Wight with junior school aged children and teenagers.
- Holiday parks remain a good option, in my opinion, and I would still recommend Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park or Nodes Point Holiday Park if you want your children to make some friends so you can have a little peace and quiet (followed by tears when you leave). Nodes Point often has horse-riding on the beach in summer.
The Lakes, Rookley is another good option as you can sign up for watersports.
You can get yourself a hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you go for one of those big name resorts (more details on these pages from Parkdean Resorts and Away Resorts).
The Lakes in Rookley isn't next to a beach but there are watersports on the lake
However, you will want to explore a lot more and so might prefer somewhere a bit more adventurous.
- To keep costs low, you may want to camp or bring a caravan. My experience is that enthusiasm levels for camping varies amongst children and teens. Poor phone signal and wobbly Wifi are a major risk. We've got a lovely guide to camping which includes about 20 campsites.
If you want somewhere with copious activities then stick with holiday park camping at Parkdean Resorts' Nodes Point, Lower Hyde or Landguard. If you just want a back-to-nature campsite with toilets and showers then there lots of good ones including Whitefield Forest and Ninham Country Holidays Park in the East Wight or Stoats Farm and Orchards in the quieter West Wight. These are good for parents who are desperately trying to peel children away from screens.
Nodes Point campsite is only a short walk to a nice beach
- Glamping is a good middle ground as it offers the feeling of a fresh breeze whooshing up your shorts whilst also allowing your sulky teenager somewhere to charge their phone. In my experience, glamping isn't a whole lot cheaper than somewhere with walls but it can be good fun. There's a big range in the level of 'glamour' which comes with glamourous camping. Some appear to be a mattress lobbed onto the floor of a big tent, whilst others are more like a well-equipped cottage with fabric walls.
Our top 20 glamping guide covers this in an absurd level of detail but some popular options for families include glamping at Nodes Point Holiday Park (onsite swimming pool and beach access), award winning yurts at the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm, Tapnell Farm (safari tents, domes and other cool things) and Glamping The Wight Way.
Runner up: self catering cottages
Finally, self-catering cottages can work well with children and teens if you can find a good one near to a beach. Take a look at our guide to cottages and apartments with a sea view. A sea view is a big bonus if you've got younger children as you can - potentially - sit out on a balcony with a glass of Pinot Grigio whilst the children are asleep.
Holiday cottages in seaside towns are available in abundant quantities on the Isle of Wight (for starters, there are 200 on HolidayCottages.co.uk and 300 on Hoseasons). My advice if you want this option is to start by reading this rollicking guide to which part of the Isle of Wight you should stay in.
The gist of it is that the East Wight towns of Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde are more developed but have more attractions and better public transport. The South Wight and West Wight towns and villages of Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay and Ventnor are quieter and prettier but they are more isolated and your main entertainment is the beaches and walks.
This is only a very general summary and there are multiple exceptions - such as the fact that hugely popular attractions like The Needles, Tapnell Farm Park and Blackgang Chine are all in the West Wight and South Wight.
Holiday cottages in seaside towns are available in abundant quantities on the Isle of Wight (for starters, there are 200 on HolidayCottages.co.uk and 300 on Hoseasons). My advice if you want this option is to start by reading this rollicking guide to which part of the Isle of Wight you should stay in.
The gist of it is that the East Wight towns of Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde are more developed but have more attractions and better public transport. The South Wight and West Wight towns and villages of Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay and Ventnor are quieter and prettier but they are more isolated and your main entertainment is the beaches and walks.
This is only a very general summary and there are multiple exceptions - such as the fact that hugely popular attractions like The Needles, Tapnell Farm Park and Blackgang Chine are all in the West Wight and South Wight.
An apartment with a seaview works well if you want relaxing child-free evenings without needing a babysitter. This one is in Ventnor.
3. Where's the best place to stay on the Isle of Wight for romantic couples?
Winner: posh hotels and quirky hot tub properties
Romantic couples visiting the Isle of Wight should be looking for hot tubs, restaurants with sea views and easy access to evening strolls on the beach. You are in the enviable position of being able to avoid the school holiday price hikes and the trips to soft play areas.
Couples should probably not be considering holiday parks (too many children) or camping (not enough privacy, eh chaps?). Self catering accommodation can work OK, but you'll often end up with an extra bedroom so I would stick with hotels or some sort of quirky couple's property. For example, you could hire a treehouse with a hot tub at Woodside Bay, a circular hut with a hot tub in Wootton or glamp in a yurt at The Garlic Farm.
There are plenty more small properties at HolidayCottages.co.uk or Hoseasons.
Couples should probably not be considering holiday parks (too many children) or camping (not enough privacy, eh chaps?). Self catering accommodation can work OK, but you'll often end up with an extra bedroom so I would stick with hotels or some sort of quirky couple's property. For example, you could hire a treehouse with a hot tub at Woodside Bay, a circular hut with a hot tub in Wootton or glamp in a yurt at The Garlic Farm.
There are plenty more small properties at HolidayCottages.co.uk or Hoseasons.
Couples could do worse than a treehouse with a hot tub at Woodside Bay
If you have a generous budget and a penchant for luxury then I would start with the Royal Hotel in Ventnor or Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa. The Royal is posh and near to a beach but it only has an outdoor swimming pool. Lakeside Park has a more modern style and has an indoor swimming pool, but it's a 10 minute drive to the beach.
There are several others featured in our guide to the Isle of Wight's posh hotels.
Couples who take comfort in big-name chains are best to go for one of the Isle of Wight's Premier Inn hotels. There are three to choose from, which we have compared in investigative detail. Feel free to nominate us for some sort of journalistic award.
There are several others featured in our guide to the Isle of Wight's posh hotels.
Couples who take comfort in big-name chains are best to go for one of the Isle of Wight's Premier Inn hotels. There are three to choose from, which we have compared in investigative detail. Feel free to nominate us for some sort of journalistic award.
The Royal is my usual suggestion as a go-to posh hotel on the Isle of Wight
4. Where's the best place to stay on the ISle of Wight for older visitors?
Winner: coach trips, Shanklin's guest houses and Warner hotels
I don’t wish to stereotype here. It is perfectly possible that a single traveller or a couple in their 80s might like to stay in a rustic campsite. Perhaps they would really enjoy searching for a toilet with a torch at 3am.
More likely, they would be best to aim for one of the Isle of Wight’s hotels which are particularly popular with older travellers.
More likely, they would be best to aim for one of the Isle of Wight’s hotels which are particularly popular with older travellers.
- Many go for a coach trip from the likes of Alfa Travel or Just Go! Holidays. These can work out particularly good value once you factor in the ferry. The big advantage here is that you can visit the Isle of Wight with minimal hassle.
The coach will pick you up from a convenient location. You'll be given meals at a hotel in Sandown, Shanklin, Yarmouth or Bembridge. You will then visit some of the most famous Isle of Wight attractions - most likely Osborne House, The Needles/Alum Bay and Godshill.
The downside of this sort of holiday is that you are treading a familiar path. You can tick the Isle of Wight off the list of places you've visited but you won't have the freedom to see some wonderful and less busy parts.
Alfa Travel are one of several coach trip companies which visit the Isle of Wight
- Lots of older people stay in a guest house in Sandown or Shanklin. These adjacent towns are both old-fashioned English seaside resorts. Personally, I prefer Shanklin as it has both a thatched village and a busy seafront.
The quality of guest houses on the Isle of Wight varies (as I'm sure it does everywhere). A handful have a Fawlty Towers vibe but the majority are run by passionate people who will happily act as a local expert. Some of the highest-rated guest houses include Snowdon House, Brooke House and The Fawley. However, there are many others which feature in our guides to accommodation in Sandown and Shanklin.
Most guest houses can get you a discount on the Isle of Wight ferry. Your best bet is to phone them up and ask.
Shanklin has dozens of guest houses and B&B, which are particularly popular with older visitors
- A third popular option amongst older visitors is Bembridge Coast Hotel and Norton Grange Coastal Village. Both of these are owned by Warner Leisure, which has a chain of about 15 similar hotels and villages around the UK. You get meals, activities, swimming and entertainment onsite as well as some optional day trips. They have an excellent deal with the Isle of Wight ferry companies so you can get yourself a whopping discount. Most importantly - children aren't allowed at Warner Leisure hotels.
Of the two, Bembridge Coast Hotel is my pick - but check out our comparison for more details.
Bembridge Coast is an adults only hotel next to the beach in a lovely part of the Isle of Wight
5. Best place to stay on the Isle of Wight for big groups and family gatherings
Winner: big manor houses or a bundle of adjacent properties
So...you've been lumbered with trying to find the perfect holiday home for a group of 17 people? Well, it might be 17 but you aren't sure if your cousin's husband is coming yet. And your nephew's girlfriend might want to come, if they haven't broken up by then. Of course, you don't trust your sister-in-law to book it, as she will just go for the first place she sees without asking if everyone can afford it...
There are two approaches here.
One option is to hire a massive great manor house or a large property. The Isle of Wight has several of these including The Hermitage (sleeps 20), Marine Villa/Art Deco House (sleeps 18) and Mottistone Manor Farmhouse (sleeps 14).
You can find more of these on our guide to Isle of Wight Manor Houses.
There are two approaches here.
One option is to hire a massive great manor house or a large property. The Isle of Wight has several of these including The Hermitage (sleeps 20), Marine Villa/Art Deco House (sleeps 18) and Mottistone Manor Farmhouse (sleeps 14).
You can find more of these on our guide to Isle of Wight Manor Houses.
Big groups often go for a manor house or something similar, like Marine Villa in Shanklin
A second option is to book three or four small properties which are next door to each other.
There are quite a few of these as well, some of which feature on our guide to places to stay with large groups.
Some good options include:
There are quite a few of these as well, some of which feature on our guide to places to stay with large groups.
Some good options include:
- Rossiter's Vineyard Barns, which sleep up to 26 in five properties.
- The Island Riding Centre, which can sleep more than 60 people across its 11 modern properties. Again, you can just book three or four and some are accessible. They range from Bay Cottage (sleeps 4) to Hold Your Horses (sleeps 8)
- The Needles Headland Cottages, which are owned by the National Trust and which sleep 14 people in three properties.
The Island Riding Centre has 11 horsey themed properties for hire
In my experience, a big house is great fun for the first couple of days whilst a selection of adjacent properties is better for the last couple of days...
If it's all getting too much, a backup plan is to book several caravans on a large holiday park. That way, everyone can choose what upgrades they want to pay for and you can eat together in the onsite restaurant.
If it's all getting too much, a backup plan is to book several caravans on a large holiday park. That way, everyone can choose what upgrades they want to pay for and you can eat together in the onsite restaurant.
6. Best place to stay on the Isle of Wight for dog owners
Winner: holiday parks and self catering-cottages
Bringing a dog to the Isle of Wight does narrow your accommodation choice a bit - but there are still plenty of good options. There are also enough dog friendly beaches, attractions and pubs that you won't spend your whole holiday stood around waiting for other people.
Personally, I think that holiday parks and self-catering cottages are your best bet with a dog. You will find some dog friendly hotels on the Isle of Wight but self-catering gives you a bit more outdoor space.
Personally, I think that holiday parks and self-catering cottages are your best bet with a dog. You will find some dog friendly hotels on the Isle of Wight but self-catering gives you a bit more outdoor space.
- If you want a dog friendly lodge or a holiday park then I would start with Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Nodes Point Holiday Park and Woodside Coastal Retreat/Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat. All of these get good reviews and are next door to dog friendly beaches. The 'Woodside' resorts are two adjacent sites which have posher accommodation but fewer facilities. We prefer Woodside Coastal Retreat as it has better sea views.
Woodside Coastal Retreat overlooks a dog friendly beach
- For dog friendly self-catering, your best bet is to figure out which part of the Isle of Wight is right for you, and then apply a few filters. For example, you can find 150 dog friendly cottages at Hoseasons.co.uk or 100 dog friendly cottages at HolidayCottages.co.uk.
See our guide to 10 of the best dog friendly properties.
7. Best place to stay for walking the Isle of Wight coastal path
Winner: hotels or a self catering cottage
The Isle of Wight's coastal path for walkers is about 70 miles. It's really lovely, with sumptuous clifftop views in the South Wight and West Wight and sandy beaches in the East Wight. There's also a fairly boring section where you plod along inland because of land ownership restrictions. Let's gloss over that.
Our coastal path guide includes so much detail that you'll have information pouring out of your ears and dribbling onto your screen.
Here's a brief summary of the best places to stay whilst doing the walk.
Our coastal path guide includes so much detail that you'll have information pouring out of your ears and dribbling onto your screen.
Here's a brief summary of the best places to stay whilst doing the walk.
1. The more romantic way of doing the Isle of Wight coastal path is by walking from one hotel or B&B to the next over 4-7 days. You won't have to keep hopping on buses and you will wake up in a different bed each morning (Ed: ooer missus).
However, you will need to cart your bags around somehow and you will have a very small choice of places to stay for some nights. Lots of places want you to stay for at least two nights, so you'll have to take what's available in rural areas. You probably won't end up sleeping on a bench but I'm not making any promises.
If you fancy this approach then we've come up with suggestions of where to stop in our full guide to the Isle of Wight Coastal Path.
However, you will need to cart your bags around somehow and you will have a very small choice of places to stay for some nights. Lots of places want you to stay for at least two nights, so you'll have to take what's available in rural areas. You probably won't end up sleeping on a bench but I'm not making any promises.
If you fancy this approach then we've come up with suggestions of where to stop in our full guide to the Isle of Wight Coastal Path.
This section of the coastal path around Freshwater Bay is one of the highlights
2. The less romantic but simpler way to attempt the Isle of Wight coastal path is to stay for a week in a self catering apartment or holiday home with a sea view. You would need to get taxis or buses each day, but you wouldn't be carrying six pairs of dirty pants around with you by the final day.
If you are attempting the popular six-day coastal path route, I would start your search with holiday cottages and apartments in Cowes and Yarmouth. They are both nice towns with a yachty feel and plenty of places to eat out. Both are connected to a foot passenger ferry to the mainland and they are both suggested stopping points if you are splitting the walk up into six chunks.
If you are attempting the popular six-day coastal path route, I would start your search with holiday cottages and apartments in Cowes and Yarmouth. They are both nice towns with a yachty feel and plenty of places to eat out. Both are connected to a foot passenger ferry to the mainland and they are both suggested stopping points if you are splitting the walk up into six chunks.
Yarmouth is a good place to stay if you want to attempt the coastal path from one base
8. Best place to stay for someone with reduced mobility or a disability
Winner: specialist self-catering or some holiday parks
The Isle of Wight has quite a good choice of accommodation for people in wheelchairs or people with limited mobility.
The disclaimer is that everyone's mobility issues are slightly different, so it's advisable to make a phone call rather than relying on outdated online advice.
With that out of the way, I will point you to our guide to the 10 best places to stay for wheelchair users or for accessible holidays.
We found that there are several holiday parks and lodge resorts which have 'accessible' accommodation including: Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park (look for the ‘adapted’ caravans), The Lakes, Rookley and the four Parkdean Resorts sites Landguard, Lower Hyde, Nodes Point and Thorness Bay.
There are also some holiday cottages and larger houses for hire which advertise that they have accessible facilities such as wet rooms or lowered kitchen surfaces. Some options we found include the Island Riding Centre, which has three properties sleeping 5-8. Others include Marine Villa (sleeps 18), Atherfield Green Farm Cottages (four properties sleeping 4-8).
If you prefer a hotel, I would start with Premier Inn and Travelodge which both advertise that they have adapted rooms. There are three Premier Inns on the Isle of Wight and two Travelodge hotels.
The disclaimer is that everyone's mobility issues are slightly different, so it's advisable to make a phone call rather than relying on outdated online advice.
With that out of the way, I will point you to our guide to the 10 best places to stay for wheelchair users or for accessible holidays.
We found that there are several holiday parks and lodge resorts which have 'accessible' accommodation including: Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park (look for the ‘adapted’ caravans), The Lakes, Rookley and the four Parkdean Resorts sites Landguard, Lower Hyde, Nodes Point and Thorness Bay.
There are also some holiday cottages and larger houses for hire which advertise that they have accessible facilities such as wet rooms or lowered kitchen surfaces. Some options we found include the Island Riding Centre, which has three properties sleeping 5-8. Others include Marine Villa (sleeps 18), Atherfield Green Farm Cottages (four properties sleeping 4-8).
If you prefer a hotel, I would start with Premier Inn and Travelodge which both advertise that they have adapted rooms. There are three Premier Inns on the Isle of Wight and two Travelodge hotels.
Some holiday parks have more accessible caravans and lodges (this is Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park)
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