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Which Town On The Isle of Wight Should I Stay In? (2026 Guide)
**Red Funnel offer: 10% off via this exclusive link**
Although the Isle of Wight isn't huge, different towns and villages have their own feel so it's important that you consider location, location, location for your holiday, particularly if you aren't taking a car.
Don't forget to check out our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel before you book or our guide to holidays including ferry travel (basically, do whatever you can to avoid paying full price for the ferry...).
These five options are not in order of preference. We've just tried to cover the whole Island, more or less.
Don't forget to check out our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel before you book or our guide to holidays including ferry travel (basically, do whatever you can to avoid paying full price for the ferry...).
These five options are not in order of preference. We've just tried to cover the whole Island, more or less.
Option 1: Sandown/Shanklin
The Isle of Wight's south-east coastline is ideal if you are looking for a classic British seaside holiday - but not if you are looking for privacy and peace.
Sandown and Shanklin are packed full of hotels with sea views, the beaches are sandy, and the sea is usually clean for swimming (check the Safer Seas website first). Their esplanades are full of amusements, minigolf courses and cafes offering chips with everything.
You can hire a paddleboard or pedalo, buy an Isle of Wight tea towel and build a sandcastle all before lunchtime. There is parking right by the beach, although it does get busy in the summer.
Sandown and Shanklin are packed full of hotels with sea views, the beaches are sandy, and the sea is usually clean for swimming (check the Safer Seas website first). Their esplanades are full of amusements, minigolf courses and cafes offering chips with everything.
You can hire a paddleboard or pedalo, buy an Isle of Wight tea towel and build a sandcastle all before lunchtime. There is parking right by the beach, although it does get busy in the summer.
A bold claim from Sandown Pier
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Dunroamin Beach is halfway between Sandown and Shanklin
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Sandown and Shanklin are also ideal if you don't have a car, as the Isle of Wight's only 'modern' train line travels from Ryde Pier Head (where one of the ferries arrives) and stops at Sandown, Lake and Shanklin.
Most organised coach trips offer accommodation in Sandown and Shanklin as they are much better stocked for rooms than other towns.
Most organised coach trips offer accommodation in Sandown and Shanklin as they are much better stocked for rooms than other towns.
Shanklin and Sandown are coastal towns on the Isle of Wight's south east coastline (map images are from Google)
Some Islanders find Sandown and Shanklin a little twee and crowded during the summer but for young children, families or nostalgic adults they are a safe bet.
Personally, I prefer Shanklin's old village and seafront amusements but plenty of other people prefer Sandown's seafront, so let's not fall out over it. Sandown has received a fair amount of criticism in the last couple of years, as it has several empty hotels but it also has lots of good places to stay.
You might like to read our guide to 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown.
Personally, I prefer Shanklin's old village and seafront amusements but plenty of other people prefer Sandown's seafront, so let's not fall out over it. Sandown has received a fair amount of criticism in the last couple of years, as it has several empty hotels but it also has lots of good places to stay.
You might like to read our guide to 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown.
Places to stay in Sandown and Shanklin
- Sandown/Shanklin self catering holiday cottages - when we checked, there were about 30 self catering cottages in Sandown on Hoseasons and 20 cottages on HolidayCottages.co.uk. Shanklin had about 50 cottages and other places to rent on Hoseasons and 40 cottages on HolidayCottages.co.uk. Thankfully, the choice narrows pretty quickly when you add in your group size and budget. If you want a sea view in Sandown you'll need to be on the seafront (which is mostly hotels) whilst Shanklin also has sea views from some of the clifftop properties.
Big families might like this 20-person Marine Villa in Shanklin
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Shanklin Villa has several apartments near to the beach
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- Sandown/Shanklin holiday parks and lodges - Parkdean Resorts' Lower Hyde and Landguard are big and busy caravan holiday parks in Shanklin that have lots for families and some lodges with hot tubs. Personally, I prefer Lower Hyde as it's more spread out. It lacks an indoor pool, but you can walk 15 minutes to Landguard to use their indoor pool for free.
A quieter option nearby is Cheverton Copse, which is a highly rated caravan park. Cheverton Copse won bronze in the Best Holiday Park category at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.
Landguard is a busy and popular caravan holiday park in Shanklin
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Parkdean Resorts' Lower Hyde is the sister park to Landguard Holiday Park
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- Sandown/Shanklin hotels - Sandown and Shanklin are both brimming with modestly sized guest houses, as well as several bigger hotels. In Sandown, I would start with two of the biggest seafront hotels - Premier Inn and The Trouville. In Shanklin, highly-rated options include big hotels like Channel View Hotel or The Brunswick Hotel. The best smaller hotels include Brooke House, very posh Haven Hall Hotel and The Fawley.
Haven Hall Hotel was visited by Peter Crouch, although he didn't take this photo
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Sandown has a Premier Inn opposite the beach
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- Sandown/Shanklin camping and glamping - there aren't campsites right on the coast near Sandown and Shanklin but the campsites at Lower Hyde Holiday Park or Landguard Holiday Park are only about 20 minutes' walk or a short drive. Ninham Country Holidays Park is seven minutes' drive from the beach.
If you want to upgrade to glamping, then start with Lower Hyde Holiday Park or the award-winning glamping at The Garlic Farm.
Yurts at the Garlic Farm, just outside of Sandown
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Lower Hyde Holiday Park has several safari tents at its Shanklin resort
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Check out our guide to 10 of the best Isle of Wight holiday parks
Option 2: South Wight
The South Wight (Ventnor, St Lawrence, Bonchurch, Blackgang and Niton) had its heyday in Victorian times when it was the place to be seen by the movers and shakers.
Ventnor has seen a mini-renaissance in recent years, with posh hotels/restaurants such as The Hambrough and events like Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Ventnor has seen a mini-renaissance in recent years, with posh hotels/restaurants such as The Hambrough and events like Ventnor Fringe Festival.
Steephill Cove is a secluded beach that can only be reached by foot
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Ventnor is a busier beach with bars and restaurants on the seafront
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The south of the Isle of Wight also boasts a micro-climate of its own. That means that the Botanic Gardens in Ventnor features a number of plants that wouldn't grow on mainland England.
I've always found the South Wight charming, and it feels even more 'other worldly' and slow paced than other parts of the Island (see our guide to South Wight days out).
The downside of staying in the south of the Island is that it is some way from the ferry ports (up to 30 minutes' drive) and the steep wiggly roads make any trip to other parts of the Island a bit of a pain. It is also quite poorly equipped for facilities like supermarkets, petrol stations and mobile signal, so you have to plan ahead a bit.
I've always found the South Wight charming, and it feels even more 'other worldly' and slow paced than other parts of the Island (see our guide to South Wight days out).
The downside of staying in the south of the Island is that it is some way from the ferry ports (up to 30 minutes' drive) and the steep wiggly roads make any trip to other parts of the Island a bit of a pain. It is also quite poorly equipped for facilities like supermarkets, petrol stations and mobile signal, so you have to plan ahead a bit.
Ventnor, Niton or St Lawrence are good locations if you don't mind a bit of driving
Places to stay in the South Wight
South Wight self catering holiday cottages: there are about 50 self catering holiday cottages in Ventnor and the South Wight on Hoseasons. There are a further 60 cottages in the Ventnor area on HolidayCottages.co.uk.
Again, the choice narrows quickly when you add in your dates and budget. Ventnor is very hilly, so you don't need to be on the seafront to get a decent sea view.
Again, the choice narrows quickly when you add in your dates and budget. Ventnor is very hilly, so you don't need to be on the seafront to get a decent sea view.
No, you can't stay in the lighthouse...but you can stay in the cottages next door
South Wight holiday parks: the main caravan holiday park in the South Wight is Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park. It's a little way inland from Ventnor but reviews are very positive. It's a quiet site but it has an outdoor swimming pool.
The Lakes Rookley is in the general direction of the South Wight but it's 15 minutes' drive to the nearest beach (which Isle of Wight residents would consider a long drive). You can get cheap ferry travel if you stay at The Lakes and you can also save 10% with code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26.
The Lakes Rookley is in the general direction of the South Wight but it's 15 minutes' drive to the nearest beach (which Isle of Wight residents would consider a long drive). You can get cheap ferry travel if you stay at The Lakes and you can also save 10% with code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26.
Appuldurcombe Gardens is a leafy caravan park which is a little bit inland from Ventnor
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The Lakes Rookley has lakeside chalets and watersports on the lake
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South Wight hotels: one of the poshest hotels on the Isle of Wight is The Royal Hotel in Ventnor. It's got about 50 rooms and an outdoor swimming pool and it's often used by Isle of Wight Festival artists. Smaller hotels with great reviews include The Hambrough and there's a B&B called Lisle Combe, which was home to poet Alfred Noyes. Read our guide to Ventnor's best hotels for more of this sort of thing.
The Royal Hotel is a posh hotel which has a wonderfully traditional approach to hospitality
South Wight camping and glamping: there isn't much camping and glamping in Ventnor but a little way inland you'll find Sibbick's Farm Glamping. It was named 'Best Place To Go Glamping' at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2022.
You can get a very cheap pitch + ferry bundle at Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park if you book via Red Funnel.
You can get a very cheap pitch + ferry bundle at Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park if you book via Red Funnel.
Sibbick's Farm Glamping offers safari tents and plenty of open space
Option 3: West Wight
The West Wight is the least developed part of the Isle of Wight with an abundance of pretty villages, green space and eroding cliffs.
There is much less accommodation with a sea view and the main nightlife is the moon. However, if you are after somewhere quiet to stay then Yarmouth, Freshwater, Totland, Colwell and Brighstone are worth a look (see our guide to things to do in the West Wight).
Attractions in the area include Tapnell Farm Park, the Isle of Wight Aqua Park and the famous chairlift of Alum Bay and The Needles.
The West Wight has an abundance of good places to eat out. Options include The Hut in Colwell, The Cow at Tapnell, The Bay at Totland, The Red Lion in Freshwater, The Rock at The Albion or there's a few good places in Yarmouth including The Terrace. See our restaurants by the sea guide or our guide to posh restaurants.
There is much less accommodation with a sea view and the main nightlife is the moon. However, if you are after somewhere quiet to stay then Yarmouth, Freshwater, Totland, Colwell and Brighstone are worth a look (see our guide to things to do in the West Wight).
Attractions in the area include Tapnell Farm Park, the Isle of Wight Aqua Park and the famous chairlift of Alum Bay and The Needles.
The West Wight has an abundance of good places to eat out. Options include The Hut in Colwell, The Cow at Tapnell, The Bay at Totland, The Red Lion in Freshwater, The Rock at The Albion or there's a few good places in Yarmouth including The Terrace. See our restaurants by the sea guide or our guide to posh restaurants.
Freshwater Bay is popular with paddleboarders and kayakers
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Compton Bay/Hanover Point on a summer's evening is my favourite place in the world
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I adore the West Wight, particularly the beaches along the coastal road (Military Road). The coastal walks are great for ramblers but terrible for buggies. If you are after peace and quiet and you fancy a campsite then the West Wight is perfect. There's plenty of self catering in the West Wight, although much of it is a mile or two inland.
The West Wight is the sleepiest and (arguably) prettiest part of the Isle of Wight
Places to stay in the West Wight
- West Wight self catering holiday cottages: Yarmouth, Brighstone, Freshwater and Totland all have some self catering cottages. You won't find many with a sea view in the West Wight as the coastline hasn't been built on very much (partly because it is very crumbly).
Hoseasons has 30 holiday cottages in Freshwater and 25 holiday cottages in Yarmouth. Meanwhile, HolidayCottages.co.uk has 20 cottages in Freshwater.
You may even like to stay in our holiday apartment in Freshwater Bay, which has sea views, allocated parking, luxurious cushions and Wifi (Ed: that was subtle self promotion).
Golden Hill Fort has some of the quirkier self catering holiday homes in the West Wight
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The holiday cottages at Fort Redoubt in Freshwater combine history with sea views
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- West Wight holiday parks: the West Wight's holiday parks are quiet and simple rather than non-stop-entertainment resorts. Orchards Holiday Park is a little way inland but it's a highly rated and quiet caravan holiday park with a swimming pool. It won silver at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2022 in the Best Holiday Park category.
The Bay, Colwell offers lodges, chalets and an indoor swimming pool whilst and you can save 10% with code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26. The beach at Colwell is only a short walk and is sandy at low tide. You get cheap ferry travel with this one as well.
West Bay Cottages has about 100 'New England' style properties. Grange Farm is a basic site, but it has a handful of caravans in a spectacular location on the edge of a cliff. Not sure if I would trust my children with this one...
The Orchards Holiday Park is an award winner with affordable accommodation
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The Bay Colwell has an indoor pool and is only a short walk to the beach
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- West Wight hotels: the West Wight doesn't have very many hotels and guest houses, compared to Sandown or Shanklin. The Albion is a great choice at the pricier end of the market. It used to be a crumbly old hotel with crusty décor but the new owners spent £6m on it and re-opened it in 2024.
Warner Leisure's Norton Grange Holiday Village has sea views. It has chalets rather than hotel rooms but it has evening meals and entertainment. It is popular with older visitors.
The George Hotel in Yarmouth was featured on a Channel 5 TV series where a chap called Howard flogged bottles of champagne to posh folk on yachts. Other decent guest houses in Yarmouth include The Bugle Inn and Jireh House.
The George Hotel in Yarmouth looks out towards Yarmouth Pier
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Warner Leisure has a West Wight coastal village which is popular with older visitors
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- West Wight camping and glamping: the West Wight has several quiet campsites near to the coastal path including Grange Farm and Compton Farm. There are abundant glamping options including safari tents, pods, geo-domes and 'modulogs' at Tapnell Farm. The safari tents at Tapnell Farm won bronze in the glamping category at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2021.
There are also safari tents at a place called Glamping The Wight Way.
Camping and touring at The Orchards Holiday Park is very cheap if you get the pitch + ferry bundle that we mentioned earlier.
These safari tents in the West Wight are known as 'Tom's Eco Lodges'
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There are cheap pitch + ferry bundles at The Orchards in the West Wight
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Option 4: Cowes/Newport/Ryde
Just to confuse visitors, 'Cowes' always refers to the town on the west side of the river, whereas the other half is always called 'East Cowes'.
The world famous sailing regatta takes place in August in (West) Cowes. Personally, I prefer Cowes to East Cowes.
Both are near to one of the Red Funnel ferries and the town centre in (West) Cowes is attractive but there aren't many sandy beaches nearby. We enjoy sitting on the seafront and watching the yachts trying to avoid massive container ships.
The world famous sailing regatta takes place in August in (West) Cowes. Personally, I prefer Cowes to East Cowes.
Both are near to one of the Red Funnel ferries and the town centre in (West) Cowes is attractive but there aren't many sandy beaches nearby. We enjoy sitting on the seafront and watching the yachts trying to avoid massive container ships.
Gurnard in Cowes is a popular spot for a wander
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Lots of yachts during Cowes Week
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Newport and Ryde are the most populated towns and so are the best equipped with supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants. They both have nice parts and Newport is excellent for accessing other parts of the Island but they aren't as pretty as the other options in my view.
Ryde has some good seafront attractions for children (bowling alley, swimming pool, playgrounds) and the beach is sandy and huge (read the blog about one of many trips to Ryde).
Ryde has some good seafront attractions for children (bowling alley, swimming pool, playgrounds) and the beach is sandy and huge (read the blog about one of many trips to Ryde).
Newport, Ryde and Cowes have better facilities and travel connections than quieter parts of the Isle of Wight
Newport has some nice parts, but it's not as scenic as the coastal towns
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Ryde is a busy town with a big sandy beach and good public transport
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Places to stay in Newport, Ryde and Cowes
- Cowes/Newport/Ryde self-catering holiday cottages: unsurprisingly, there's a big choice of self-catering holiday homes in the Isle of Wight's biggest towns.
Hoseasons has a choice of 25 holiday cottages in Cowes, 40 in Ryde and 20 in Carisbrooke and Newport. You can find a few highlights in our guide to the 10 best places to stay in Newport and the 10 best places to stay in Cowes.
Some of the accommodation in Cowes has a sea view
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The Island Riding Centre has about a dozen holiday cottages near Newport
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- Cowes/Newport/Ryde holiday parks: there aren't town centre caravan holiday parks but there are several on the outskirts. The Lakes Rookley is near Newport and offers chalets and lakeside lodges, some of which have hot tubs (Save 15% with code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26).
Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat in Wootton, near Ryde is a large and classy lodge park with hot tubs and lodges next to a beach.
Parkdean Resorts' Thorness Bay is a relatively cheap caravan holiday park in a rural area and is about four miles outside of Cowes. Waverley Park is a caravan park in East Cowes that is linked with (West) Cowes via a 'floating bridge' (i.e. a ferry which hops back and forth all day).
Thorness Bay Caravan Park is quite near to Cowes
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Some of the lodges at Woodside Bay Coastal Retreat are practically on the beach
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- Cowes/Newport/Ryde hotels: Travelodges can be found in Newport and Ryde whilst there's a Premier Inn in Newport. They all get positive reviews but the Premier Inn is in a nice location by the River Medina
Decent hotels in Cowes include Best Western's New Holmwood, which is on the seafront with outstanding views of the Solent. Foresters Hall and Villa Rothsay are posher options in Cowes. Both get very good reviews
Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa is a large and modern hotel with a swimming pool. It is a couple of miles outside of Ryde. Good hotels near the beach in Ryde include Royal Esplanade Hotel and Ryde Castle Hotel.
Cowes' Best Western New Holmwood is in a prime location
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Villa Rothsay is a highly rated hotel in Cowes
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- Cowes/Newport/Ryde camping and glamping: There's not much in the towns themselves but for a cheap camping or touring holiday, have a look at the pitch + ferry deals at Whitefield Forest near Ryde or a similarly excellent deal at Waverley Park in East Cowes.
Other options include Roebeck Country Park near Ryde, quirky Windmill Campersite near Newport or Thorness Bay near Cowes.
Parkdean Resorts Thorness Bay Holiday Park has a number of safari tents in its glamping village. There is a glamping site near to Cowes called The Ark Park. The nearest glamping site to Newport is a family-friendly place called Kids Love Yurts.
Campers and tourers can get a cheap holiday at highly rated Whitefield Forest near Ryde
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Kids Love Yurts is a family-friendly glamping site on the edge of Newport
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Option 5: East Wight
Bembridge, Seaview and St. Helens are all very pretty places to stay with some amazing seafront properties to admire enviously. Some of the Island's most expensive houses are in this area.
Looking towards Priory Bay at low tide
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Whitecliff Bay is next to a couple of holiday parks
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The East Wight is a bit out of the way if you want to visit the tranquil West Wight or the olde-worlde South Wight. However, they are easy to reach from the Portsmouth ferry crossings.
They are also ideal for those who prefer their sea view to be of yachts and boats on the move rather than miles and miles of empty tranquillity.
They are also ideal for those who prefer their sea view to be of yachts and boats on the move rather than miles and miles of empty tranquillity.
Seaview, Bembridge and St Helen's have some lovely beaches - and they're not too far from the train and some ferries
Places to stay in the East Wight
- East Wight self catering holiday cottages: there are about 10 holiday cottages in Bembridge on Hoseasons. There are another 10 Bembridge cottages on HolidayCottages.co.uk.
You'll probably need to be on the seafront to get a sea view as it's a fairly flat part of the Island. East Wight holiday homes that feature in our guide to quirky places to stay include this houseboat in Bembridge Harbour.
This houseboat in Bembridge is a quirky self catering holiday home
- East Wight hotels: there's only a handful of hotels around the East Wight but Warner Leisure's Bembridge Coast Hotel is a large seafront hotel with good reviews. It is for adults only and tends to be popular with older visitors.
**Warner Leisure special offer: Car ferry travel for £90 or less in 2026** - The Seaview Hotel is a good choice if you want a smaller hotel. It has a reputation for great food and has won awards from Michelin.
Bembridge Coast Hotel has a seafront location and indoor pool
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The Seaview Hotel's restaurant is featured in the Michelin Guide
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- East Wight holiday parks: Whitecliff Bay and Nodes Point are popular family-friendly caravan holiday parks with swimming pools and nice beaches attached. They also have lodges with hot tubs. Old Mill Holiday Park is a quiet caravan park overlooking Bembridge Harbour. St Helens Coastal Resort has lodges with hot tubs, and it gets great reviews but it's further from the beach than the others.
**Save 10% at Whitecliff Bay and St Helens Coastal Resort with code DOGFRIENDLY10 via this link until 31/12/26 + cheap ferry travel**
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park has lots of facilities and a lovely sandy beach (down a very steep slope)
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Parkdean Resorts Nodes Point Holiday Park has an indoor swimming pool and a beachside location
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- East Wight camping and glamping: Nodes Point has camping pitches on a busy site. Glamping options in the East Wight include Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Nodes Point Holiday Park or Priory Bay.
Nodes Point has more than 20 safari tents in its glamping village near St Helens beach
Conclusion
For young children or nostalgic adults I would recommend Sandown or Shanklin (option 1). Shanklin is my favourite of the two.
If you are looking for somewhere peaceful and romantic for great walks, good restaurants and unspoilt scenery then the South Wight or West Wight are perfect (options 2 or 3).
If you would rather be a bit closer to civilisation and nightlife then Newport/Cowes/Ryde are your best bet (option 4).
For somewhere accessible but pretty then the East Wight (option 5) is worth considering.
If you are looking for somewhere peaceful and romantic for great walks, good restaurants and unspoilt scenery then the South Wight or West Wight are perfect (options 2 or 3).
If you would rather be a bit closer to civilisation and nightlife then Newport/Cowes/Ryde are your best bet (option 4).
For somewhere accessible but pretty then the East Wight (option 5) is worth considering.
Related guides from Isle of Wight Guru:
Where to stay on the Isle of WightAll our guides to choosing accommodation on the Isle of Wight, on one handy page
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Best place to stay for...?Advice for noisy families, romantic couples, dog-owners and wheelchair users looking for accommodation
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What time of year should I visit?Pros and cons of Isle of Wight holidays in spring, summer, autumn and winter
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Best places to stay in SandownHotels, holiday parks and self catering near to Sandown seafront
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Best places to stay in ShanklinAccommodation that we rate highly in sunny Shanklin
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Best places to stay in CowesApartments, hotels and B&Bs in the Island's home of sailing
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