Winter Breaks on the Isle of Wight

The winter is the perfect time for a grown-up break and you’ll be surprised at how much there is to do on the Isle of Wight out of season. It’s a great time to grab a bargain, too.

Indulge at one of the many foodie hotspots (and bag the table with the best view!); relax in a cosy pub with a log fire; go for long walks and bike rides; indulge yourself at a spa; spot wildlife that you can only see in the winter; and bring the dog to enjoy the sandy beaches.

Sometimes you want everything on your doorstep – particularly in the chillier months – and that’s where the Warner Leisure Hotels’ properties shine. Stately hotels in beautiful grounds, entertainment and activities on site, with delicious breakfasts and dinners included.

Once owned by George V’s Lord in Waiting, Warner’s Bembridge Coast Hotel overlooks the Solent. The hotel is on a secluded eastern shore of the Isle of Wight and is an ideal base for touring Book a balcony room to enjoy the sunrise over the Solent. At the hotel you can try archery, indoor bowls or rifle shooting with tuition if you need it, or just explore the 23 acres of grounds and adjacent beach. The late Queen Mother came here to watch the yachts racing during Cowes Week.

Warner’s Norton Grange is a coastal chalet village set in beautiful gardens with stunning views of the Solent. It’s just minutes from our Yarmouth port. The chalets offer peaceful spaces to relax in after a night enjoying live entertainment. Activities such as archery, rifle shooting and fitness classes are included as well as access to the spa and wellness club.

Another great choice is the Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa.  Located beside a 20-acre tidal lake and 17 acres of countryside, it’s a sublime setting for a relaxing getaway. All stays include full use of their spa facilities and outside Thermal Spa Garden (featuring a hot tub, lavender sauna and eucalyptus sauna). The light and airy brasserie overlooks the lake – perfect for dining with a view – and with delicious afternoon tea on offer, there’s no need to leave the hotel.

If relaxing with a glass of wine next to crackling flames is your idea of heaven, Classic Cottages have a huge selection of holiday homes with fires. How about Stargazers’ Retreat on the southern tip of the Island, a heavenly glamping yurt with a domed window at the top? It has a wood burner and outdoor fire pit. Dolphin Cottage in Bembridge is a light and airy modern home with an open fire in the lounge. Or warm up in a different way at Bay Springs, a one-bedroom Annexe featuring a private sauna.

The Garlic Farm has seven beautifully converted holiday cottages and five luxury yurts onsite. Little Mersley Farmhouse here is particularly good in winter – it has a wood burning stove and a large wood-fired hot tub. A tennis court, football pitch and games room are available exclusively for those staying. And as an added bonus, the famously garlicky restaurant serves breakfast and lunch everyday with discounts for guests.

Westbury Lodge is a B&B just for grown-ups, located just moments from a cliff path making it perfect for walkers wanting to take in the stunning views and enjoy the sandy beach below. It’s also close to the town centre and bike hire company Route Fifty7 who rent out standard and electric bikes.

Luccombe Manor is a stunning clifftop country house hotel which offers walking breaks in the winter. Stay 2 nights up until 31 March, enjoying dinner, bed and breakfast, and they’ll kit you out with a pack including a walking book and map, water bottles, woolly hats and emergency ponchos!

Lyon Court is a great spot for walkers. Several interesting circular walks are available from here or you can take a linear walk and return via the bus network, or by train. Choose from walking over the downs, the Coastal path, or through woodlands.

How about a stay in a unique pub that looks like a boat? Cyclists will love The Pilot Boat Inn in Bembridge Harbour as it’s perfectly located for the Round the Island cycle trail. Not only do they have bed and breakfast rooms and bike facilities, it’s also home to a tap room serving pizzas at the on-site Wight Knuckle Brewery.

A number of accommodation providers now offer retreats as part of their regular events programme. Island-based Balance + Glo will be bringing their unique brand of wellness to Tapnell Farm. You’ll stay in stylish farm cottages and nourish your body through movement and food, and connecting with the power of nature.

Godshill Park Barn hosts yoga, Pilates, energy medicine and sewing retreats plus Dementia Adventures delivered by a wonderful collection of inspirational leaders. Set in an area designated as a National Landscape, the farm is the perfect place to unwind, relax and reconnect with nature.

At Grange By The Sea you’ll have the tricky job of choosing between writing, creative, and retreats. It’s a gorgeous Georgian country house that hosts weekend courses throughout the year.

Already known for its outstanding food, The Royal Hotel has elevated its offering with Se7en, an experimental and immersive seven-course tasting menu that’ll take you on a journey around the world. The hotel pairs elegance with comfort, offering luxury accommodation overlooking exotic gardens and a breath-taking coastline.

In the pretty sailing village of Seaview you’ll find The Seaview Hotel, with Seagrove Bay and Priory Bay right on the doorstep – perfect to blow away the cobwebs in winter. Their Aquitania restaurant is an intimate affair combining incredible food with modern unfussy service. The menus feature an array of local produce in a Modern British style with a regional Isle of Wight twist.

The Terrace Rooms and Wine is the Island’s newest place to stay. Every room has a sea view and a super king bed.  It’s even more enticing in the winter months because from November – March the guesthouse adds a 14-seat restaurant at weekends (whereas in summer it’s strictly charcuterie plates and drinks in the sun). The restaurant offers unique multi-course set dinners made from special Isle of Wight produce, where everyone dines together.

ℹ️ Looking for more ideas of where to stay? Visit our Accommodation on the Isle of Wight page.