Cowes and the Isle of Wight
As you are thinking of coming to Cowes you probably already have some idea of what awaits you here. Cowes is famous for its sailing, but it has much more to offer than that. The Town Centre has a range of upscale shopping boutiques and some interesting local museums, while Cowes' lively arts scene can be experienced at events such as the Wight Proms at nearby Northwood House (northwoodhouse.org)
If you are here for the sailing, you are in the perfect place We are right by all of the local marinas as well as sailing clubs such as RYS, RORC and RLYC. The Sail Loft is ideal for enjoying Cowes' world-famous sailing events such as Cowes Week, or simply if you prefer to spend your evenings ashore rather than on board your boat.
Whether you've spent your day on the water or enjoying the sight ashore, the Isle of Wight's upcoming gastronomic scene will keep even the most demanding foodies happy. We are a short walk from the Smoking Lobster (smokinglobster.co.uk) with its impressive Japanese grill and kitchen, and the same distance again to Gastronomy (gastronomycowes.co.uk) where you can experience excellent locally-sourced ingredients. Slightly further afield in Freshwater is The Hut (thehutcolwell.co.uk), currently the place to be seen on the island, sipping cocktails while watching the sun go down over the Solent. If you prefer something livelier we are within a couple of minutes' walk of Cowes pubs.
When you are ready to venture further out of Cowes, there is far more to explore on the Isle of Wight. Whether a day out on the beach with the kids, enjoying the Island's tranquil villages, or visiting the world famous Needles, we recommend checking out the Isle of Wight tourism website at www.visitisleofwight.co.uk.
Among our favourites are:
- Osborne house, Queen Victoria's holiday home on the Isle of Wight. Beautiful Victorian buildings with opulent interiors
- The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, where you can experience a bygone age of steam engines dating back to the nineteenth century
- Monkey Haven, the Island's award-winning primate rescue centre
- Carisbrooke Castle, where King Charles I was held prisoner
- The Garlic Farm in Newchurch
