Villa Rothsay Hotel

Sehr charmantes, privat betriebenes Haus in absolut ruhiger Lage. Tolles, sehr geschmackvoll eingerichtetes Zimmer mit Fenstern zu drei Seiten inklusive Blick auf den Solent und die Schiffe von und nach Southampton. Sehr gutes English Breakfast, frisch zubereitet auf Bestellung. Außerdem jeden Morgen frischer Obstsalat. Die sehr freundliche Gastgeberin kümmerte sich um alles und bot zum Schluss noch an, unser Gepäck zur Fähre zu fahren.

Nichts

Clean and full of character.

Shower pressure was a bit low.

View from a balcony room was great Lovely inclusive breakfast

The road it is on was up a steep hill from the town

Fabulous Victorian Villa hotel, excellent breakfast and really lovely friendly owner and her staff

N/A

The character of the building and the History. Location, staff and size of rooms

There was nothing we didn’t not like.

Good breakfast and fantastic view from our room.

Toilet was not clean and too many stairs to our room.

Quirky nautical and retro decor, including pictures signed by famous guests. Lots of interesting artefacts to explore. A unique setting. Wonderful sea views, enjoyed during excellent breakfasts. The wide range of fresh fruit, warm croissants, and fresh flowers on each table particularly appreciated. The garden and sitting room also had lovely views. Bedroom very comfortable and we had everything we needed. Staff very attentive, helpful and friendly. Beach and Cowes itself within easy reach. Would love to return.

The shower was rather weak - but did the job!

good breakfast. I would have prefered my own pot of coffee

Margaret's personal touch and down to earth approach Having a mix of pillows. I liked having a feather pillow. Room was very quiet

Nothing, all was good

Breakfast was extensive and delicious with fresh fruit and a variety of different cooked options. Proximity to the center of town (0.8m walk to the center) was fine for us.

The signage to find the hotel could have been a bit more obvious. The room was smaller than advertised, the WIFI connection in that room simply didn’t work- thus not as advertised. The WIFI in the lounge was better but that didn’t help in our room (we were on a lower floor). Noise from the upper floor rooms woke us late at night. The initial TV only had basic channels, they did replace with a smart TV.

Beautiful old house , fantastic location, Very comfortable beds , super clean & very relaxing bedrooms. Very friendly staff who go above and beyond. Fantastic breakfast 👏🏻👏🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Location, staff, breakfast

Great location, superb staff, fabulous breakfast and lovely towels and bed linen. Very friendly and warm welcome

Parking

Lovely location overlooking the Solent, 10 minutes walk into Cowes for shops pubs and restaurants. Lovely triple aspect generous bedroom. Eclectic collection of memorabilia in the public areas. Fabulous fresh breakfasts.

Signage. Was not sure we had the right place.

We arrived early and asked to leave our bags at reception however our room was ready so we were able to check in straight away. We had a lovely Seaview room with an excellent bathroom. The breakfast was excellent and freshly cooked.

Staff were superfriendly, nothing was too much trouble. Fantastic location and amazing view. Room was spacious, comfortable and the attention to detail was impressive. Breakfast was great, plenty of choice and all fresh. Would highly recommend.

Nothing to dislike.

It had a very relaxed easy going feel. The breakfast was great and set you up for the day.

I was very happy with the hotel but it would not suit someone who wants modern shiny facilities.

お部屋がとても豪華で素敵だった。 朝食が美味しかった。レストランから海も見えて雰囲気が良かった。 ビーチに近く、散歩しながらレストランに行けた。 海が綺麗だった。 フェリー乗り場にも近くて便利

レストランからの帰りが夜になってホテルの玄関が閉まっており、部屋の鍵を使って何とか開けて入れたが、危うく閉め出されるところだったので事前にスタッフからの開け方の説明があれば良かったと思う。

The cooked breakfast was one of the best I've had in an English hotel. The whole experience was very good and friendly staff, would recommend this place to anyone

Nothing ut was perfect

מדובר בבית משנת 1850, זה כמו להיכנס להיסטוריה...החדר מאובזר בכל מה שצריך. נוף יפה מאוד. ארוחת בוקר מלאה ןעימה והצוות מסביר פנים.

הרעש של רצפת העץ

Context Nederlands Engels Villa Rothsay Hotel is a true gem, perfectly situated like a fairytale come to life. Waking up and enjoying a delicious breakfast amidst enchanting views makes you feel like you’re in another world. The hostess—a warm and enthusiastic woman—makes your stay extra special with her genuine hospitality. Her attention to detail and personal touch ensure you feel right at home. The lady who prepares breakfast is also incredibly attentive, ensuring every meal is a delight. Our room was a dream—spacious, comfortable, and boasting a breathtaking sea view. The sound of the waves and the view of the horizon made it the perfect place to relax and unwind. In short, Villa Rothsay is not just a hotel, but an experience you won't want to miss. It is perfect for a romantic getaway or a relaxing weekend trip. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a little magic in their life! 🌊✨

Our stay at Villa Rothsay was genuinely memorable. If you’re tired of anonymous, sterile chain hotels and want somewhere with real character, this is a wonderful choice. The hotel is unique, full of charm and history, and set in one of the most beautiful locations on the Isle of Wight. It perfectly blends old-world grandeur with all the modern comforts and facilities you could need, making it both elegant and incredibly comfortable. The customer service was exceptional. Margaret was an amazing host, and the whole team went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Nothing was too much trouble, and the warmth and personal attention made our stay feel very special. Margaret is also an absolute oracle when it comes to the history of the Isle of Wight and its rich yachting heritage. We thoroughly enjoyed picking her brains about the fascinating memorabilia, antiques and historical treasures displayed throughout the hotel, each with its own story and connection to the island’s past. We especially appreciated the thoughtful layout of the family accommodation. The adjoining rooms were ideal for travelling with our 18-year-old son, giving us both privacy and the convenience of being connected. Villa Rothsay offers something increasingly rare—a hotel with genuine personality, outstanding hospitality, and a genuine sense of history that enriches every moment of the stay. It felt far more personal and memorable than any modern, sterile hotel could ever be. We wouldn’t hesitate to return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly special experience.

Friendly, and accommodating. Room was so good with a sea view

Nothing

Best hotel I've stayed at in years.. And that's a lot... Wonderful welcome and service. Thank you.

There was nothing not to like.

My husband and I had two nights at Villa Rothsey along with my Mother-in-Law, her partner and the dog! Villa Rothsey is absolutely charming and full of character. The rooms were spacious, clean and very comfortable with amazing views over the solent. We could sit on our balcony and watch the world go by for hours. The ambiance was so relaxing and the breakfast fabulous. Maggie looked after us perfectly, and nothing was too much trouble. We definitely plan to return.

Fab location especially for watching the Round The Island race start

I only stayed for one night as I was involved in Race Around the Island, but Margaret was lovely and picked me up from the marina and dropped me back there in the morning - thank you again! Next time I will stay long enough to enjoy the breakfast that has so many good reviews 😊

The facility was first class and the breakfast was perfect beautiful cooking.

Hard to beat perfect!

The location was great. Very near to the town and beach. The staff are lovely, we had a wonderful server at breakfast, nothing was too much trouble . The breakfast selection was fabulous. Really fresh fruit and yogurt and a superb cooked breakfast

Nothing to dislike

Beautiful, well loved

Nothing

Very friendly staff. Beautiful hotel.

Lage ist top, Frühstück aussergewöhnlich, nicht alltäglich aber sensationell und für jeden Geschmack etwas dabei, sehr frische hochstehende Qualität. Supernettes, zuvorkommendes und hilfsbereites Personal.

Dusche bzw. Brause könnte etwas mehr Druck haben, spärlicher Wasserfluss. Ansonsten alles top.

Very interesting Victorian building. Lovely room with view. Quiet. Host Margaret very helpful and knowledgeable.

The location was excellent, just a picturesque 10 minute walk to town along the seafront. Our room was elegant, spacious and clean with a beautiful view. We had the best nights sleep on the most comfortable bed and the hotels general interior was interesting with so much character. The guest lounge overlooking the garden with honestly bar was a nice touch. Breakfast was excellent with a generous and well cooked offering. Our hosts were lovely. Genuinely warm and welcoming and our whole experience was restorative and relaxing. We would definitely return.

There was something utterly enchanting about our stay in Villa Rothsay that took me back to my favourite childhood stories such as those by E.Nesbit or C.S. Lewis. I entirely expected to find a Psammead (Sand Fairy) at the bottom of the gardens where stairs twisted down towards the sea. I was almost tempted to go in search of a grand old wardrobe in one of the sumptuously decadent rooms, in the hope of finding a magical portal to Narnia, however, the comfortable bed, hot shower, and the sunset view from our own room, (not to mention the PERFECT english breakfast in the downstairs parlour each), kept me happily distracted for the duration of our stay. Villa Rothsay has character; ocean-fulls of character, with a distinctly nautical theme and touch of royalty, which makes a good deal of sense when I noticed framed historical photographs on walls in every space, celebrating links to the Royal Yacht Club, the Royal Family and the Royal Navy. It’s a short stroll to the centre of Cowes, and an even shorter stroll to the beach. We loved the little coffee bike beach barista just a little way west up the sea front! Thank you Margaret, for your warm welcome your kind hospitality and your wise life advice! Consider it noted! With kindest regards Lisa and Sofia

We disliked having to leave so soon. ❤️

Qualité de l'accueil

Lovely Boutique Hotel and all the Staff were very helpful and obllging. Breakfasts were table service and excellent 😁

Beautiful building

Nothing

Character Friendly stuff Breakfast Views

N/A

An amazing property - spotlessly clean and so interesting - the photographs on the walls are fascinating. Margaret a lovely host and so too the lovely lady at breakfast - sorry didn’t ask your name. Breakfast fantastic - we really loved our stay, the honesty bar and the views - thank you.

Everything perfect.

Breakfast choice was excellent and cooked perfectly.

The shower in our room was very poor with hardly any flow and took forever to warm up

Quaint, personal attention to guests and lovely space and views.

WiFi connectivity and inability to cast to tv.

Lovely big room with great view of the sea. Breakfast. Decor

No breakfast area for us to sit with our dog 🐶

Really interesting hotel. Fabulous old Victorian villa, full of charm. Feels homely.

Nothing.

Fantastic breakfast

Nothing

A truly exceptional property. Lots of historic features and great character. The sort of historic home you would normally only see in period dramas but updated with contemporary comforts. A welcoming and friendly host.

Gorgeous hotel in a wonderful, quiet location just a short walk from the centre of town. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Loved the history and decor throughout

We arrived early and by chance asked if we could leave our car, Margaret was very welcoming and even allowed us to drop off our bags. The hotel was full of wonderful sailing memorabilia and was so interesting to check out all the ornaments and pictures/photos. Wonderful lounge with seaviews and honesty bar for you to help yourself. Breakfast was a delight in lovely room with seaviews, Jackie served us with all our requests. Bedrooms were very nice and comfortable with lovely seaviews and accessories and tea and coffee. Would certainly recommend this hotel with off-road parking at the bottom of the garden. Great location for easy walk along coastal path into West Cowes.

Nothing we loved everything

Lovely character property. Quirky and quintessentially English. Good location with parking. Large terrace with sea views perfect to enjoy your drinks from the well stocked honesty bar. Breakfast was superb!

Some of the floorboards were a bit creaky and therefore you could hear other guests moving about upstairs.

I came over for a friends birthday, i walked from the ferry. a short walk through the town to the Hotel and was met and shown to my room and made to feel extremely welcome and comfortable. The room looked out over the bay, the bed sheets and bedding were beautiful, i slept so well. In the morning i had breakfast, my table was set looking out of the balcony with a lovely view of the bay, which went along with the breakfast itself. Great fresh fruit with everything you'd want. The full english was again amazing !

Leaving...

Nice quirky hotel, quiet in good location just out of centre

Unfortunately I had a very bad experience at breakfast. Lovely views from breakfast room and everything felt great. I explained to the really nice lady taking the order that I needed to be gluten free. Despite this the breakfast arrived with fried bread under the egg. When I pointed this out the owner/ manager was part apologetic but mainly blamed me for her error. Truly remarkable. They took away the breakfast and returned later. Sadly the single rasher of bacon was by this point dry and burnt and not edible. There was also a black pudding which I had asked originally for this to be excluded (often gluten containing). I was astonished at check out that the owner continued to blame me for her error. I pointed out not only did I make it clear on ordering that I needed to be gluten free but I also said it on my booking form. She replied that she was too busy to read notes on booking forms and next time I should ring the hotel in advance to avoid another mistake. There will not be another time. I then received a phone call from the owner in the afternoon suggesting I had not left our key. I assured her that I had. She then re-checked and found it had been hung on the wrong peg. Presumably my fault as well!

Beautiful character hotel!

Nothing, we loved it!

Fabulous breakfast, lovely staff, clean and comfortable room with an amazing sea view

Limited parking with a big slope that can be tricky for low cars. Would be great if body lotion and conditioner could be provided

The breakfast was excellent and the hotel was very welcoming. The view of the Solent was perfect.

Nothing

An eccentric interior....stuffed with sailing pictures and memorabilia.

It was all good

Loved it’s unique style

Nothing

The welcome was warm and everyone was very helpful. Breakfast was a treat. For me the bed was far too hard (that did not apply to our friends' bed so it could just be me!) but other than that I would strongly recommend the hotel. Sea views perfect as was access to the sea.

Lovely period building with good views of the sea.

Nothing to add

A very special hotel, great atmosphere and stunning rooms. Owner fantastic.

Reading a review

Smashing breakfast and great host and staff.

Old school British charm with spectacular views and only a short walk to town

Nothing

Great room, comfy bed and amazing breakfast

10 minute walk from Cowes. Retro feel which was charming. Very clean, superb breakfast. Lots of good advice from host. She’s a gem.

Fantastic property with bags load of character

Very small criticism was the shower was a bit weak and not as pleasant

Very good

Nothing

Beautiful place with a timeless charm.
The room was very clean, with a nice view and a comfortable bed.
The staff were kind and always helpful.
Great breakfast, served in a room overlooking the sea and the sailing boats – a truly pleasant way to start the day.
We’ll definitely be back.

The Hotel’s beautiful and interesting history The service in all departments was excellent, great communication beforehand

Excellent location with a sea view from our room,the yachting connection and pictures along with the power boat racing too. Quirky classic style.

We had a problem with tv signal possibly as it seemed to be connected to internet and high pressure. We enjoyed the peacefulness without the tv which proved to be good.

A beautiful hotel. We loved our stay here. The hotel is filled with sailing memorabilia. We stayed in December and the hotel was beautifully decorated. Our room was large and very clean. The breakfast was superb. I can highly recommend staying here.

Lovely Edwardian hotel with lots of character, with very friendly staff and great breakfasts. We particularly loved the lounge area with self serve bar - it created a great atmosphere and felt like we were entertaining in our own home.

There are a lot of stairs - so check suitability for anyone less able to manage these.

Breakfast amazing. Staff very attentive.⁰

Would have liked a bath rather than a shower

Excellent breakfast with fabulous views.

I appreciated the uniqueness of the hotel. A warm welcome, made to feel comfortable by the host, offered various food options on arrival. A lovely location, a very good breakfast cooked to order. The hospitality level is pitched just right - welcoming, attentive, not overbearing, genuine.

Nothing to dislike

Loved the quirkiness of the place , the proprietor was very welcoming and the bed was very comfortable

Nothing. We were shown around and felt so uncomfortable we couldn’t stay.

It was cluttered and unclean.

Great boutique hotel in Cowes. Our room, Shamrock, was very well appointed with a balcony and views across the Solent. The bed was so comfy we slept like a babies. The breakfast is outstanding and the service is exceptional. We would definitely recommend Villa Rothsay, it is home from home.

Nothing, everything was perfect.

A warm welcome and the charm and ambience unique

Bed was too firm Water pressure in bathroom was low and slow to warm up

Old world charm in the decor. Location with sea view. Gracious hospitality from our hostess and staff.

It was a very beautiful building. There was absolutely nothing I didn’t like.

It was cold in room hot water after running water for 45 mins r Then run shower for hot water because of no heat the towels did not dry were not replaced till we ask the last night we had heat we would like say my partner being disabled had a problem with the stairs as at the top of the stairs was a fire exit door which opened with difficulty and for someone standing on the stairs it was difficult to get through without falling so had to have someone holding the door open. When booking did not notice no lifts. Also no restaurant.

Ein sagenhaftes Frühstück, sehr freundliches und zuvorkommendes Personal. Die Chefin hat persönlich unser Gepäck zum Fähranleger gebracht. Unser Zimmer war sehr geräumig und hatte einen großartigen Blick auf den Solent.

Enjoyed the old style of the building and its location slightly away from the centre of Cowes. Comfortable room with amazing views.

We were walking around the IOW so it was good to find out in advance that they didn’t do evening meals. We ate in Cowes before walking on to the hotel.

Location and the fact that this property seems to be overlooked in favour of the Best Western Holmwood hotel which was fully booked out.

This is a bit of a 'Marmite' place - many on here have liked it for its 'quirkiness',decor, and all-together 'un-hotel' like vibe, and the personal attention of Margaret, the impressive manager. Others would point out that the bedrooms are small and dated, that there is little or no hanging space for clothes, that the bathrooms are small and that the TVs are on the old side. Breakfast was pretty good, but the eggs tended to be overcooked. Take your pick really. We felt that that our overall experience was rather average, and that the room costs do not really justify the experience, but in general we'd recommend this place, so long as you realise what you're going to get. What isn't in doubt though, is that it's a fairly long walk up a hill from west Cowes, and that, after an evening out, you might wish to arrange a taxi home.

Superb hotel, full of character and history. Staff and owner(s) met us on arrival, very welcoming... Room was perfect and with views over the Solent...never a dull moment looking out to sea.... Hotel location was perfect for a pleasant walk into Cowes.... Breakfast was made to order and excellent..

This review is being removed at the properties request and a refund has been made

Beautiful view Nice garden Very good breakfast

Thanks for the stay

The Villa Rothsay hotel is an exceptional place to stay located on a hillside overlooking the Solent, it’s not a normal run of the mill type of hotel which exactly what we wanted, it’s very historical with a vast amount of sailing memorabilia, we would like to thank everyone at Villa Rothsay for a memorable stay, we would definitely stay here again if travelling to the island.

Nothing

Wonderful place to stay with great character and sense of history. We had the Shamrock room with balcony and excellent view over the water. Awesome staff, best breakfast we’ve had on this trip. Easy and interesting walk into the town along the esplanade.

Nothing

Location was brilliant

Really traditional old English Hotel converted from an older family house. Lovely nod to maritime history of the Isle of Wight. As a property photographer would loved to have done some images and a 360 deg virtual photographic tour of the building.

Nothing

Lovely old world elegance, and Margaret was very friendly and helpful.

Refreshingly different from your 'standard' hotel. Everything about the Villa Rothsay is quirkily interesting; Despite all the paraphernalia dotted around, the hotel is very clean. The Elemis products in the bathrooms were much appreciated. Breakfast was ample and every morning served with a smile. Great sea view from our room plus a good walk into the centre of Cowes. A delightful place to stay

Location, the owner and staff and just about everything else. A great characterful place to stay.

Absolutely nothing

We liked the atmosphere, the staff were friendly and always helpful and gave us plenty of recommendations of where to visit, our room was cleaned and refreshed.

The location is brilliant however, it's on top of a steep hill and no local bars or shops around the area and you have to go to the centre if you need any supplies

We absolutely loved our stay and will be happily returning! The whole stay was amazing and we only wish we could have stayed longer this time. We were also impressed with the breakfast options and service. All in all, clean, quiet, cozy and charming! Thank you so much!

Villa Rothsay is totally unique. If you are looking for a standard chain hotel with insipid decor and character- this hotel is NOT for you. It is full of interesting things including an impressive sailing gallery with lots of personal messages for the owner. Everything was very clean. Lots of quirky character

Nothing at all. It was all lovely. Very helpful friendly staff

So disapointed after reading other reviews .. very friendly greeting .. spotless room with amazing view but poor parking and very poor breakfast (burned kipper .. Luke warm eggs) felt creepy.. no one around in the evening at all .. if you want some atmosphere and people around you this isn’t for you