If you’re heading to the Solent in August for Cowes Week, then we’ve got the perfect accommodation for you. When enjoying an event as incredible as this, your home has to match the standards, so heed our expert advice and book one of these gems to truly complete the experience.
Where to reside for Cowes Week
Take a look at 5 of the very best holiday homes in our the Solent collection. If these don’t meet your high expectations, then nothing will.
The Granaries
The Granaries, Plum Guide home in the Isle of Wight
Click to book The Granaries now: from £200 per night In a secluded spot, down a single-track lane, this contemporary barn is a welcome surprise. Renovated in the style of Caruso St John (the famed architects behind the Tate Modern), it’s a striking tribute to modern design and a fascinating place to stay for architecture enthusiasts. The inside is just as dramatic, with copper light fittings, high-design furniture, and large picture windows that make the most of the garden views. Outside you’ve got a private pool and an original icehouse that will intrigue lovers of history. A great option for eco-warriors as well, the home’s heating and hot water are powered by heat source pump and there are solar panels on the roof. The location is great too. You’ve got total tranquillity with nothing but birdsong to be heard. But walk through the green fields and you’ll reach the seaside town of Ventnor in no time at all. While the home is truly spectacular, our favourite thing when we visited was the hosts. The amount of thought and love they put into making their guests’ experience special is quite something. From the organic toiletries to the yoga and massage they offer, and the books and music that they carefully curate for each individual guest, every detail has been thought of. It’s wonderful. Sleeps up to 4 | 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
Ocean Vessel
Ocean Vessel, Plum Guide home in Hampshire, UK
Click to book Ocean Vessel now: from £1100 per night Straight out of a Bond movie, this swanky modern home is unlike anywhere else on England's south coast. Flooded with natural light, the stylish living area boasts a large curved sofa, elegant glass table, sleek and shiny furnishings, striking floor-to-ceiling shelves, nautical touches, and ample floor space - need we go on? Exclusive to the Plum Guide edit, this unique villa welcomes up to fourteen guests – fit for those looking for a luxe, laidback stay. The crowd-pleasing, curved kitchen and oh-so-chic bar is a picture of pristine design - perfect for whipping up a round of cocktails and entertaining the group. Outside, we can think of nothing better than sitting out on the private deck sipping sundown drinks, while watching the boats pass in and out of the harbour. But the self-care treatment doesn't stop there. Rotate your mornings in the bubbling indoor jacuzzi and the fully-equipped gym. Drizzly days are best spent snuggled up in the lavish main living space, enjoying a movie screened on the large projector integrated into the ceiling (because why not). Beyond this luxurious home, there's a local marine area full of life. Take a wander along sparkling Port Hamble, just a three-minute walk away. It's glistening with fancy yachts, gourmet restaurants, and classy champagne bars. Visit the charming Hamble village, discovering the windy cobbled streets, chocolate-box cottages and stunning riverside views – under half a mile from your door. With so much to see and do and a glamorous place to call home, it's the sailor's life for us. Sleeps up to 14 | 6 Bedrooms | 7 Bathrooms
Seven Sails
Seven Sails, Plum Guide home in Hampshire, UK
Click to book Seven Sails now: from £1100 per night Perfect for a family or larger group, this immaculate and recently renovated house has everything from a sleek, modern kitchen to luxury bathrooms and a sparkling safety-screened pool. With high-tech appliances, chic decor, and so many entertainment options it'll make your head spin – a great deal of thought has gone into creating this crowd-pleasing Hampshire estate. Shoot some pool in the games room, watch a movie on the projector in the cinema room, splash about in the pool, soak in the hot tub, relax in the sauna, rejuvenate in the steam room or mix a few G&Ts at the outdoor bar while the food cooks on the barbecue. The entertainment options are endless. There's even a sound system installed throughout the house and controlled centrally, so you can relax to your group's favourite tunes – this is a home worthy of a special celebration. We love the kitchen in its contemporary orangery style room and the fact it's easily big enough to socialise, cook and eat together – the bi-fold doors really bring the outdoors in. Located in a pretty and historic village, it's a short ten-minute walk from the quayside and the River Hamble with great access to the sea for water sports. Take a twenty-minute drive into Southampton and a twenty-six-minute drive to Portsmouth for fun family days out. Come evening there are plenty of options for eating out locally too. Sleeps up to 16 | 6 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms
Chestnut Cottage
Chestnut Cottage, Plum Guide home in the New Forest, UK
Click to book Chestnut Cottage now: from £399 per night This quaint, chocolate box thatched cottage, a Grade II-listed building built in 1590, is found in Beaulieu in the southeast of the New Forest. A period home with great modern touches, it smoothly combines comfort, style and warmth. The kitchen is well suited to larger groups with two fridges and two dishwashers, and we loved the wood burning stoves and luxurious roll top baths. The garden is charming – a veritable fairy-tale setting that will delight guests of all ages – and backs onto meadows that are perfect for stomping through come rain or shine. It couldn't be better located, as on the other side of the house lies Beaulieu High St, with shops, pubs and restaurants just a short walk away. Sleeps up to 10 | 5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms
Mirror, Mirror
Mirror, Mirror, Plum Guide home in the New Forest
Click to book Mirror, Mirror now: from £235 per night You’ll be in no doubt about which home is the fairest after a stay in this immaculately renovated house in Lymington. Not only is it an ideal base for exploring both the south coast and the New Forest, it feels like a destination in its own right. A classic redbrick townhouse, the home has been recently renovated so everything – from appliances to carpets – feels fresh and brand new. There are plenty of design touches that set it apart. The neutral colour palate, a glass staircase and plenty of mirrors (including one that cleverly hides away laundry facilities) all bring an airy and spacious feel, while characterful pieces of art make it feel curated rather than sterile. Every comfort has been considered: 60 inch flatscreen TV with Netflix, underfloor heating, motion sensor lighting in the bathrooms, large beds and high-thread count linens. And when you’re refreshed and ready to start exploring you’ll find Lymington High Street at the end of the road (with pubs, shops and eateries galore), the harbour a five minute walk, and the New Forest’s walks, cycles and Go Ape just a short drive away. If you’re looking for a stylish escape on the south coast, you can’t stay much fairer than this. Sleeps up to 6 | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
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Written by Plum Guide Destination Expert
