Cowes Named Among The UK's Best Seaside Towns
- Dominic Kureen
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Cowes has been named among the UK's top seaside destinations for 2026 — coming eighth in a new ranking of the country's best coastal towns.
The Isle of Wight sailing town features in Time Out's list of 16 destinations, putting it ahead of the likes of Brighton, Blackpool and Oban.
Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire took the top spot, followed by Hastings and St Leonards and Southsea.
Cowes was the only Isle of Wight destination to make the list, with the ranking also including towns and resorts from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Time Out's 2026 top 16 are:
Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Hastings and St Leonards, East Sussex
Southsea, Hampshire
Folkestone, Kent
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Alnmouth, Northumberland
Portrush, County Antrim
Cowes, Isle of Wight
Oban, Highlands
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Brighton, East Sussex
Blackpool, Lancashire
Porthmadog, Gwynedd
Whitstable, Kent
Lymington, Hampshire
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Unlike some of the UK's traditional seaside resorts, Cowes isn't built around a huge sandy beach.
Instead, its appeal centres on the Solent waterfront, harbour and sailing culture, with promenades, shingle beaches and views across towards the mainland.
Nearby Gurnard provides another option for those looking to spend time by the sea, while the Esplanade and Cowes Harbour are within easy reach of the town centre.
Visitors can also head across the Island to explore Osborne House in East Cowes, adding a major royal heritage attraction to a trip.
And, of course, Cowes Harbour remains at the heart of the town.
Its marinas, yacht clubs, passenger links and constant stream of boats give Cowes a distinctive nautical atmosphere — particularly during major sailing events such as Cowes Week.
The town's compact layout also means it's easy to combine a wander around the waterfront with its cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops.
For visitors travelling from the mainland, though, there is one important consideration: getting there requires a ferry crossing.
Red Funnel operates services between Southampton and East Cowes, while Wightlink provides routes to Fishbourne and Yarmouth.
That means visitors need to factor ferry availability, vehicle space and sailing times into their plans, particularly during school holidays and major events.
Accommodation in and around Cowes includes hotels, guesthouses, self-catering apartments and holiday homes.
Alex Dyer, Managing Director at Ski Vertigo, said Cowes works particularly well for a shorter break because many of its attractions are close together.
He said:
“Cowes has the ingredients for a compact break because the harbour, waterfront walks, sailing atmosphere and town-centre food are close together.
“The practical detail visitors should not miss is the crossing.
"Check live ferry times and vehicle space before committing to a hotel, then compare the sailing calendar with parking and restaurant demand.”
The ranking was checked on 19 August 2026 against Time Out's current 2026 list, with the position of Saundersfoot independently reported by the BBC.
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