Cowes Old Town is a cluster of pastel painted streets that lead down from the Northwood Park area to the main Cowes High Street.
Now highly desirable quaint little coastal cottages and townhouses, they once housed workers for the ship building industry and shopkeepers for the nearby busy trade in the High Street.
Several of the houses in this street Sun Hill date back to the 18C, whilst others were rebuilt in the Victorian era and a few post WW2. Other than Ivy House, one of the town’s finest historical houses, the other cottages have frequently changed their names and house numbers over the years which makes census tracking almost impossible. Some of the documented professions of the street include straw hat cleaner, carpenter & joiner, shipyard driller, charwoman, yacht painter, seamstress, wine and beer bottler, yachts cook, watch and clock repairer, tailor, police inspector and town cryer.
Cowes
Around the world, Cowes is the town people think of when the Isle of Wight is mentioned.
Cowes, and its sister across the river, East Cowes, are well known around the globe for yachting and royalty.
Cowes Week is the highlight of the packed yachting calendar while over the River Medina, the imposing royal palace of the past, Queen Victoria’s beloved Osborne House, dominates the landscape.
These two towns are divided by the river but united in being the gateway to the Island for traffic from the Red Funnel Southampton ferries.
As well as being a magnet for tourists they both have thriving boatbuilding industries, so crucial to the Isle of Wight economy in the past and present.
There are bags of things to do on each bank of the Medina and the easiest way to get between the two is via the vehicle and foot passenger chain ferry that only takes a few minutes to link the two towns.
Things to Do
Stroll along the High Street, Parade and Esplanade for views of the bustling harbour and across the Solent. See the many prestigious yacht clubs and, if you are lucky, hear the small cannon at the Royal Yacht Squadron fire to start or finish another top-level yacht race.
Find out about the boating history of Cowes by visiting Cowes Maritime Museum in the middle of the town, while the Sir Max Aitken Museum provides another fascinating glimpse into the town’s story, both of which is at the end of the road from us.
Northwood House is a centre for many concerts and events, such as The Wight Proms, the IW Literary Festival and the Great Wight Bite Food Festival, and the House and its parks are just a few minute’s walk from No.41 Cowes.
You can also shop until you drop in the independent stores that fill the High Street, with so many quality pubs, restaurants and cafes that it stands up to any UK break resort.
For the more active, there are plenty of walks, both along the coast, and inland from Cowes, that will keep anybody occupied. There is even a walking route that covers around the whole perimeter of the island for those hardcore trekkers.
Places to Eat
Cowes is a haven for foodies, as is the entire island. Whether you like seafood, Isle of Wight meat or something a little more exotic, there is something for everyone. Opposite No.41 Cowes is Foresters Hall, a boutique hotel which is home to The Brasserie. A great restaurant for fantastic food and fine wines, and enjoy it all in their lovely courtyard gardens. Others are Smoking Lobster, delivering exceptional seafood and steaks, House, which is a cool, intimate place serving exquisite fine dining dishes as well as Heron, a new addition to the Cowes food scene, all within a short walk and are great. For relaxed places with atmosphere, Coast is always a great place to visit, as is Pier View pub, and for sun terrace vibes visit The Summer Garden and The Globe for a drink (and pizza) in the sun, but the choice really just starts there.
If you like a something a little different then The Basque Kitchen offers a taste of that region, with authentic Basque chef cooking infused with Isle of Wight produce.
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