Cowes
Built-up area in Isle of Wight, England
| Coordinates: | 50.751, -1.313 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SZ 48 94 |
| Population: | 21,226 |
| Dialling code: | 01983 (Isle of Wight) |
Cowes is a compact seaport town on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, looking out across the Solent. It sits either side of the mouth of the River Medina, split into East Cowes and West Cowes and linked by the chain ferry, with regular mainland sailings to Southampton.
Famous worldwide for yachting, Cowes hosts the long‑running Cowes Week regatta and is a hub for boatyards, marinas and sailing schools, so tourism and the maritime economy dominate. The town has strong Victorian and royal associations – Osborne House is nearby – and outside event weeks it retains a small‑town mix of independent shops, pubs and a close-knit sailing community.
Postcode districts covering Cowes
Most populated places nearby
- Southampton 12.2 miles
- Portsmouth 11.1 miles
- Bournemouth 23.8 miles
- Gosport 8.1 miles
- Waterlooville 15 miles
- Fareham 8.9 miles
- Eastleigh 15.6 miles
- Eastleigh Town 14.6 miles
- Winchester 21.7 miles
- Havant 16.1 miles
- Christchurch 19 miles
- Totton 14.4 miles
Neighbouring places
- Cowes West & Gurnard Ward 0.4 miles
- Gurnard Parish 0.5 miles
- Cowes South & Northwood Ward 0.6 miles
- Cowes Medina Ward 0.6 miles
- Cowes North Ward 0.8 miles
- Northwood Parish 0.8 miles
- East Cowes Built-up area 1.4 miles
- Osborne Ward 1.6 miles
- Parkhurst & Hunnyhill Ward 2.3 miles
- Whippingham Parish 2.4 miles
- Great Thorness Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Fairlee & Whippingham Ward 3 miles
Example postcodes in Cowes
PO31 8AG, PO31 7JN, PO31 7GD, PO31 8HX, PO31 7TH, PO31 8AL, PO31 7XB, PO31 7FS, PO31 7LG … See all
Transport links
- Southampton Airport 13.9 miles
- Bournemouth Airport 23.2 miles
- Ryde Pier Head Railway Station 6.7 miles
- Ryde Esplanade Railway Station 6.8 miles
Hotels in Cowes Ad
Schools in Cowes
- Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy Secondary
- Gurnard Primary School Primary
- Lanesend Primary School Primary
- Northwood Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Osborne House Historic site 1.9 miles
- Calshot Beach Beach 4.2 miles
- Exbury House Estate 5.1 miles
- Quarr Abbey Historic site 5.1 miles
- Cadland House Estate 6.5 miles
- Northcourt Country house 7.4 miles
- Titchfield Abbey Historic site 8.1 miles
- Brading Roman Villa Historic site 8.9 miles
- Eight Acre Copse Forest 8.9 miles
- Netley Abbey Archaeological site 9 miles
- Gosport Premier Marina Marina 9.1 miles
- Hythe Marina Marina 9.3 miles