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 miles19.7 km
- Portsmouth 11.1 miles17.9 km
- Bournemouth 23.8 miles38.3 km
- Gosport 8.1 miles13 km
- Waterlooville 15 miles24.1 km
- Fareham 8.9 miles14.3 km
- Eastleigh 15.6 miles25.1 km
- Eastleigh Town 14.6 miles23.5 km
- Winchester 21.7 miles34.8 km
- Havant 16.1 miles25.9 km
- Christchurch 19 miles30.6 km
- Totton 14.4 miles23.2 km
Neighbouring places
- Cowes West & Gurnard Ward 0.4 miles0.6 km
- Gurnard Parish 0.5 miles0.9 km
- Cowes South & Northwood Ward 0.6 miles1 km
- Cowes Medina Ward 0.6 miles1 km
- Cowes North Ward 0.8 miles1.4 km
- Northwood Parish 0.8 miles1.4 km
- East Cowes Built-up area 1.4 miles2.3 km
- Osborne Ward 1.6 miles2.7 km
- Parkhurst & Hunnyhill Ward 2.3 miles3.8 km
- Whippingham Parish 2.4 miles3.8 km
- Great Thorness Built-up area 2.5 miles4.1 km
- Fairlee & Whippingham Ward 3 miles4.9 km
Example postcodes in Cowes
PO31 8RJ, PO31 7EU, PO31 8EG, PO31 7LQ, PO31 7EJ, PO31 8AX, PO31 8PH, PO31 8JJ, PO31 8BY … See all
Transport links
- Southampton Airport 13.9 miles22.4 km
- Bournemouth Airport 23.2 miles37.4 km
- Ryde Pier Head Railway Station 6.7 miles10.8 km
- Ryde Esplanade Railway Station 6.8 miles11 km
Hotels near Cowes Ad
- Villa Rothsay Hotel 4 1 mile1.6 km
- Hewitt's Restaurant & Rooms 3 3.6 miles5.8 km
- One Holyrood Hotel 4 3.5 miles5.7 km
- Best Western New Holmwood Hotel 1.1 miles1.8 km
- Charter House 3.7 miles5.9 km
- Master Builders House Hotel 4 5.8 miles9.3 km
- Riverside House 7.5 miles12.1 km
- Lakeside Park Hotel & Spa 4.2 miles6.7 km
- Ye Spotted Dogge 9.7 miles15.6 km
- The Marine 6.8 miles11 km
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 miles3 km
- Calshot Beach Beach 4.2 miles6.8 km
- Exbury House Estate 5.1 miles8.2 km
- Quarr Abbey Historic site 5.1 miles8.3 km
- Cadland House Estate 6.5 miles10.4 km
- Northcourt Country house 7.4 miles12 km
- Titchfield Abbey Historic site 8.1 miles13.1 km
- Brading Roman Villa Historic site 8.9 miles14.3 km
- Eight Acre Copse Forest 8.9 miles14.4 km
- Netley Abbey Archaeological site 9 miles14.5 km
- Gosport Premier Marina Marina 9.1 miles14.6 km
- Hythe Marina Marina 9.3 miles15 km