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Cowes Beach

(West Cowes Beach)

Isle of Wight, England


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Cowes Beach, located on the Isle of Wight, is a popular destination for those seeking a traditional British seaside experience, with its two-mile esplanade shingle beach and rich history.

Cowes Beach is a two-mile esplanade shingle beach situated in the harbour, making it an ideal spot for family swimming and taking in the views of the Solent. The town of Cowes is renowned for its natural water activities and is a prestigious Victorian town.

The beach at Cowes is predominantly shingle, with some sand exposed at low tide. To the west of the town, the beach is mostly gravel and slopes into deep water with strong currents. At high tide, there can be little beach left. The long pebble beach is backed by a wide esplanade, making it a great place to sit and watch the various yachting events that take place here.

Along the Esplanade, there are shops, refreshments, and public toilets. Egypt Point is particularly favoured by anglers. The beach offers views over the Solent, and at any time of year, it is a good vantage point for watching cruise ships and container vessels sailing by from Southampton. A variety of interesting shells often get washed up onto the shore, as well as pieces of smooth, coloured glass.

The beach is not particularly suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs, although the esplanade which runs along the seafront allows those who don’t want to go onto the beach itself to make the most of the views and breathe in the sea air. Running behind much of the esplanade is a grassy park with colourful flowerbeds, suitable for picnics. A kiosk is open in the summer months, selling ice-creams, snacks, and a variety of beach goods.

A short stroll from the beach, the timeless Victorian resort of Cowes has a wide range of classy shops, restaurants, and other amenities. At the eastern end of the beach is the Royal Yacht Squadron, at Cowes Castle, originally built in 1539 as part of Henry VIII’s defences.

Cowes Beach is adjacent to the Isle of Wight Coast Path.

Shingle Pebbles

Weather and tides for Tuesday 8 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 0%
Min temp. 13°C
(feels like 13°C)
Wind 4mph
Tomorrow (Wednesday)
Chance of rain 0%
Max temp. 24°C
(feels like 22°C)
Wind 7mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Cowes Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 10:11 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 12:21 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   18.7°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Litter bins
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Cycling Sailing Sunbathing Swimming Walking
  • Features

    Nature reserve
  • Parking

    Apply parking is available.

  • Dogs

    Dogs not allowed May 1st to September 30th.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Beach cleaned regularly.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Award

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Cowes Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Isle Of Wight Coastal Footpath (1 miles)
Osborne House (1.6 miles)
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (4.5 miles)
Monkey Haven (4.7 miles)
Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve (4.7 miles)
Quarr Abbey (5.1 miles)
Haven Falconry (5.9 miles)
Isle of Wight Steam Railway (5.9 miles)

Places to eat near Cowes Beach

New Holmwood Hotel & Restaurant (330 yards)
Number 3 (210 yards)
Murrays Seafood Restaurant (150 yards)
Moocow (210 yards)
Mojac's Restaurant and Bar (190 yards)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Cowes

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SZ490966

Country: England

Local Authority: Isle of Wight

Parish: Cowes

Nearest postcode: PO31 8BJ

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Cowes Beach, Isle of Wight, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.9.173 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:29:41 +0100