The Clifton

cool, but the room is a little bit small

Lovely old victorian hotel with incredible views of the sea from the front rooms. Wonderful breakfast and the staff couldn't be nicer. You can get a newspaper in the morning.....who does that anymore? You can also have dinner or lunch there. Very convienient for people who like to walk. There is a walkway along the cliff right outside the door and you can walk down to the beach and Esplanade below. But too tired to hike back up the hill......there is a "LIFT" which will take you back up. Our room was lovely, although in July the sun comes streaming in quite early. We will stay there again.

From the pleasant warm reception we were given, to being conducted to the delightful, airy, very spacious beautifully appointed room we were very impressed by the peaceful, calm of the hotel and quality and comfort of the surroundings. The views are delightful, the garden charming this is the perfect place where one can relax. The breakfast menu is excellent and will set you up for a day of discovering many of the delights of the Isle of Wight.

This was a true Bed and Breakfast experience. The staff was pleasant and welcoming. We had two rooms and both were impeccably clean. The location was great, Isle of Wight is hilly so do be aware if you have mobility issues. We traveled with my 72 year old father, but taxis were easy to get. Otherwise the beaches, dining, town center, Shanklin chine and more are all within a 10 minute walk. The views from here were amazing. Although it was sunny when we visited, we did appreciate that there were covered areas outdoors and indoor window seating for rainy or cold days. We loved that the hosts paid attention to all the details by providing: toiletries, reading books, binoculars, breakfast, luggage storage, and more. Our only regret is that we only had one night here. We cannot wait to return for an extended stay.

The Clifton Hotel is very much a relaxing home from home. The building and pretty garden have an uninterrupted view of the sea and, if you get one of the comfortable rooms with a sea view, you can sit and watch the passing ships using the binoculars provided. Even better, get one with a balcony and you will be tempted to laze around for much of the day. There are plenty of books available around the hotel if you have forgotten to bring your own. The hotel lounge is a great place to while away the time too: once again you have a view of the sea and there are comfortable chairs to rest in and drink tea or coffee and eat one of the hotel’s delicious cakes. There is a small bar area and dining tables. The menu available includes what I call ‘simple food, done well.’ Breakfast is very good (be sure to try the freshly squeezed orange juice or homemade marmalade). There are lovely walks available from the Clifton, indeed, the clifftop walk passes right by the front of the hotel. Shanklin Chine is a few minutes’ away and the town is an easy walk. The relaxed atmosphere is helped by the friendly and attentive staff. Zoe and Dennis are keen to ensure guests enjoy their stay and are happy to tell you more about Shanklin and the Isle of Wight. We have already booked our next stay!

We enjoyed every aspect of The Clifton Hotel, from their polite and helpful answers to our pre-stay questions, their money saving deals on the ferry, the immaculate cleanliness of the entire hotel site, to the delicious breakfasts, served by professional and friendly staff. Thank you and see you again.