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Entire home

The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor

Photo gallery for The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor

Outdoor dining
Interior
TV, DVD player, books
Interior
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8200 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Ocean view

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor

Set on the highest point of the Island, you have the opportunity to stay in an extraordinary piece of British history. This recently converted WW2 Receiver Station formed a critical part of the UK s Chain Home Radar Early Warning System.

"I think we can say that the Battle of Britain might never have been won... if it were not for the radar chain" MRAF Sir William Sholto Douglas

Today the house, situated on St Boniface Down, within beautiful National Trust landscape, provides comfortable, modern, accommodation with spectacular views out to sea and towards nearby Ventnor town.
On the ground floor there are 4 generous bedrooms (3 large doubles - 2 with en-suite, and 1 with twin beds), utility and family bathroom. On the new first floor there is a large open plan space that contains living, dining and kitchen. To the south west there are fabulous views out to the bay and sea beyond. From the kitchen there is access to a large protected roof terrace with view right across the Island and back to the mainland.
For enthusiastic walkers please visit the National Trust's website

Please note: the historical nature of this building and its national listing create unique spaces. Whilst ground floor bedrooms are luxurious, we believe, and all have windows they do not have views as they are set within the original spaces of the Radar building. We feel the first floor lounge and terrace views more than make up for this providing some of the most spectacular views on the island.

Property manager

Sarah Carter

Languages

English, French, Italian

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Rooftop terrace

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,153 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

Please be aware this house is not available for groups greater than 8 without prior confirmation from owners.

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Located in Ventnor, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. Ventnor Park and Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Oceanblue Sea Charters and Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre. Travelling with kids? Consider Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary and House of Chilli. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking.
Visit our Ventnor travel guideOpens in a new window
View more Holiday homes in VentnorOpens in a new window
Map
Ventnor, ENG

What's nearby

  • Ventnor Beach - 3 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Steephill Cove Beach - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary - 7 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Shanklin Old Village - 9 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Shanklin Beach - 10 min drive - 7.7 km

Getting around

  • Shanklin Station - 18 min drive
  • Southampton (SOU) - 139 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Besty & Spinkys - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Spyglass Inn - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Smugglers Haven Tea Gardens - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Ocean View Fish & Chips - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪The Beach Shack - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor located?

This family-friendly Ventnor holiday home is located by the sea, within 2 mi (3 km) of Ventnor Downs, Oceanblue Sea Charters and Monks Bay Beach. Ventnor Beach and Steephill Cove Beach are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 54 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 54 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 54 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 54 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 54 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Paul D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous location for a reunion/birthday

We are a group of university friends coming in from Japan, USA, Germany and Switzerland for a reunion and celebration of 50 year old birthdays. Four bedrooms and four bathrooms allowed for ample privacy and comfort. The silence and remoteness was exactly what we needed to unplug from our personal/work lives. We were also blessed with good weather to enjoy the wonderful views from the property. Ventnor is a quiet spot that also matched what we were looking for, and the house served as a convenient location for our hikes.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Candy J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vented

A unique and special place to enjoy a reunion with old friends. The view is splendid and the accommodation luxourious and comfortable. We loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

carrie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible property and location

Fascinating historical property, beautiful views, absolute peace and quiet! All spotlessly clean.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible place to stay

This house is truly fantastic, amazing views, stunning décor and a great host, thanks Sarah. Such a clever renovation of an old historic building definitely worth a visit.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephen R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing few days in an incredible location

We spent an amazing few days as a family in this incredible house. Amazing views and facilitates throughout. Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Val H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family short break

What a super stay. Superb property with magnificent views. Loved by all.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Panoramic views Architecturally stunning maintaining historic significance Fantastic communication from property manager Sarah. Memorable stay for 8 adults and dogs celebrating our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Exactly what we wanted Many thanks Sarah
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clare S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend with friends at the radar station

A wonderful place to stay for a long birthday weekend with friends! Sarah was an excellent host and the property really has everything you need. Such a fantastic location with the shops and restaurants of Ventnor just a few minutes away! Would highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann C., Deal Kent UK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

I may never leave...

This property offered everything de desire in a complete getaway.Everything about the property and location was perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

James H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short Break for Two Families

The property is perfect for two families to stay in. Sarah was extremely helpful and accommodating. It is not the most luxurious place in the world, but perfectly comfortable and sympathetically designed to blend with its setting and the original
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

The Old Radar Station is amazing and the views are breathtaking. If you are looking for somewhere away from it all this is the ideal place. Complete peace and quiet. We stayed for three nights and didn’t want to leave. The location is incredible and the surrounding National Trust land is perfect for walking and taking advantage of the wonderful views. A remarkable amount of thought has been given to the renovation of this historic property and the blend of new with the old is very clever and beautiful. It is a unique and very special place to stay. An interesting book which explains the history of the property and describes the renovation process is available to read on site.Sarah is the perfect host, very friendly and helpful. She made us feel extremely welcome and at home. Thank you so much, Sarah, we’re looking forward to returning again soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The Old Radar Station is a unique and very fun place to stay. The views from the main living area are stunning. It’s a great place to stay with a group of friends or family with perfect spaces for socialising together. Sarah kept in touch and shared plenty of helpful information via email. The area around The Old Radar Station is perfect for walks to enjoy the scenery.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Unique Place to Stay

What a privilege to stay in this piece of 20th century history. The highlights are the amazing views down to the coast at Ventnor and the sea beyond as well as the awesome night sky in this area protected from light pollution. The building itself originally a utilitarian radar station has been. reimagined for modern living with an Inspired open plan living area and kitchen on the upper level to supplement the existing downstairs offices, converted to bedrooms and bathrooms. Sarah’s communication was excellent and we felt very much at home in this glorious space.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas at The Old Radar Station

We spent Christmas at The Old Radar Station, an unforgettable experience at this unique, fascinating home in the most outstanding location on St. Boniface Down. The accommodation is extremely comfortable, with everything you could possibly need for a luxury stay in this unusual property. Sarah, our host, went the extra mile to make our Christmas experience wonderful and provide advice and recommendations for restaurants and places to visit and was always available should we have any questions. Highly recomended!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicole P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A fantastic and unique place to stay.

Sarah was a helpful and attentive host and the house has the most amazing view. Probably worth flagging that the house isn't on the mains water so you need to be careful to conserve water, it wasn't a problem for us but I may be an issue if you like long frequent baths! Overall we had a fantastic time and wouldn't hesitate to return, thanks Sarah!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Colin S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Completely unique

This fantastic re-working of a unique historical WW-II radar station is simpy unique. Its outlook alone is great and complete with the book written about the history of the site and its re-working make it complete. Go!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rosie H., Oxted, England

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A real must see - stunning property and views

Really loved our stay here! The only reason I gave two 4 stars rather than all 5 stars is that the property was behind schedule as we were the first ever guests. We knew this in advance and Sarah communicated to us what was going on. They were kind enough to offer us to come back again some time soon at their expense too so looking forward to seeing their final loving renovation of the Old Radar Station. A fantastic experience, awesome views and a stunning property. What more could you want?
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Diann A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sensational retreat setting for a two-family rendezvous

Two families from different continents, friends for over a decade, convened at the Radar Station House for another annual rendezvous. The house is amazing! Sleeping rooms were comfortable and quiet, and allowed for ample privacy with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The upstairs area was well appointed, with stunning views and really nice gathering spaces for meals and connection. As a surprise, the weather was exquisitely cooperative, and we hiked at different parts of the isle most days, enjoyed lunches at pubs or inns, and retreated back to the house for more time together. Sarah is a responsive and kind host, and our entry and exit from the property were easy. We highly recommend this gorgeous unique property!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

6/10 Okay

Anthony F.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, listing accuracy

Problems

A long list of what you cannot do
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynda S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place!!

From the initial enquiry right through to our stay at The Old Radar Station, we were thoroughly impressed. Sarah kept us constantly updated with info and answered our queries quickly and efficiently. When we arrived at the property, we were blown away. The place is absolutely stunning and has been sympathetically renovated to a very high standard whilst keeping the history of the place in mind. It was spotless and they had thought of everything. It is well appointed with basic provisions and lots of crockery and cutlery and cooking facilities. The views are out of this world. Even the kids found themselves looking up from their phones quite a lot!! I would recommend this place to anybody. Whilst it is situated on it's own, you feel very secure. Delphi and Sarah were both very helpful and quick to respond as necessary. I hope we can come back and stay again as I'm already missing the quiet and the views. Outstanding property and highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jane L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Jane

Fantastic, away from it all, break with my husband, his parents and our spaniel. What a find! Tv doesn’t get a good signal but loads of dvds to choose from. (I enjoyed not having a telly). The views are amazing - so is the silence around you. The walking is some of the best I’ve done straight out of the front gate. There are quite a lot of cows but easy enough to avoid if you have a frightened dog, like us. The water supply is rainwater (uv filtered on site) and this did wonders for my hair 😝. The host provides ample bottled water to drink because it tastes better. Plenty of provisions left for you to use, if needed, just replace them before you leave. And a lovely bottle of welcome champagne. We will definitely be booking again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Berni W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Totally unique

Lovely hosts and really unique experience
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Veronique J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect !

Stunning location, quirky and very comfortable accommodation ! Everything you need for a perfect get away break !
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alex K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing house, amazing location!

We enjoyed two wonderful weeks in this unique house. The views are to die for and - even on the few days the clouds came down - being on the top of the down was a really atmospheric experience. The house was full of thoughtful touches and immaculately clean. We appreciated the welcome and local advice from the housekeeper - and enjoyed the chilled bottle of fizz waiting in the fridge. Ventnor is full of fascinating and fun places - we'd especially recommend Crave ice creams at the Ventnorian and the Smoking Lobster restaurant on the seafront.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Jackie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing location

Lovely location for a long awaited family get together.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022