Albert Cottage Hotel, Cowes, Isle of Wight

If you've come without a car, the hotel is on the bus route to Newport and Ryde for exploring further afield.

Albert Cottage is in two acres of gardens and connected to the grounds of Osborne House in East Cowes.
By car: car ferries run regularly from Southampton to East Cowes, Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Ryde and Fishbourne. There is free parking on-site. redfunnel.com; wightlink.co.uk
By train: trains run regularly from London Victoria and Waterloo to both Southampton and Portsmouth, which are also well-served by trains from Bristol, Oxford and Manchester. thetrainline.com

Romancing couples with a keen sense of history will like it here. This used to be home to Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, and the current owners have used historic pictures to restore her style.

We love the professionalism of the staff and that the hotel has a large on-site car park.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Lounge
• Gardens
• Terrace
• Pet-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Dogs are allowed in some rooms and charged at £20 per dog, per night.

Many rooms have views over the beautifully planted gardens. We love the the Princess Beatrice room, which has a large bathroom with a balcony.

Double and Twin Rooms, Suites, Luxury Double Suite
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom with separate bath and shower, free Wi-Fi, TV, tea and coffee facilities

Everything is cooked to order and vegan and gluten-free options are always available. The roasted cod fillet comes with a creamy smoked haddock risotto, Welsh rarebit, crispy parmesan and a zingy salsa verde.

The restaurant: modern British cuisine, seasonal menus, roasts. Open daily for breakfast, Mon-Sat for dinner and Wed-Sat for lunch and afternoon tea. Sunday Lunch 12-4pm.