Martlets B&B

Martlets B&B Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to Martlets B&B on Old Church Lane, you immediately get that feeling — you know, when a place just looks right. This four-star bed and breakfast sits tucked away in one of Shanklin‘s quieter corners, and honestly, the setting couldn’t be more perfect. The Victorian charm hits you straight away, but it’s not stuffy or overdone. There’s something genuinely welcoming about the whole setup that makes you slow down and actually appreciate where you are.

Location That Actually Matters

Here’s the thing about Old Church Lane — it’s one of those addresses that locals know is special, but tourists often stumble upon by accident. You’re literally a few minutes’ walk from Shanklin’s Old Village (which is absolutely worth exploring, by the way), and the cliff-top walks are right there when you want them. What I love is that you get all the benefits of being close to everything without the noise and crowds. The couples who stay here seem to figure this out pretty quickly — they’ve rated the location 9.9, which honestly doesn’t surprise me at all.

The Room Experience

The room I stayed in had that perfect balance of period character and modern comfort that’s actually harder to pull off than you’d think. The beds are properly comfortable (not just pretty), and there’s enough space to spread out without feeling like you’re rattling around in something too big. You get those little touches that show someone’s actually thought about what guests need — decent lighting for reading, places to charge your phone, and windows that open properly for fresh air. The whole place feels lived-in rather than hotel-sterile, if that makes sense.

Breakfast Worth Getting Up For

I’ll be honest — I’m usually a grab-coffee-and-go person, but the breakfast here actually made me slow down. They do a full English that’s properly done (none of that mass-produced stuff), and what impressed me was how they handle dietary requirements. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free — they’re not just ticking boxes, they’re actually making food that tastes good. The dining area overlooks the garden, and there’s something quite civilized about starting your day there with a proper cup of tea and no rush to be anywhere else.

Why Guests Love It

That 9.8 rating isn’t just numbers — you can feel it when you’re there. The owners clearly care about getting the details right, from the free parking (which is genuinely useful in Shanklin) to the way they’ll chat about local walks without being pushy about it. It’s the kind of place where you end up staying longer than planned, not because there’s loads to do on-site, but because it’s such a good base for exploring the area. You leave feeling like you’ve discovered something rather than just stayed somewhere, and that’s worth quite a lot when you’re traveling.

Best hotels on the Isle of Wight blend Victorian conservatories, spa verandas, and chef tastings of local crab.

Martlets B&B Accommodations

Reviews of Martlets B&B

• Exceptional – Lee from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Lovely host, beautiful location, and extremely well looked after

• We had a lovely stay at Jill’s, she made us feel very welcome and we were well looked after. We will be staying with Ji – Vicki from United Kingdom (10/10)

  The property is lovely and set in a beautiful and quiet location on the edge of Shanklin.

• Superb – Jeffery from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Lovely property in a great location with superb host.

• Overall Jill is an excellent host, just not enough choice at breakfast – Terry from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Very clean, could have done with 2 hand towels and change of bath towels after 2days

• A brilliant and restful stay – Reg from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Breakfast was fine everything you would want and our host was terrific very thoughtful on many ways

• A pleasant stay in pleasant surroundings with a very pleasant host. – John from United Kingdom (10/10)

  A good choice available for breakfast, fruit juice, cereal and a cooked breakfast. Plenty full and nicely presented.

• A truly lovely home from home, with luxurious touches and such a warm host. We're looking forward to – Simon from United Kingdom (10/10)

  A wonderful warm welcome awaited us from Jill, Jonty and Jess! Jill has a beautiful home which lends itself perfectly to providing luxurious and friendly accommodation, situated in a quiet close just a few minutes walk from Shanklin old town.
  Set in lush wooded surroundings with donkeys and alpacas grazing in fields behind, Jill's garden was the perfect place to relax with a G&T after a day's exploring.

• Great host and location – Aldred from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Absolutely excellent grounds and location. Property was clean and decorated to a high quality finish. Easy to park. Open fields at the rear and had breakfast outside when the weather was good. The host was very friendly and helpful. Within easy walking distance of old Shanklin Village and the Chine.

• Jill is an exceptional host, for whom nothing is too much trouble. We were invited to make ourselves at home and we felt – Jan from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Everything

• Relaxing week spent in lovely surroundings with a very friendly atmosphere provided by the host. – John from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Everything, quiet location, very friendly host, distance to amenities, safe parking, surrounding views, well kept property and rooms, facilities excellent, breakfast very good for choices.

Facilities