Perched on St Boniface Down, within a beautiful National Trust landscape, this extraordinary piece of British history offers comfortable modern accommodation with spectacular views. Relax in one of the 4 generous bedrooms or unwind on the large protected roof terrace with fabulous views out to sea.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8200 sq m
Popular amenities
Ocean view
Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue
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 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
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)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
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 Pirates Cove Adventure Golf. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and cave exploring. Visit our Ventnor travel guide
Is The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).
How much is parking at The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
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 1 mi (2 km) of Ventnor Downs and Old St Boniface Church. Oceanblue Sea Charters and Monks Bay Beach are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Fantastic family holiday, comfortable accommodation, with lots of history to the building, and with amazing views, especially the sunsets. Great location for walks on the downs. Any questions we had were answered promptly.we all thoroughly enjoyed.thanksPaul
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!
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
James H.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Robert
15 Aug 2024
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
Robert
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Paul
29 Aug 2023
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.