Place, Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
1 min walk
Ventnor Downs
Place, Ventnor Downs
6 min walk
Ventnor Beach
Place, Ventnor Beach
3 min drive
Southampton (SOU)
Airport, Southampton (SOU)
89 min drive
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)
Kingsize double 3
1 Queen Bed
New Master/ ensuite
1 Queen Bed
Old Master Bedroom
1 Queen Bed
Twin room 2
2 Single Beds
4 bathrooms
Family bathroom
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Family shower room
Toilet · Shower only
New master en suite
Toilet · Shower only
Old Master en suite
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
About this property
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.
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Please be aware this house is not available for groups greater than 8 without prior confirmation from owners.
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
Frequently asked questions
Is The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor ?
As of 8 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Old Radar Station, St Boniface Down, Ventnor on 31 May, 2026 start from S$893, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
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. Ventnor Beach and Steephill Cove Beach are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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
Paul P.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul, 2025
Thank you Paul, lovely to have you all to stay.
Sarah
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.
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!
Clare S.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Oct, 2023
Thanks Clare, lovely to hear you all enjoyed your stay. Hope to welcome you back sometime.
Sarah
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.
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!
Nicole P.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept, 2020
Thanks for your lovely review Nicole, and good point - whilst I’m completely familiar with and used to the magical rain water harvesting water system, it’s worth explaining to guests in advance of their visits. Hope to see you back soon.
Sarah
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.
Jonathan C.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Nov, 2024
Thanks Jonathan, what a lovely and thoughtful review. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Come again!
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?
Rosie H.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar, 2020
What a lovely review - thanks Rosie, and we're really looking forward to your return.
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!
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.
Jane L.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May, 2025
Thank you Jane, and always a delight when someone really gets the property in the same way we do.
Verified
6/10 Okay
Anthony F.
14 Sept, 2023
Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, listing accuracy
Problems
A long list of what you cannot do
Anthony F.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Nov, 2023
Sorry to hear that Tony. We try very hard to make sure our guests enjoy their stay at the old Radar Station. As you know it’s an unusual and historical building, and we have all ages of guests staying with us. We take the safety and well-being of our guests very seriously and this inevitably comes with some rules and guidelines.
Regards
Sarah
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.
Alex K.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022
About the host
Hosted by Sarah Carter
We own and run an Award winning architectural practice and specialise in converting extraordinary buildings.
Why they chose this property
We hope you'll love it as much as we do.
What makes this property unique
Highest point on the island, it's exquisite sea and nature views make it an extraordinary experience.
Languages:
English, French, Italian
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests