Isles of Scilly hotels and accommodation: the best places to stay

Isles of Scilly accommodation is abundant, and you can choose from self-catering farmhouse cottages, seaside hotels or quaint B&Bs. Use our guide to finding the best places to stay on this archipelago.

If you’re planning a trip to the glorious Isles of Scilly, a stunning set of islands strung off the coast of Cornwall, it pays to know where to stay. Whether you want self-catering or luxury hotels, we’ve made it simpler to find great places to stay on the Isles of Scilly. Here are the best Isles of Scilly hotels.

Hell Bay Hotel (Bryher)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: amazing food

Don’t let the name put you off – Hell Bay Hotel is anything but hellish. Located on Bryher, this Scilly Isles hotel is sublime place to stay. The food is the highlight here, with a top-notch restaurant and the rustic but spectacular Crab Shack, where there are just three things on the menu and you’ll want to tuck your napkin into your shirt.

Rooms and suites have a classic blue-and-white seaside theme, and many look out over the ocean and Bryher’s rugged coastline. There’s a treatment room for massages, facials and manicures, and the hotel runs regular yoga classes for those wanting to get a little zen in their day.

Bed and breakfast from £180 a night in peak season, half board from £255. Book it here >

St Mary’s Hall Hotel (St Mary’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: central location

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Perhaps the most convenient Isles of Scilly hotel, St Mary’s Hall is just a few minutes’ walk from the archipelago’s main harbour at Hugh Town. This 4-star property has a gorgeous little garden where you can take afternoon tea in the Scilly sunshine (the islands have their own microclimate, after all), and an excellent restaurant where comfort food is king.

There are five room categories, all of which are spacious and light, with Molton Brown toiletries and king-size beds.

Bed and breakfast from £255 a night in peak season, half board from £295. Book it here >

Karma St. Martin’s (St Martin’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: beach-front seclusion

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On the northern fringe of the lesser-visited island of St Martin’s, the Karma hotel is an idyllic option – situated right on the beach. Rooms are modern, light and airy, and most have sublime sea views and thick, toe-hugging carpets.

The on-site restaurant cooks up truly exceptional dishes utilising the local fare (think freshly-caught fish and lobster) and there’s even a wine-tasting machine in the cosy back lounge.

Karma St. Martin’s is a dog-friendly hotel, so don’t be surprised if you’re eyeing up the fantastic breakfast buffet alongside a spaniel or two.

Bed and breakfast from £271 a night, half board from £323. Book it here >

Tregarthen’s Hotel (St Mary’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: great value

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Overlooking the pretty St Mary’s Harbour in Hugh Town, historic Tregarthen’s is a reliable choice for your stay on the Isles of Scilly. Rooms are simple and homely – what’s beyond them is the main draw here anyway – and you can choose between single, double or family set ups.

It’s just five minutes walking to the harbour, so you can catch your boats to Tresco, St Martin’s or Bryher with ease, and the hotel’s outdoor dining terrace has spectacular views.

Bed and breakfast from £250 a night in peak season, half-board from £280. Book it here >

Star Castle Hotel (St Mary’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: history and character

If wine is your thing, book the Star Castle Hotel as your Isles of Scilly accommodation. This gorgeous, family-run hotel has its very own vineyard and can organise wine tastings and lobster dinners.

The hotel also has a fascinating history – it was built in 1593 as a fortification to defend the islands. Inside, it certainly feels historic with its wooden beams, Persian rugs and exposed stone walls. Rooms are equally characterful, located in the castle ramparts or in the gardens, and staff are all local, meaning they’re supremely knowledgable about the area.

Bed and breakfast from £313 a night peak season, half board from £369. Book it here >

Tresco Island self-catering

Best Isles of Scilly for: self-sufficient breaks

The privately-owned island of Tresco is one of the Scilly’s most beautiful, home to an astonishing botanical garden with over 20,000 plant varieties. The island has plenty of self-catering accommodation options for your Isles of Scilly break, from one-bedroom cottages on the seafront to family homes ideal for a multigenerational holiday.

Self-catering accommodation from around £2,000 a week in August. Book it here >

The New Inn (Tresco)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: small-town vibes

If you’d rather leave the cooking to someone else, check into the only hotel on Tresco – the 19th-century New Inn. This lovely hotel has a great adjoining pub with a garden and ice cream counter (locally-made, of course), and rooms are light and airy, with white sheets and colourful touches.

Bed and breakfast from £185 a night in peak season. Book it here >

Fuchsia Cottages (St Martin’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: personal service

The most affordable, and homeliest place to stay on the whole of the Scilly Isles is Fuchsia Cottages. This modest B&B has held its prices for a decade, meaning you can bag a room for just £70 a night.

Owners Terry and Cheryl will wake you with the smell of homemade bread in the morning, and you can bring back takeaway food from the local chippy – you won’t even have to do the washing up. The cottage gets booked up well in advance, so plan ahead.

Bed and breakfast from £70 a night. Book it here >

The Atlantic (St Mary’s)

Best Isles of Scilly hotel for: quayside views

Right in Hugh Town’s centre, The Atlantic enjoys a convenient location (just a few minutes’ walk from the harbour) and spectacular quayside views.

Its 25 ensuite rooms have pretty printed wallpaper and comfy beds, and the food is all locally-sourced and seasonal.

Bed and breakfast from £245 a night in peak season. Book it here >