Holiday rentals and airbnb on the Isle of Man

A tiny little island just 32 miles long nestled in the channel between Ireland and the UK, the Isle of Man is the perfect spot for a short getaway whether you're from the UK or not. Fun fact: The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles, but not the UK, which encompasses all of the islands in the area, including Ireland. Thousands of tourists flock here every year to explore the numerous walking trails, sunny coastal areas, and mountainous regions. The entire island was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2016, essentially marking it as one of the most beautiful places to visit in the British Isles. Whether you're looking to hike your way through the mountains, or just experience the full 10,000 years' worth of history of the island, you'll find luxury accommodation in the Isle of Man to suit your needs.

The Best Time to Visit the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is in the middle of the channels between mainland UK and Ireland, which means that on the whole the weather is fairly cool for most of the year, with mild winters, and a strong chance of rainfall – especially in comparison to the UK. This means the island can be visited throughout the year, although the hottest month is typically August, and the coldest is January. If you want to avoid the rain, then head to the south of the island, or right at the very tip of the northern plain, or if you don't mind getting a bit damp on a hike then the hills that stretch along the middle of the country are beautiful. The driest months on the Isle of Man are April through to June, while the sunniest, and warmest, are May through to the end of August.

How to Get to the Isle of Man

An island off the west coast of England, the Isle of Man is secluded and beautiful – and yet still easy to get to. Flying is by far the easiest way to visit the island, with great connections to the majority of the airports across the UK, Channels Islands, and Ireland, including Dublin, Liverpool, the London airports, and Manchester. Ronaldsway airport, the Isle of Man's only airport, is right in the south of the island, near Castletown, and it's serviced by both British Airways and Aer Lingus. For those travelling from outside of the UK and Ireland and looking to fly straight to the island, its recommended that you fly into the London airports and hop on a connecting flight to the island. From the Ronaldsway airport, there is a fantastic bus service across the south of the country taking you to whatever cosy accommodation in the Isle of Man that you've booked. There's also a direct bus to the capital city, Douglas, and from here you can get easy connections to anywhere in the country. Alternatively, another great way to get to the Isle of Man is from one of the five ferry ports connecting the island to the UK, and Ireland. This way, you have the option to either come as a foot passenger or bring your car – which means when you're over the water, you can travel freely around the island as much as you like without having to rely on public transport. The Steam Packet Company operate services from Heysham, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Dublin, and Belfast, and it takes you straight to the port in Douglas, where you can get a bus, taxi, or car hire straight to your B&B holiday rental. If you're an international traveller, get a plane to Liverpool, Dublin, or Belfast, and from there hop on a ferry over to the Isle of Man.

Where to Stay in the Isle of Man

Douglas and the East

The capital city of Douglas is the place to be when visiting the Isle of Man. Set along the east coast of the island, the city has a two-mile sweeping bay and beautiful sandy beach, complete with promenades, a steam railway, horse trams and more. Staying here means being close to the Manx Museum, the Great Union Camera Obscura, the Gaiety Theatre, and the Villa Marina, as well as being at the starting and end point for the Isle of Man TT. Alternatively, stay out of the tourist-heavy city and head further east, staying in quaint B&B holiday apartments in villages such as Laxey in the deep valley, where travellers can see the Lady Isabella, the largest working waterwheel still in place.

Peel and the West

The west coast of the island is home to the Mountains of Morne, the Manx fishing port, Peel Castle, and the Tynwald Hill. Plus, Peel is also known as the "sunset city" thanks to the stunning sunsets on display all through the town. Peel has its heritage in fishing, having been a Manx fishing port for hundreds of years, but it's also home to the only cathedral on the island. Between May and June, the west coast is also a great place to spot basking sharks along the shore. Travel further up shore to the secluded Niarbyl Bay, one of the Isle of Man's fantastic geological sites, and stay nearby in the quaint village of St. John's, with luxury holiday rentals to suit anyone.

Port Erin and the South

The south of the Isle of Man is perfect for long walks along the beach with countless walking trails to keep even the most enthusiastic hikers happy. Port Erin has been a popular holiday destination for tourists all over the UK since the Victorian times, and a lot of the architecture still matches that vibe – there's even the original steam railway train station in place, as well as a nearby museum documenting the rai history on the island. The south is the best place to base your stay in the Isle of Man, notably for the historic Castle Rushen; in fact, why not book your short-term apartment rental in Castletown, with incredible views of Castle Rushen that was once the home of Kings and Lords of Man.

Ramsey and the North

The northern coast of the Isle of Man is the same area they hold the Isle of Man TT race, and this entire part of the country is made up of exceptional landscape and countryside. The best way to get to Ramsey is to travel along the same route as the race takes through the mountains – although maybe not the same speed as the motorcycles – and once you get there, if beautiful wildlife is your thing, then head straight for the Mooragh Park. Alternatively, Vurraghs Wildlife Park is a great spot to visit, as is the Venture centre near Maughold, for the more adventurous types who want to spend their holiday kayaking, abseiling, and coasteering.

Things to do in the Isle of Man

The Town of Douglas

The capital city of Douglas is famed for its traditional beauty and grandeur. A tiny little city, it sits on banks of the River Douglas – the city's namesake – and with that comes a two-mile promenade that makes for a wonderful stroll, with views across the magnificent bay. Here, visitors can find the Tower of Refuge, which was once used to house sailors that were shipwrecked on St. Mary's Isle, as well as the Villa Marina and Gardens where guests can enjoy regular outdoor concerts.

Douglas Head

The best part about Douglas Head is the incredible ornate gate that signals the beginning of the historic Marine Drive – the main road that takes travellers up to Douglas Head. Aside from that, Douglas Head is one of the best viewing spots in the city – and possible the entirety of the Isle of Man. A rocky outcrop that looks over the Douglas harbour, you can also find the iconic Grand Union Camera Obscura here, a 19th century building that uses lights and mirrors to project and reflect images of the surrounding onto the darkened walls of the building.

Manx Museum

The Manx Museum, and National Art Gallery, is essentially a museum about the Isle of Man's history, starting with a film about the island's 10,000-year history. The museum includes exhibitions about the Vikings, the history of Tynwald, the various internment camps that were in place on the Isle of Man during both WWI and WWII and, of course, the history of the famous TT races that take place here every year. The Museum is also the site of the island's National Art Gallery, which includes works by the famous Archibald Knox and John Miller Nicholson.

Castletown and Castle Rushen

The small town of Castletown is best known for the incredible Castle Rushen, one of the only structures in the British Isles from the medieval era that is still largely intact. Castletown was once the capital of the Isle of Man, and the castle was the royal residence, built on what was once a 13th century Viking stronghold. Right in the centre of town, it's easy to access from the many bars, restaurants, and holiday rentals that are nearby, and visitors can see the unique sundial with 13 dials, and the Celtic crucifix that was found on the nearby Calf of Man.

Isle of Man Walking Festival

Held every year in October, the Isle of Man Walking Festival takes place over four days and stretches across some of the best scenery and countryside on the island. Led by various experienced walkers, the festival goes around a number of local routers, and all level of walkers can take part. Plus, there are social events in the evenings, and the chance to enjoy a variety of local brews with a stop at the Manx brewery.

Rushen Abbey

Founded in 1134, Rushen Abbey was originally a home for monks of the Savignac order. Just two miles from Castle Rushen – the most important site both politically and religiously during the medieval era – the Abbey became one of the island's most important sites for education right up until the middle of the 15th century. Now, it's used to host strawberry and cream tea dances, and the gardens are dotted with tonnes of archaeological finds that make for a great afternoon stroll and discover.

Visit a Dark Sky Spot

In today's modern age it's difficult to find anywhere that isn't suffering from light pollution. and so, seeing the stars at night can be incredibly difficult. That's why dark sky spots are becoming more and more popular, with the stargazing laboratory in Hawaii and the Atacama Desert in Chile being two notable spots. The Isle of Man, however, is full of a number of dark sky spots, right on the doorstep of the UK. There are 26 such spots across the island, where travellers can see a number of exceptional astronomical sights with their naked eyes, such as the Orion Nebula, and the Milky Way Galaxy – which is over 1500 light years away. If you're lucky, you might even spot the Northern Lights, which are sometimes seen along the northern coast of the island.

The Isle of Man TT

Famous in the motorcycling community, the Isle of Man TT races take place every year in May and June, and have done since 1907. It's known as one of the most damgeorus races of its kind, the TT begins and ends in Douglas and takes place entirely in the northern area of the island.