Osborne Bay

Osborne Bay sits on the northeast coast of the Isle of Wight, sheltered within the eastern Solent and just east of East Cowes — and it comes with a pretty remarkable backdrop: this is the bay fronting Osborne House, Queen Victoria's beloved private retreat. You anchor off here and enjoy the scene, but note that landing on the beach isn't permitted, so settle in, get the BBQ going on deck, and soak up one of the more quietly regal anchorages on the south coast.