Nestled beneath the shelter of St Boniface Down, Ventnor thrives under a rare subtropical microclimate, warmer than the rest of the UK. This unique positioning, south-facing and warmed by the Gulf Stream, ensures milder winters, extended sunshine, and greenery that flourishes all year round.
In the mid-19th century, Ventnor became renowned as a centre for wellness and restorative sea air. Charles Dickens himself first visited The Royal in 1838, drawn by the town’s growing reputation for health benefits. The visit came shortly after the sudden loss of his 17-year-old step-sister, Mary Hogarth, in 1837. (Mary was the inspiration for Rose Maylie in Oliver Twist).
In 1869, the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest was established, drawing tuberculosis patients who benefited from the restorative sea air and sheltered warmth. After the hospital closed, Sir Harold Hillier founded what would become the Ventnor Botanic Garden in 1970, continuing the site's healing heritage.
Victorian-era donors provided Mediterranean plants specifically for the Botanic gardens, as well as Queen Victoria’s favourite spot for afternoon tea, The Royal Hotel. Some of these original specimens, such as Chusan palms (Trachycarpus fortunei), still thrive today, a testament to their enduring vitality in Ventnor.
Ventnor Botanic Garden spans 22 acres and houses more than 6,000 plant species, many too delicate without the mild climate and sheltered position of Ventnor. Subtropical species from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, and the Mediterranean would not be able to survive outdoors in Britain.
One of the most remarkable features is a greenhouse with giant water lilies and lotus blooms, a breathtaking sight during the summer months.
The garden also embraces "The Ventnor Method," a sustainable, naturalistic approach to planting that encourages ecosystems to develop organically, great for wildlife and low maintenance. Guests of The Royal may have noticed its gardens looking especially stunning lately. A transformation led by our Head Gardener, John, and inspired by Mohamed’s vision for the hotel. Olive trees, Limelight Hydrangeas, Poet’s Wife roses and so much incredible new planting have brought more of the Mediterranean feel to the hotel, while careful pruning has opened up the space to more light, colour and scent.
Ventnor supports wildlife rarely found elsewhere in the UK thanks to its microclimate. The town hosts the largest colony of common wall lizards in Britain. The hotel has the perfect breeding spots for lizards, making it almost guaranteed to see one basking on a sunny day.
In addition, the island is one of the last red squirrel havens in England, with these shy natives often spotted in the gardens' woodland areas.
The nearby downs are home to feral goats introduced to manage holm oak, another Mediterranean species that thrives here, and also provide habitat for the rare and beautiful Glanville fritillary butterflies.
Offshore, Ventnor’s marine environment thrives as well. Visitors may catch glimpses of dolphins, basking sharks, and other marine species that flourish in the sheltered, oceanic waters, an extension of Ventnor’s biodiversity above and below the waves.
The Royal Hotel’s own subtropical garden draws directly from this extraordinary heritage. We are proud to host one of those original Victorian palms still standing nearly 200 years old, a living link to this legacy of wellness and natural beauty.
If your preferred dates show as unavailable online, please call our Reservations Team on 01983 852186, who will be happy to assist with your enquiry.
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