luxury houses with sea view for sale Shanklin, United Kingdom

This stunning Victorian Marine Villa is situated in the coastal village of Bonchurch, a location renowned for its picturesque beauty and charming atmosphere. The village gained popularity during the Victorian era, when its favourable microclimate and dramatic southerly coastline attracted many fine houses and villas, with notable figures such as Charles Dickens and Algernon Swinburne frequenting the area. Bonchurch retains its village character, with a local pub, an 11th-century church, and access to scenic footpaths that lead to the beautiful Monks Bay and nearby coastal walks. The adjacent town of Ventnor offers a range of amenities, including beachfront bars, restaurants, a fish market, and the famous Botanic Gardens.   This elegant home is believed to have been built around 1850 and offers a spacious and elegant stone residence set across three floors, designed to maximise the spectacular southerly views over the surrounding gardens and the English Channel. The property is situated in a secluded and elevated position, ensuring both privacy and panoramic vistas. The villa retains many original period features, exuding timeless charm, and provides excellent living spaces with an abundance of natural light.   Upon arrival, a carved stone arch with a stained-glass panel above leads to the front door, which opens into a welcoming entrance hall featuring the original staircase, complete with an oak newel post and handrail. The dining room is a beautiful reception area, with windows across the southern elevation offering breathtaking views of the garden and the sea. The room is characterised by wooden flooring, built-in bench seating, extensive glass-fronted cupboards, and direct access to the garden.   The sitting room also faces south, with French doors opening to the garden and offering magnificent sea views. The room features original window shutters and a gas fire set in a wooden surround. The drawing room is an impressive space with high ceilings, generous proportions, and splendid views over the garden and the sea. French doors open to the garden, and an open fireplace with a marble surround adds to the room's character.   The kitchen is fitted with a comprehensive range of base and wall cupboards with granite work surfaces, and includes integral appliances such as an oven, hob, fridge-freezer, and dishwasher. Additionally, there is a breakfast room with pine-fronted units, space for both a range cooker and an American-style fridge-freezer, and French doors leading to the garden. Completing the ground floor is a large rear lobby, garden room and gym or home office dependent on your requirements.   On the first floor, the principal bedroom enjoys spectacular southerly views and includes a feature fireplace and built-in wardrobes. This room is complemented by an en-suite bathroom with a bath, shower enclosure, wash basin, WC, bidet, and heated towel rail. There are four more spacious bedrooms on this level, two with en-suite bathrooms and two that share a shower room, all with unique features such as bay windows and sea views.   The second floor offers further accommodation, including a study with panoramic southerly sea views, and two additional bedrooms, one with a walk-in dressing room and sloping wooden-clad ceilings.   The property is approached via a pair of wrought-iron gates mounted on stone pillars, leading to a gravelled driveway that provides parking for several cars. The south and east-facing gardens are beautifully secluded, with a large lawned area offering delightful views of the sea. The gardens are framed by well-stocked borders and an attractive stone retaining wall to the rear, ensuring both privacy and shelter. There is also a small ornamental pond, a greenhouse, and a timber store.   An exceptional Victorian villa, offering spacious and well-appointed accommodation, stunning gardens, and breathtaking views of the English Channel. Located in one of the Isle of Wight's many, quaint coastal villages, this property offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of local history in an enviable setting.