Cowes is located on the north coast of the Isle of Wight at the mouth of the River Medina, where it enters the Solent, approximately 78 miles south-west of London and 5 miles north of Newport.
The town has a population of around 20,000. Administratively it is within the Isle of Wight which covers an area of approximately 380 sq kms and which has a population of around 136,000.
The country's primary yachting centre, and renowned for Cowes Week, it is a busy port with a good harbour. There are two parts to the town, West Cowes which is rather more fashionable and East Cowes which has more industry, they are connected by bridge, and chain ferry, across the river. There are some notable historic buildings, including Osbourne House which was Queen Victoria's favourite residence and where she died. It is a popular visitor destination and a good base from which to explore the rest of the island.
The town was originally two small settlements known as East and West Shamblord. Fortifications were built in the 16th century during Henry VIII's reign because of attempted French invasions; only the west fort remains today, known as Cowes Castle. It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I that boat building began at Cowes, when a ship was built here for her use. However, it was not until the early 19th century, in the reign of George VI who was a keen sailor, that Cowes developed into the 'Yachting Capital of the World'. The Royal Yacht Squadron held a regatta there for the first time in 1826, and in 1827 the King signified his approval of the event by presenting a cup to mark the occasion. This grew in to the Cowes Regatta, a four day event. Queen Victoria made her summer home at Osborne House in East Cowes, and several other grand houses were built in the area at this time. Saunders Rowe, who built flying boats during the early 20th century, were based in East Cowes, and the first hovercraft was tested here. During World War II the town was a target for bombing because of its industry, and its proximity to Southampton and Portsmouth.
The local economy in both Cowes and East Cowes has always centred on the building and design of marine craft, including the early flying boats, and sailmaking.
Cowes and East Cowes derive their names from the time of Henry VIII, when fortifications called cowforts or cowes were built on the east and west banks to dispel a French invasion. Another suggestion is that Cowes and West Cowes were named after two sandbanks, one on each side of the River Medina estuary. In 1413 these were recorded as Estcowe and Westcowe, and were named after a supposed likeness to cows.