Ryde
With long, spacious stretches of sandy beach. A thriving independent shopping scene and fabulous eating out. Ryde is a quirky mix of a traditional seaside fun, Victorian architecture and unexpected hidden gems!
Things to see and do
One of the UK’s original seaside destinations and much loved by Queen Victoria. A trip on the FastCat or Hovercraft is part of the joy of a visit to Ryde. The town is easy and quick to get to from the mainland. It’s perfect for a day out or short break.
If you’re looking for a sandy beach, Ryde is the place! To the east of the pier is Appley Beach. It is one of the finest on the Isle of Wight. It’s a 20-minute walk from the pier past beach cafes, a small harbour and other sandy beaches. Appley Beach is a stunning beach of fine golden sand, bordered by a lush green park with a small playground for younger children. The beach shelves gently into the sea, making it perfect for a family day out. In Summer the tide laps in over the hot sand, and the water is some of the warmest on the Island. In winter it’s the perfect place for splashing about in wellies. Appley Tower sits on the edge of the sand casting a magical golden spell over days spent building sandcastles, splashing and swimming.
If you fancy enjoying traditional fish and chips at the seaside, Ryde’s got it, but Ryde’s dining out scene has expanded over the past few years. Vegan pizza, gourmet burgers, stylish cocktails? You’ll find them all in Ryde. The range of quality international cuisine from Thai to Turkish mezze, offers more than enough eating out opportunities to last an entire holiday. A growing coffee culture sits alongside traditional cafes serving full English breakfasts, delicious cakes accompanied by a pot of tea or take away food for your day out. Ryde’s independent spirit shines through the town’s restaurants – most are local businesses with many serving local food and drink.
Travelling to Ryde by Ferry
The closest ferry port to Ryde is Ryde Ferry Terminal making it the ideal place for ferry travel. The route is operated by Wight Link, with the crossing from Portsmouth taking only 45 minutes. There are actually two other Isle of Wight to ferry ports on the island. Both within close driving distance. Where ever you live in the world, driving to Ryde should be easy with ferries arriving into the Isle of Wight from England.