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!

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 already on the Island you'll find Ryde easy to reach by bus, train, car and on foot and bicycle. 

Check out the offers page for ferry and hovercraft offers straight to Ryde. 

Visitors throughout the centuries have been seduced by Ryde’s relaxing coastal vibe, why not pop over and take a look for yourself. 

Beaches of Ryde

If you’re looking for a sandy beach, Ryde is the place! 

To the east of the pier, Appley Beach is one of the finest on the Isle of Wight. It’s a 20-minute flat 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. 

Keep heading east and you’ll find more sandy beaches and Puckpool Park with tennis courts, crazy golf and a playground. 

To the west of Ryde Pier, the beach is more accessible at low tide. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and a super spot for beachcombing - there's usually a jewel or two of sea glass to be found here! 

The beaches of Ryde are also a haven for birds including the elusive sanderling.  

Shopping in Ryde

At the heart of the town is a fantastic range of independent shops. Ryde is famed for its eclectic mix of shops run by enthusiastic, knowledgeable and welcoming staff.  Not only will you find something special you didn't even know you were looking for, but you'll have a great experience doing it. Ryde prides itself on its warm welcome and visitors can feel 'covid-confident' in Ryde's shops. 

Discover an enormous range of specialist shops selling anything from comics, jewellery, photographic equipment to vintage clothing, skateboards and fruit and veg. There's even a specialist year-round Christmas store. It's so easy to spend a few hours wandering in and out of the shops, stopping for a coffee on the way.  

Union street is the main street that leads up from the coast. Follow this past the intersection with Cross Street and Lind Street (well worth checking out for shops) into the High street, where you'll find even more independent shops nestling amongst the chain stores.

Eating Out in Ryde

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. 

There are excellent pubs and bars in Ryde and it’s worth exploring away from the town centre to discover local bars with quality beers on tap and sunny beer gardens to enjoy them in. 

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Getting around Ryde

The flat walk along the seafront is made for strolling, especially if you’re less mobile or have children, scooters and buggies in tow.  Stop off for an ice cream or a glass of something on route – there's lots of space and plenty of places to rest and enjoy the views across the sea to the mainland. 

Wander further along to the east and you'll come across Appley Tower. This magical tower on the beach is actually a coastal folly built in 1875 by Sir William Hutt. It's the perfect backdrop for a seaside selfie especially at sunrise! The walk will take you about 25 minutes from the 'dry end' of the pier. 

To the west you can follow the coastal path slightly inland until you reach the Benedictine monastery of Quarr Abbey in the other direction (this route is slightly more hilly). 

East or west, both routes are suitable and safe for cycling. 

If warm sands and sea don't tempt you, head inland from Ryde's transport connections and take a  slow meander up Union Street into the heart of the town. You'll go slow because it's a hill and because you'll want to go in every boutique you see! Stopping for a coffee won't be a problem as Ryde's shops handily intermingle with some great cafes, bars and restaurants.

Things to do in Ryde

Whatever the weather you’ll find something to do in Ryde. 

Outdoors try:

• Recreational tree climbing
• Go karting. 
• A round at Ryde Golf Club or head for the driving range at Westridge. 
• A playground on the beach

Inside try:

• Bowling and lazer quest.
• A movie at retro cinema The Commodore
• A swim at the Waterside Pool  
• Join the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Smallbrook Junction.
• The Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum

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Ryde events

Ryde is well known for its busy events calendar. With an eclectic diary of events ranging from the iconic August bank holiday scooter rally to Isle of Wight Pride in July to the International Classic Car Show in September, there's always something happening in Ryde. 

Music buffs head to the Island in October for Harp on Wight. You'll find live music and performance in Ryde venues all year round. 

If you fancy a nostalgic trip around the Island, The Classic Beer, Buses and Weekend in October is a treat. With various routes running from pub to pub, you’ll be spoiled for choice of beer and buses!

Under the Pier at the end of the summer celebrates the diverse marine wildlife of the low-tide pier. 

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Ryde's history

Look up and around you and you'll see Ryde's Georgian and Victorian history, reflected in its buildings. 

If you can't get enough of the past, The Historic Ryde Society runs the Ryde District Heritage Centre in the basement of the Victoria Arcade in Union Street. The Ryde Social Heritage Group have an interesting series of short films. The Ryde Heritage Audio Trail which are guided walks that can be accessed through our YouTube page.

The Prince Consort building on the seafront is now a private residence but used to be the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was built for Queen Victoria who wasn’t allowed access to the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes as a female, despite the fact that she was the Queen!

Ryde inspires creativity

Ryde is home to the UK's longest running carnival, which takes place at the end of August each year. Carnival is a theme in the town with a Mardi Gras every June. The participants are hundreds of Island school children each year who make all their own costumes. 

Whether it's the fresh sea air or simply the sense of escape from the mainland, Ryde is packed with creativity, often found in tucked away places. The local library is a good place to discover community art made by Ryde Arts. Installations appear at train stations, there's even been an exhibition on local allotments!

Karl Marx regularly visited Ryde in the 19th century. Oscar-winning screenwriter and director (The English Patient 1996) and local Anthony Minghella’s creativity was inspired by walking on the sands of Ryde with his grandmother. Ryde was where he filmed his first film “A Little Like Drowning”.

Music journalist Philip Norman grew up in Ryde and wrote Babycham Night, a nostalgic memoir of his Isle of Wight childhood – his father ran the entertainments on Ryde Pier in the 1950s.

Where to Stay in Ryde

Ryde has a select range of accommodation, whether you fancy a seafront hotel, glamping, luxury chalet or a self-catering cottage.

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Getting to Ryde

Ryde is just a short crossing from the mainland. From Portsmouth Harbour (connects with trains from London and along the south coast) take the Wightlink FastCat to the 'wet end' of Ryde Pier. The crossing takes around 22 minutes. On arriving at the pier head, take the train down the pier or enjoy the stroll into Ryde town centre - the pier is about half a mile long. 

Hovertravel at Southsea can get you to the Island in 10 minutes, and you'll be flying across the sea on the world's only passenger hovercraft service. Connect with mainland train services using the hoverbus service or coaches. 

The Island Line train links Shanklin through to Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head. 

Southern Vectis have a busy bus station at Ryde, with different routes around the town and across the Island. 

Check out the Ferry & Travel special offers for discounted ferry travel.