top of page

 Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 27,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde in the 19th century. The influence of this era is still strongly visible in the town's central and seafront architecture. As a resort, the town is noted for its expansive sands that are revealed at low tide, making its pier necessary on the wide beach for a regular passenger service. Ryde Pier is a listed structure which is the fourth longest pier in the United Kingdom, and also the oldest. Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight, and with its prominent position along the seafront and hovercraft and passenger ferry links it is little wonder it is often referred to as "The Gateway to the Island". In addition to an expanse of sandy beaches which stretch right along the town, Ryde has a great selection of boutique shops, museums and galleries for you to visit along with lots of other things to see and do along its esplanade. Things to Do Ryde offers a great variety of things to do which will interest all ages, not least of which are the hovercraft and catamaran ferry from which you can travel to and from the mainland. Hovertravel are the world’s oldest hovercraft operator and operate the last remaining hovercraft passenger service in Britain, whereas a trip on the Wightlink catamaran service will take you down Ryde’s recently restored early 19th century pier, which carries both vehicle traffic and train services. Head along Ryde esplanade and you will encounter a number of great places for family entertainment, including the ice rink and superbowl. Further along there is a fun fair for young children and a very popular canoe lake which leads on to Ryde’s sandy beaches. At low tide the sea goes out a long way making it a popular place for sports and outdoor activities, and a regular venue for beach soccer tournaments. Continue along the seafront and you will discover the imposing Appley Tower, which is situated at the back of Appley beach, and even further along this walk you will reach the Victorian Fortification Battery at Puckpool Park. Places to Eat With a number of cafes and restaurants located along both the seafront and into the town itself there is plenty of choice on offer for places to eat in Ryde. Both Union Street and Ryde High Street offer various cuisines from around the globe as well as a good range of bars and pubs for more traditional "pub grub". One of the most popular eateries is the famous Orrery Café whose walls makeup an incredible planetarium, and also forms part of the Donald McGill museum. Events As the largest town on the Isle of Wight it is little surprise that Ryde is the venue for some of the biggest events that take place annually. Every August bank holiday thousands of scooter enthusiasts descend upon Ryde for the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, and only a few weeks later Ryde Esplanade can be seen covered in cherished classic cars for the International Classic Car Show. Ryde also holds one of the UK’s oldest carnivals, which is traditionally held at the end of the summer and forms the end of the Isle of Wight carnival season which travels across the Island. Ryde’s collection of late night bars and clubs also tend to make it one of the most popular spots for nightlife. Places to Stay As a long established seaside resort Ryde has a number of traditional hotels and guesthouses available to those looking for accommodation. There are also various holiday cottage options in Ryde for those looking for a self-catering break, and several campsites just outside of Ryde town offering caravan and camping options. Local Information If you are looking for information on Ryde and the rest of the Isle of Wight then call into the Ryde Tourist Information Point. Located at Kollective Gifts, opposite Ryde Pier, they stock a range of brochures and leaflets, and their staff can offer help and advice where possible. Getting Around Buses to all parts of the Island depart from Ryde Esplanade. Alternatively catch the train to Shanklin via Smallbrook (for the IW Steam Railway), Brading, Sandown and Lake. Thats what Wickipedia and the Tourist Board are sayingI'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me and you can start adding your own content and make changes to the font. Feel free to drag and drop me anywhere you like on your page. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.


This is a great space to write long text about your company and your services. You can use this space to go into a little more detail about your company. Talk about your team and what services you provide. Tell your visitors the story of how you came up with the idea for your business and what makes you different from your competitors.

bottom of page