Ferry from Ryde to Southsea

Ryde Guide

The town of Ryde is located on the north east coast of the Isle of Wight, which is an island located off the south coast of the English mainland. The towns of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde grew during the 19th century but then merged. Ryde is known for its sandy beaches which are revealed at low tide, which make the town's pier necessary in order to accommodate the ferry service operating from the town. It is the fourth longest pier in the United Kingdom and is a listed structure. Clearly visible from the see are the two church spires of All Saints' and Holy Trinity churches. The spire of All Saints Church stands at 177 feet and the church was built in 1872 by George Gilbert Scott. Holy Trinity Church was completed in 1845 and was designed by Thomas Hellyer. There are only a few large open spaces in Ryde beyond the esplanade, but includes Appley Park, Puckpool Park, Vernon Square, Simon Street Recreation Ground, St. John's Park, Salter Road Recreation Ground and Oakfield Football Club.

From Ryde harbour their is a hovercraft service to Southsea and a catamaran service to Portsmouth Harbour which then connects with both Island Line trains and mainland trains to London Waterloo.

Southsea Guide

The Portsmouth suburb of Southsea lies on the south coast of England, on the shores of the English Channel, in the county of Hampshire. The town is popular with holidaying families to Portsmouth and has a long stretch of sandy beach, two piers and a good tourist information centre. The suburb has a lively reputation and has many bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs. There is also a theme park situated at the Clarence Pier. A major attraction located just off the coast are the four large forts built in the 1860's as part of an attempt to protect the city from the threat of foreign invasion. They were part of a wider range of defences which also included forts on the mainland around the city although they were never used.

There is a regular hovercraft service to Ryde on the Isle of Wight which runs from Southsea seafront. The crossing time is about 10 minutes.