Ryde’s story is one of transformation. Once a small coastal village, it blossomed into a fashionable resort when Queen Victoria made nearby Osborne House her family home. The Victorians built elegant terraces, gardens, and Ryde Pier - an iconic landmark. The Museum of Ryde shares over 200 years’ worth of history of the area.
Ryde stretches along the Island’s north-east coast, offering some of the best beaches on the Isle of Wight. Ferries from Portsmouth and Southsea dock here. Ferries from Southampton dock at Cowes/East Cowes which are around 30 mins by car or 50 mins by bus to Ryde.
Appley Beach is one of Ryde’s gems: clean, sandy, and family-friendly, perfect for building sandcastles, paddling in the water, and enjoying the sea breeze. It is backed by parkland where you’ll find Goodleaf Tree Climbing experiences.
Also in this area is Appley Tower, a small 19th-century Gothic folly which makes a great photo stop. Further along the coastline you’ll find Puckpool Park, a great green space for playing, picnicking and walking.
Ryde is home to the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum which has around 20 historic vehicles to see, whilst the Donald McGill Postcard Museum pays homage to the man deemed “King of the saucy postcard”!
Union Street is the main shopping area in Ryde, which leads into the High Street. This is where you’ll find the majority of shops and places to eat. Just down the road on Dover Street you’ll find The Lost Crypt, the UK’s first escape room inside a real church.
If you’re holidaying on the Isle of Wight in summer, Isle of Wight Pride (July) and Ryde Carnival (August) both transform the town of Ryde into a lively celebration.
As the main arrival point from the mainland - via hovercraft, passenger ferry, or catamaran - Ryde is often the first stop for many visitors. This means it has great transport links with regular bus routes to different towns, plus the Island Line train runs from the pierhead through to Shanklin.
The Beatles’ hit “Ticket to Ride” was inspired by a trip Paul McCartney and John Lennon took to Ryde in the early sixties.
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