Ferry from Southsea to Ryde

Southsea Guide

The town and port of Southsea is located on the south coast of England in the county of Hampshire. The town lies on the English Channel coast at the southern end of Portsea Island and is only just over 1 km from the much larger city of Portsmouth. Despite its large neighbour, Southsea has its own commercial centre with bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. The four forts, just off the coast, that were built in the 1860's as part of the areas defences against foreign invaders, are a popular tourist attraction for the town. The forts were actually part of a wider set of defences which included forts on the mainland around the city although they were never used.

The gravelly beach at Southsea is popular, especially at low tide when the sand is exposed. Southsea is also home to two piers: the South Parade Pier and the Clarence Pier. A scenic walk was created to celebrate the millennium which starts at Southsea seafront and end at Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth. The route is marked on the pavement and is lined by distinctive blue lanterns.

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.

Ryde Guide

Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight and is often referred to as the "Gateway to the island" due to its prominent position along the shores of the island and its hovercraft and passenger ferry links to the English mainland. Visitors to the town enjoy its lovely sandy beaches which stretch the length of the town, its boutique shops, museums and galleries. As the island's largest town it comes as no surprise to learn that it is also the venue for some of the island's largest annual events. For example, every August bank holiday thousands of scooter enthusiasts descend upon the town for the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, and just a few weeks later the town's esplanade can be seen draped in classic cars for the International Classic Car Show. Ryde is also home to one of the United Kingdom's oldest carnivals which usually takes place at the end of the summer and forms the end of the Isle of Wight carnival season which travels all over the island. Ryde’s collection of late night bars and clubs also tend to make it one of the most popular spots for nightlife.