Ryde calls itself the
gateway to the Isle of Wight, and it certainly provides
the fastest communication to and from the mainland. It
is also one of the Island's most popular resorts, with
elegant houses and shops, a wealth of entertainment, six
miles of safe and sandy beaches and a rather grand esplanade
and promenade. It is now the Island's largest town, having
a population of about 30,000.
A regular ferry service with Portsmouth was set up in
1805, but as it was dependent on sail the crossing time
was erratic. Disembarkation was also sometimes a problem,
for at low tides the ships had to anchor off-shore, and
passengers were taken ashore by horse and cart, or if
they were in a particular hurry might be carried piggyback
by members of the crew. This practice ceased in 1815,
when the pier was opened, and in 1825 a regular steam
packet service was inaugurated, bringing the crossing
time down to about 35 minutes.
Today Wightlink can get you from Ryde to Portsmouth Harbour
in 15 minutes by the 400-seater catamaran.
Portsmouth is Britain's
best connected ferry port, and a highly successful multi-user
port which welcomes cruise ships and freighters as well
as luxury cruise ferries, fast craft and an up to date
passenger ferries. Sail from Portsmouth and there's a
choice of five continental destination ports and two in
the Channel Islands.
Some 3.4 million people travel through Portsmouth Continental
Ferry Port each year, attracted by the excellent road
links that Portsmouth has with the rest of the UK.
Book
Ryde Portsmouth ferries with these Ferry Operators:
If you are looking for
information on Ryde to Portsmouth
passenger ferries then please visit the Ryde
to Portsmouth Ferries page on our passenger site.
