Ryde Pier

Ryde Pier is a 680-meter wooden structure stretching into the Solent that connects the Isle of Wight to England's mainland. The pier accommodates both ferry services from Portsmouth and railway trains that run south toward Shanklin.

It was built in 1813 and opened in 1814, solving the problem of passengers having to wade through wet sand to reach the harbor. Over the following decades, the structure expanded to accommodate first tramways and later railway lines.

The pier's three parallel sections—the original promenade, a former tramway corridor, and the railway track—show how this place evolved to serve different types of travelers. Each part reflects a different era of how people moved to and from the island.

The pier is easy to navigate on foot and clearly marked for passengers moving between different transportation services. Weather conditions can affect access, so plan your visit around ferry schedules and consider timing for better conditions.

It hosts one of Britain's oldest continuously operating island railway stations, where trains depart directly from the ferry terminal. This direct ship-to-rail connection remains remarkably rare in modern British transportation.