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15 Things To Do In Ryde On The Isle Of Wight (2024 Guide)
**Wightlink's foot passenger deals: Kids Go Free during 2024 holidays + Afternoon return for £15.60**
I didn't used to like Ryde all that much. We never fell out publicly or had a spat on Twitter/X, but I would always recommend other Isle of Wight towns first.
Now we've had toddlers we've realised the town offers quite a few things to do and attractions, many of which are free.
If you're looking for places to stay, there are more than 40 self-catering holiday homes in Ryde on Hoseasons and a few more on HolidayCottages.co.uk.
If you'd prefer a hotel, there's a Travelodge in Ryde as well as hotels with sea views such as Royal Esplanade Hotel and Ryde Castle Hotel.
If you're looking for a holiday park or lodges with hot tubs then Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and Nodes Point Holiday Park are not too far away.
Anyway, here are 15 days out in Ryde:
Now we've had toddlers we've realised the town offers quite a few things to do and attractions, many of which are free.
If you're looking for places to stay, there are more than 40 self-catering holiday homes in Ryde on Hoseasons and a few more on HolidayCottages.co.uk.
If you'd prefer a hotel, there's a Travelodge in Ryde as well as hotels with sea views such as Royal Esplanade Hotel and Ryde Castle Hotel.
If you're looking for a holiday park or lodges with hot tubs then Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and Nodes Point Holiday Park are not too far away.
Anyway, here are 15 days out in Ryde:
Confusingly, this photo wasn't taken in Ryde (it was taken in Ventnor)
1. Appley beach (free)
Appley is probably the Isle of Wight's best beach for ball games and kite flying as it is big enough that you won't be constantly retrieving your football from a disgruntled sunbather.
The sand near the Esplanade makes a good effort to appear golden on a sunny day, whilst the soggier sand goes half way out to the Solent at low tide.
Most people park in the big car park in Appley Park, but we prefer to park in Puckpool Park (PO34 5AR) and wander past the Dell Café. There's not a lot of free parking around, but we've got a few suggestions in our free and cheap parking guide.
The sand near the Esplanade makes a good effort to appear golden on a sunny day, whilst the soggier sand goes half way out to the Solent at low tide.
Most people park in the big car park in Appley Park, but we prefer to park in Puckpool Park (PO34 5AR) and wander past the Dell Café. There's not a lot of free parking around, but we've got a few suggestions in our free and cheap parking guide.
Appley beach is golden brown, texture like sand
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This is the view from the Dell Cafe, which you can reach via Puckpool Park
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2. Ryde Pier and trainline
It's not exactly a full day out but those who feel nostalgia isn't what it once was will enjoy a stroll up Ryde Pier. Pier fans won't need me to tell them that it is the second longest pier in Britain (Southend is the longest) and it is also the oldest in the country at 200+ years. Ryde Pier doesn't have a lot to do on it, it is mostly just a railway station and ferry port.
For an added adventure, catch the Isle of Wight's only 'modern' train. For many years the carriages were old London Underground Northern Line trains, but they were replaced with more modern stock in 2021 (Ed: move along, this is getting tedious).
If you still want the authentic Northern Line experience try sticking your armpit in a stranger's face whilst avoiding eye contact with the other passengers.
Enthusiasts can find one of the old carriages at the excellent Isle of Wight Steam Railway in their Train Story museum.
For an added adventure, catch the Isle of Wight's only 'modern' train. For many years the carriages were old London Underground Northern Line trains, but they were replaced with more modern stock in 2021 (Ed: move along, this is getting tedious).
If you still want the authentic Northern Line experience try sticking your armpit in a stranger's face whilst avoiding eye contact with the other passengers.
Enthusiasts can find one of the old carriages at the excellent Isle of Wight Steam Railway in their Train Story museum.
Ryde's pier is worth a peer
3. Bowling alley and LaserQuest
Ryde's bowling alley and laser quest offer indoors entertainment for a rainy day at a similar sort of price and are probably best suited for teenagers and older children (or adults who never quite grew up, like me).
The laser quest is inside the bowling alley.
The laser quest is inside the bowling alley.
4. Ryde cinema and bingo hall
Cinemas nowadays are either vast multiplexes with huge screens and £6 popcorn or they are somewhat outdated buildings which rely on charm over comfort. Ryde's small cinema definitely has charm, plus it is generally cheap (£4 last time I checked, 2024). The smaller screen may only be slightly bigger than your neighbours new 4k OLED TV, but it is a nice place to hide on a cold or wet day.
Old fashioned cinematic fun in Ryde (observant readers may notice the price has changed...)
Looking for accommodation in Ryde? Try self catering cottages from Hoseasons or HolidayCottages.co.uk
5. Waterside pool
On Ryde Esplanade you'll find the community run Waterside swimming pool. It is a fairly basic setup with one main pool and no flumes, but it does have nice warm water and a roof that opens up on a sunny day. When we went it wasn't quite as busy as usual public pools where you end up getting kicked by other swimmers or splashed by oiks.
Read our blog about the visit to the Waterside.
Read our blog about the visit to the Waterside.
The Waterside's top comes off on sunny days, much like an overweight football fan on holiday
6. Walks around Ryde
If you want a decent length walk in the Ryde area then I wouldn't plod around the town, as large parts of it are residential and quite boring (Ed: don't oversell it...).
Instead, my suggestion is that you do the following:
In total, that route will be about 6.5 miles. There are a couple of cafes and pubs on route which you can stop at. The Old Fort in Seaview and The Dell Café in Appley are favourites, but there are other options.
If you want a longer walk, I would add on this National Trust walk which also includes Priory Bay and St Helens beach. If you want a shorter walk, just plod along to Seaview and back.
Instead, my suggestion is that you do the following:
- Start from Ryde Pier and walk east along the esplanade towards Appley Tower (the tower on the beach). The sea will be on your left.
- After about 1.5 miles on the coastal path you will reach Seaview, which is a posh part of the Isle of Wight with lots of big houses and yachty people.
- At this point, pick up the 3.5 mile 'Barnsley Trail', which does a circular route including Nettlestone.
- Retrace your steps back to Ryde pier.
In total, that route will be about 6.5 miles. There are a couple of cafes and pubs on route which you can stop at. The Old Fort in Seaview and The Dell Café in Appley are favourites, but there are other options.
If you want a longer walk, I would add on this National Trust walk which also includes Priory Bay and St Helens beach. If you want a shorter walk, just plod along to Seaview and back.
Head for Appley Tower and then follow the coastal path to Seaview
7. Ryde playgrounds, paddling pool and soft play
Another Ryde Esplanade attraction are two modern playgrounds. The one at the Appley end is the bigger one with slides galore and lots to do (and no swings bizarrely - my daughter was not impressed). There's a smaller playground near the Waterside Pool.
A third playground can be found at Puckpool Park, which is only a couple of minutes' walk from the seafront. This is probably our favourite one in the area, as it's got swings and a bit more space.
Older children and teenagers may prefer to chillax at the gnarly skate park near the bowling alley, dude.
If you need something to fill time during on a rainy day, you could head for Aspire Ryde which is a Christian community hub which has a soft play area called Kingdom Play. It's within a large church at PO33 2BN which puts on a number of other activities including a ukulele group and something called a prayer jam.
There used to be a paddling pool in Ryde, but it has been closed for a few years unfortunately.
A third playground can be found at Puckpool Park, which is only a couple of minutes' walk from the seafront. This is probably our favourite one in the area, as it's got swings and a bit more space.
Older children and teenagers may prefer to chillax at the gnarly skate park near the bowling alley, dude.
If you need something to fill time during on a rainy day, you could head for Aspire Ryde which is a Christian community hub which has a soft play area called Kingdom Play. It's within a large church at PO33 2BN which puts on a number of other activities including a ukulele group and something called a prayer jam.
There used to be a paddling pool in Ryde, but it has been closed for a few years unfortunately.
This good-sized playground in Appley has a sea view
8. Wight Karting
Wight Karting is the Isle of Wight's only high speed go-kart track. There are lower speed tracks for younger children elsewhere (such as one at Sandham Gardens) but if you want the proper stomach-churning, vroom-vrooming experience then you'll need to head to Westridge on the outskirts of Ryde.
It's near to the town's massive Tesco, although no-one has taken up my suggestion of combining the two attractions and allowing shoppers to collect their groceries in go-karts at 45 miles per hour.
They do family friendly sessions as well as sessions for teenagers and adults, which works very well.
Read the blog about my feeble attempts to beat a rival dad at Wight Karting.
It's near to the town's massive Tesco, although no-one has taken up my suggestion of combining the two attractions and allowing shoppers to collect their groceries in go-karts at 45 miles per hour.
They do family friendly sessions as well as sessions for teenagers and adults, which works very well.
Read the blog about my feeble attempts to beat a rival dad at Wight Karting.
Vrrrrrroooooooooooooooom!
9. Shopping
I've seen a tourism guide describe shopping in Ryde as 'elegant', which might be pushing it a bit. I tend to feel the elegance has gone as soon as Poundland opens in the High Street, but there is a good mix of independent and chain shops, as well as lots of charity shops. It is on a massive great hill with sea views, which turns shopping into a buttock hardening exercise.
Ryde has a pretty decent range of shops
10. Tree climbing
I know what you're thinking - tree climbing is hardly unique to Ryde. However, there is a company called Goodleaf that does organised tree climbing at a tree in Appley Park with things like ropes and a hammock at the top.
It costs about £30 - £40 depending on your age.
It costs about £30 - £40 depending on your age.
Appley Park is the tree climbing capital of the world...or at least of Ryde
11. Puckpool Park (free)
At the far end of the Esplanade, past Appley Tower is the free Puckpool Park which has a combination of sporty things (crazy golf and a decent playground), historic things (the remains of a fort to guard us against those pesky French) and edible things (Puckpool Tea Gardens).
You can either access it from the beach or drive through Seaview and park in the car park (PO34 5AR).
Puckpool Park previously hosted zombie themed events - well, why not?
You can either access it from the beach or drive through Seaview and park in the car park (PO34 5AR).
Puckpool Park previously hosted zombie themed events - well, why not?
In bloom Puckpool Park was nirvana for us when we played minigolf.
12. Isle of Wight bus museum (free)
You might think twice before dragging teenagers to a bus museum, although there was one boy at my school who absolutely adored buses and spent every journey chatting to the drivers about chassis numbers. Last time I saw him he was...a bus driver.
Anyway, the bus museum is led by enthusiastic volunteers and so isn't open every day, but it is free (at the time of writing). It's also indoors, so you'll find your interest in buses suddenly peaks on a rainy day.
Read the blog about our visit (only if you want to, I don't want to sound too pushy).
There are occasional events where the old buses drive around the Island.
Anyway, the bus museum is led by enthusiastic volunteers and so isn't open every day, but it is free (at the time of writing). It's also indoors, so you'll find your interest in buses suddenly peaks on a rainy day.
Read the blog about our visit (only if you want to, I don't want to sound too pushy).
There are occasional events where the old buses drive around the Island.
Definitely a bus of some sort at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum
13. Game On Arcade
Game On arrived in 2023 as one of those games arcades where you pay upfront and can then play on any machine. It costs about £10 per person for a 90 minute session.
For me, this is the equivalent of opening a sweet shop and challenging me to eat as much as I can in 90 minutes.
It isn't quite as vast as some mainland arcades but it has a good range of arcade games, as well as table football and table tennis.
For me, this is the equivalent of opening a sweet shop and challenging me to eat as much as I can in 90 minutes.
It isn't quite as vast as some mainland arcades but it has a good range of arcade games, as well as table football and table tennis.
14. Open Top Bus tour
If you prefer your buses to be moving, then you'll enjoy the Downs Breezer open top bus tour that covers Ryde and East Wight. There's another one for the West Wight called the Needles Breezer. My opinion is that the Needles Breezer is more scenic but the Downs Breezer is better at linking up popular attractions.
Open top buses are marvellous things that dramatically elevate the diesel-smelling-tedium of a bus journey. Children squeal, wigs fly into the Solent, low hanging branches whoosh past your head and a recording gives you little snippets of information. We've found that the Isle of Wight's open top bus tours are good on a hot day as they immediately lower the temperature by ten degrees.
The Downs Breezer has good views from Brading Down and links up a number of popular attractions including:
The bus tickets are valid for 24 hours and they are valid on all of the Isle of Wight's buses. Shrewd travellers do the Downs Breezer in an afternoon and then use the same ticket for the Needles Breezers on the following morning. It costs about £15 per person, or £37 for a group of five.
The Downs Breezer also stops at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in Bembridge and Nodes Point Holiday Park in St Helens, which are both popular places to stay.
Open top buses are marvellous things that dramatically elevate the diesel-smelling-tedium of a bus journey. Children squeal, wigs fly into the Solent, low hanging branches whoosh past your head and a recording gives you little snippets of information. We've found that the Isle of Wight's open top bus tours are good on a hot day as they immediately lower the temperature by ten degrees.
The Downs Breezer has good views from Brading Down and links up a number of popular attractions including:
- Quarr Abbey, which is a working monastery with a café, pigs, a woodland trail and free entry
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which is self explanatory, I would hope
- Sandown's seafront, which has a kiss-me-quick pier, a dinosaur museum, yet more bouncy nets, minigolf and a zoo called Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
The bus tickets are valid for 24 hours and they are valid on all of the Isle of Wight's buses. Shrewd travellers do the Downs Breezer in an afternoon and then use the same ticket for the Needles Breezers on the following morning. It costs about £15 per person, or £37 for a group of five.
The Downs Breezer also stops at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in Bembridge and Nodes Point Holiday Park in St Helens, which are both popular places to stay.
The Downs Breezer cover the east side of the Isle of Wight
15. Ryde Escape Room
There are a couple of escape rooms on the Isle of Wight. Ryde's escape room opened in 2021 and is suitable for adults or children aged 8+.
It's called The Lost Crypt and it has the added quirk of being within an actual church crypt, rather than on an industrial estate. It's part of a charity called Aspire.
The idea is to solve a mystery about a real-life piece of history about an 18th century doctor. It costs £20-£30 and takes about an hour.
It's called The Lost Crypt and it has the added quirk of being within an actual church crypt, rather than on an industrial estate. It's part of a charity called Aspire.
The idea is to solve a mystery about a real-life piece of history about an 18th century doctor. It costs £20-£30 and takes about an hour.
16. Catch the Hovercraft
OK, OK, this might sound a little crazy. After all, you've paid handsomely to catch a ferry to get to the Isle of Wight so getting on another ferry might not be all that appealing.
However, the Isle of Wight's Hovercraft, run by Hovertravel, is now more than 50 years old and is the 'only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in Europe'. There are often offers and deals available from Hovertravel such as family day returns.
However, the Isle of Wight's Hovercraft, run by Hovertravel, is now more than 50 years old and is the 'only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in Europe'. There are often offers and deals available from Hovertravel such as family day returns.
17. Ryde Carnival (Free)
I've not included events in this list because it is a bit annoying if you arrive and find you've just missed the biggest night in the town's year...
However, I'll make an exception for Ryde Carnival, which is the UK's oldest and was once attended by Queen Victoria. She was apparently a massive fan of blokes selling helium Disney balloons and tractors pulling a trailer full of lightbulbs.
There's a main carnival, an illuminated one and a children's carnival.
Ryde also hosts the Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally among other events.
However, I'll make an exception for Ryde Carnival, which is the UK's oldest and was once attended by Queen Victoria. She was apparently a massive fan of blokes selling helium Disney balloons and tractors pulling a trailer full of lightbulbs.
There's a main carnival, an illuminated one and a children's carnival.
Ryde also hosts the Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally among other events.
18. Monkton Arts
Artsy people will enjoy a visit to Monkton Arts, which is not far from the seafront in Ryde.
It's a nice family-run café that also has an art gallery, which changes exhibitions every couple of weeks. They regularly have music nights with café-type music (i.e. jazz and folksy stuff rather than hardcore death metal).
You can buy work by Isle of Wight artists and visit the studios where some of the local artists are based.
It's a nice family-run café that also has an art gallery, which changes exhibitions every couple of weeks. They regularly have music nights with café-type music (i.e. jazz and folksy stuff rather than hardcore death metal).
You can buy work by Isle of Wight artists and visit the studios where some of the local artists are based.
19. Ryde District Heritage Centre and Ryde Heritage Audio Trail
This volunteer run centre opened in 2011 and is underground in the Royal Victoria Arcade on Union Street, which is one of the more interesting parts of the town centre. It includes a collection of historic photos of Ryde, covering things such as the development of the hovercraft and steam trains.
In the same space you'll find the Donald McGill Museum, which is a collection of 'saucy seaside postcards'. Ooh er, missus!
History fans may also be interested in the Ryde Heritage Audio Trail. It features 17 stops with audio recordings about local history.
In the same space you'll find the Donald McGill Museum, which is a collection of 'saucy seaside postcards'. Ooh er, missus!
History fans may also be interested in the Ryde Heritage Audio Trail. It features 17 stops with audio recordings about local history.
20. Peter Pan's Funfair and Amusements
Yes, I know this is a top 15 guide and here we are well beyond that. Stop complaining. It's too late to change it now.
I can't help but imagine Michael Jackson operating the carousel at Neverland every time I go past Peter Pan's Funfair and Amusements on the seafront at Ryde. We've not been in, but it seems to be aimed at younger children (I would say pre-school or early years).
Peter Pan's gets mixed reviews, but it might fill a bit of time, and there is a crazy golf bit for older children and competitive dads. It is one of those places that insists you purchase tokens that you are then stuck with when it starts to rain.
I can't help but imagine Michael Jackson operating the carousel at Neverland every time I go past Peter Pan's Funfair and Amusements on the seafront at Ryde. We've not been in, but it seems to be aimed at younger children (I would say pre-school or early years).
Peter Pan's gets mixed reviews, but it might fill a bit of time, and there is a crazy golf bit for older children and competitive dads. It is one of those places that insists you purchase tokens that you are then stuck with when it starts to rain.
Amusements on the seafront in Ryde
A little further afield...Things to do near Ryde
If you decide to travel a little outside of Ryde, there are a few other noteworthy things in the East Wight.
There are some gorgeous beaches in the East Wight near Ryde, including:
See our beach guides for locations and more advice.
There are lots of attractions just outside Ryde town centre, including:
There are some gorgeous beaches in the East Wight near Ryde, including:
- Whitecliff Bay (accessible via a caravan park, lovely sandy beach, good for swimming, not many facilities)
- Bembridge Beach (nice rockpooling spot, Bembridge lifeboat station is free and worth a visit when it is open)
- St Helen's (shallow waters, pretty beach, home of Tackt-Isle which offers reasonably priced kayaking, standup paddleboarding, land yachting and other beachside sports)
- Priory Bay (shallow, golden sands, accessible by walking round from Seagrove Bay).
- Player's Beach (very quiet beach near woodland, some sand at low tide, not much beach at high tide, park near Holy Cross Church in Binstead and walk for 5 minutes)
See our beach guides for locations and more advice.
There are lots of attractions just outside Ryde town centre, including:
- Westridge Golf Centre (course and covered driving range)
- Isle of Wight Speedway (noisy bikes racing round in circles)
- Quarr Abbey (working monastery, free to visit, tours on some days, pigs and a good place to spot red squirrels on the woodland walk)
- John Cattle's Skate Club (community skateboarding club offering lessons to children and adults)
- Haven Falconry and Isle of Wight Steam Railway (separate attractions on the same site. Both get great reviews)
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