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The Isle of Wight is the United Kingdom’s largest island, located in the English county of Hampshire. It is popular for its mild climate, coastal scenery and green field landscape. Although the island is generally easy to find, you may have a difficult time getting there if you’re visiting for the first time. This article is for you if you want to know how to get to the Isle of Wight.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to get there from various cities in England. We’ll also go over the cheapest transportation options and explain everything you need to know about travelling around the island.
You have a lot of choices for Isle of Wight travel, and we’ll explore the different options here.
By Ferry
The easiest way to get to the Isle of Wight is by boarding a ferry across the Solent.
Portsmouth
Board a Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, a train station in the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and arrive in 22 minutes. You can board connecting trains from this train station to small towns such as Brading, Sundown and Shanklin. You can also take a 45-minute direct Wightlink ferryboat from Portsmouth Harbour to Fisbourne on the Isle of Wight. Check out Wightlink’s timetables.
Bicycles can travel for free with foot passengers on all Wightlink ferries.
Southampton
Red Funnel, a ferryboat company in Southampton, offers catamarans and car ferries from Southampton to Cowes.
The catamaran service runs from Terminal 2, Town Quay, Southampton, to West Cowes in a travel time of 25 minutes. It is ideal for business and leisure trips and only transports people.
The vehicle ferry, on the other hand, will sail you and your vehicle from Terminal 1, Dock Gate 7, to East Cowes in 55 minutes. Red Funnel’s timetables are here.
Lymington
Wightlink also offers a regular car and passenger ferry that gets you from Lymington car ferry terminal to the Isle of Wight in 40 minutes.
The route will take you through the mouth of the Lymington River and past Hurst Castle, providing spectacular views of the Solent on the way to the island.
By Hovercraft
Hovertravel offers speedy hovercrafts that get you from Southsea to the beach at Ryde on the Isle of Wight in journey times of only 10 minutes. You can take a train from Ryde Esplanade train station to other island parts. See Hovertravel’s timetables.
Tip: Reduce travel costs to the Isle of Wight by avoiding visits during peak season, especially in July and August.
Flights To The Isle Of Wight
There are no commercial flights to the Isle of Wight. However, you can fly private aircraft to the isle. The Isle of Wight has two airport facilities. One is at Sandown, and the other is at Bembridge.
Sandown Airport is open all year round from 09:00 to 17:00 local time. Bembridge opens from 09:30 to 16:30 in summer and 10:00 to 15:30 in winter on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Transportation Links To The Ports
There are trains and public transport buses that connect you from major UK airports and cities to the ports, where you can board ferries and hovercrafts to the Isle of Wight.
For example, you can board a bus from Wandsworth Police Station to the Hard Interchange in Portsmouth before taking the ferry to Ryde Pier Head.
Alternatively, there is a train that connects you from Charing Cross station to Waterloo station and from London Waterloo, you can board another train to Portsmouth Harbour before taking the ferryboat to Fishbourne IOW Ferry Terminal in Ryde.
The Isle of Wight offers various accommodation options, from luxurious hotels to cottages and campsites.
Coming from Glasgow, you can take a train from Glasgow Central to London, where you can find connecting trains from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton Central or Lymington.
You can also get trains and buses from other major cities, such as Birmingham and Manchester, to Southampton, Portsmouth or Lymington.
Furthermore, both Southampton and Portsmouth have airports, so you can take a direct flight from other cities before crossing the Solent on a ferry.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Get To The Isle Of Wight?
The cheapest way to get to the Isle of Wight is by boarding a Red Funnel car ferry. Red Funnel’s foot passenger ticket prices start at £12.00 for adults, £7.60 for seniors and £6.00 for children. Ticket prices to the Isle of Wight vary depending on how early you book and the time you intend to visit.
If you book your tickets early, you’ll pay less than someone who buys a last-minute ticket. Also, the Isle of Wight gets the most visitors in the summer, so ticket prices tend to be higher then. A single sailing ticket for a foot passenger to the isle with Wightlink starts at £16.20 for adults.
Red Funnel also offers Red Jet Hi-Speed Service, with ticket prices starting at £20.75 for seniors, £13.70 for adults and £10.35 for children. The Red Jet Hi-Speed uses a small catamaran to transport foot passengers faster to the Isle of Wight.
Hire a premium car from SDVH and travel in style around the Isle of Wight. We also offer economy car options for customers on a budget.
Travelling Around The Isle Of Wight
There are a range of options for getting around the Isle of Wight, ranging from cycling to buses, trains and cars.
- Cycling: The English south coast island has several trails that are great for cycling, and some companies offer cycle hire services.
- Bus: Southern Vectis operates a public transport service that takes you to various areas of the island. Regular buses run between the main towns and resorts until late, while services to more rural areas operate throughout the day.
- Train: The isle has a train service from Ryde Pier Head to the East Coast and down to Shanklin. This train links with Ryde passenger ferryboat services, providing a thorough service from London Waterloo.
- Car: You can bring in your car using any of the vehicle ferry services and drive around the isle. Also, many taxis can get you across various areas.
Tip: You can only get free parking in a few areas on the Isle of Wight, so take note of that if you’re bringing your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Easiest Way To Get To The Isle Of Wight?
The easiest way to get to the Isle of Wight is by ferry or hovercraft. Wightlink offers car ferry services that get you to the island from Portsmouth Harbour or Lymington. Red Funnel offers Isle of Wight ferry and catamaran services from Southampton to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. You can also travel on hovercraft, going from Southsea to Hyde with Hovertravel.
Which UK Airports Fly To The Isle Of Wight?
No UK airport flies to the Isle of Wight. You can’t take a commercial flight from any part of the UK directly to the island. Most people travelling to the Isle of Wight go by ferry. However, you can fly a private aircraft to the island. The Isle of Wight has two airports, one in Sandown and the other in Bembridge.
Do You Need A Car To Go To The Isle Of Wight?
You do not need a car to go to the Isle of Wight. Although a car makes your journey more convenient, there are several other ways to get to this beautiful island. You can take a train from major cities in England to Southampton and Portsmouth, where you can board foot passenger ferries or hovercrafts to the Isle of Wight.
Can You Make A Day Trip To The Isle Of Wight?
Can You Make A Day Trip To The Isle Of Wight?
Yes, you can make a day trip to the Isle of Wight. Both Red Funnel and Wightlink offer single-day return services for their ferries. Wightlink’s ferries depart from Portsmouth Harbour and the Lymington car ferry terminal, while Red Funnel’s ferries and catamarans leave from Southampton. However, it’s worth noting that you need more than a day to explore all the attractions on the Isle of Wight.
What Is The Best Way To Travel Around The Isle Of Wight?
The best way to travel around the Isle of Wight is by car. You can transport your car to the island using any of the vehicle ferry services and drive around as you please. The Isle of Wight also has effective forms of public transportation, such as buses, taxis and trains.
Conclusion
You now know how to get to the Isle of Wight if you have followed the guide to this point. Getting to the island is easy, and you have different options, from a catamaran and a car ferry to a hovercraft or even private aircraft. Don’t forget to book your tickets early if you want to travel by ferry to get the best prices.
