Ryde - Isle of wight

Ryde Ryde is a British seaside town and the second largest urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde in the nineteenth century. The influence of this era is still strongly visible in the town's central and sea facing architecture.

Ryde Pier As a resort, the town is noted for its expansive sands that occur at low tide, making its pier necessary on the wide beach for a regular passenger service. Ryde Pier is a listed structure which is the fourth longest pier in the United Kingdom, and also the oldest. The hovercraft to Southsea operates from the esplanade close to Ryde Esplanade railway station and the bus station.

A catamaran service run by Isle of Wight Ferries company Wightlink operates from Ryde Pier to Portsmouth Harbour which connects with both Island Line trains and mainland trains to London Waterloo. The Island Line train service runs from Ryde Pier Head via Ryde Esplanade to Shanklin, a distance of 8½ miles - Britain's smallest railway franchise. A major bus interchange is situated between Ryde Pier and the Hover Terminal on the Esplanade with hourly departures and arrivals from all the Island's main towns and villages.

At one time Ryde had two separate piers; the other being the Victoria Pier, no longer in existence. Ryde has its own Inshore Rescue service which mostly has to deal with people becoming stranded on sandbanks as the incoming tide cuts them off from the shore.

Sited on the Esplanade is an ice rink and a pavilion, converted to house a night club and bowling alley feature on the esplanade, the former being the home of the Isle of Wight's ice-hockey team, the "Wightlink Raiders". Many bars, pubs and restaurants can be found on the Esplanade and on the town's main shopping street, Union Street.

The town has a fine live music venue at the Ryde Theatre. Ryde is noted for its carnivals. There are five throughout the year - an Arts Parade in June; Children's, Main and Illuminated processions at the end of August and a lantern Parade in December.