- Ryde Pier is in Isle of Wight, England.
- Oldest seaside pleasure pier in the world (1814)
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Ryde Pier
Ryde Pier is the oldest seaside pleasure pier in the world, opened in 1814, and remains in use as a combined promenade, pier tramway and hovercraft terminal. It is a remarkable survivor spanning the vast sands of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
The story of Ryde Pier
The pier was opened on 26 July 1814, designed by John Kent of Southampton and built by the Ryde Pier Company to allow passengers to reach the town at all states of the tide, since Ryde's beach dries out for nearly a mile at low water. The original wooden pier was extended in 1824 and again in 1832. A pier tramway was opened in 1864, one of the earliest pier railways in Britain, and the pier head hovercraft service to Southsea began in 1965. The pier was extensively rebuilt in the 20th century with separate decks for pedestrians, vehicles and the railway, and a major renovation was completed in 2011.
Visiting with care
Open year-round, the pier is free to walk and is also served by the Island Line railway which runs along it from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. The hovercraft terminal at the pier head offers a ten-minute crossing to Southsea, making the pier a working transport hub as well as a promenade.
Interesting facts
- The oldest seaside pleasure pier in the world, opened on 26 July 1814.
- Designed by John Kent of Southampton to reach the town at all states of the tide.
- One of the earliest pier railways, opened in 1864, still operates today.
- The pier head hovercraft service to Southsea began in 1965.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.