About Us
Travel to the Island
The Isle of Wight sits just off the south coast of England, separated from the mainland by the narrow waters of the Solent. For our boarders and commuting pupils, travel is straightforward and fast.
Ryde School itself occupies a beautiful 17-acre campus overlooking the Solent, positioned perfectly within the seaside town of Ryde.
The island’s key transport links are virtually on our doorstep:
- The Hovercraft: From Ryde, the hovercraft takes just 10 minutes to reach Portsmouth.
- The FastCat Ferry: A comfortable 20 minute cruise connects Ryde Pier directly to Portsmouth Harbour railway station with direct access to London.
- The WightLink Ferry: If you plan to bring your car you can travel from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, less than 10 minutes drive from the school. This 45 minute crossing runs hourly throughout the night as well.
- Mainland Rail & Air Access: Regular train services from Portsmouth reach central London in under 2 hours. Furthermore, we are within easy reach of London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, making international travel for holidays and half-terms simple and stress-free.
The admissions team are always available to help with travel arrangements but you can book direct with the transport companies:
Hover Travel
Red Funnel
WightLink
Places to Stay
There are many hotels and guest houses to stay close to the school but if you want to explore the island during your visit the Visit Isle of Wight website has a huge amount of hotels and information to help you plan your stay on our beautiful island. Our recommendations are the following:
A short taxi to Ryde School:
The Boathouse Pub www.theboathouseiow.co.uk
Seaview Hotel www.seaviewhotel.co.uk
Further afield and ideal if you bring your car to explore the island:
Luccombe Hall – Shanklin www.luccombehall.co.uk
The Albion Hotel – Freshwater www.thealbion.co.uk
The George Hotel – Yarmouth www.thegeorge.co.uk
