How to get to the Isle of Wight: What you should know

If you fancy some island fun and are wondering how to get to the Isle of Wight then you are in luck as several travel options are available for visiting this beautiful holiday destination.

Popular ways to travel to the Isle of Wight

There are a number of ways to travel to the Isle of Wight ferry crossing including going by train, coach, car or on foot. Journey times will obviously vary depending on where you depart from and how you are travelling. For example, if you opt to travel by coach from London, you can expect the journey to take around an hour and 40 minutes.

Regardless of which option you choose, you will still need to cross to the Isle of Wight via ferry. Hovertravel, Wightlink and Red Funnel offer ferry services to the island. Travel services are available from Lymington, Southampton and Portsmouth.

For ultimate speed go for Hovertravel

If you’re after the quickest passenger-only service, opt for Hovertravel (pictured above). This hovercraft route takes less than ten minutes to reach the island from Southsea in Portsmouth. Hovertravel operates every day of the week with numerous services each day. Standard day return tickets for adults cost £16.50 and for children they cost £8.50.  

Southampton to the island via Red Funnel

Red Funnel has two routes to accommodate passengers only and passengers plus vehicles if you decide to take your car, both leaving from Southampton. The passenger service takes about 23 minutes and operates every half hour, while the vehicle and passenger service takes about an hour and runs 24 hours a day. Standard passenger-only day tickets cost £22 for adults and £11 for children. Standard day tickets for the vehicle service are £15.30 for adults and £7.70 for children.

Portsmouth and Lymington via Wightlink

Wightlink offers ferry services on three routes leaving from Portsmouth and Lymington. A passenger service from Portsmouth takes about 22 minutes, while a vehicle and passenger service takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, travelling from Lymington on the vehicle and passenger service takes about half an hour.

Foot passenger day return tickets from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth cost £13.30 for adults and £6.70 for children and from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head cost £16.50 for adults and £8.30 for children. Fares for vehicle ferry services vary depending on whether you opt for standard or economy tickets and when you choose to travel. Usually they will be cheaper during the middle of the week and off-peak periods on Saturdays and Sundays.

Transport options for getting around the island

The Isle of Wight has a wide array of travel options to accommodate diverse travel requirements. If you have brought your car to the island, you can enjoy some very pleasant drives. If you’ve come on foot, you can make use of the numerous footpaths that provide a great way to get to know the island.

The Isle of Wight has a number of quiet roads and designated cycle paths that are ideal for visitors who are keen to explore on two wheels. You can either bring your own bike across via ferry or hire a bike on the island.

There is also public transport available in the form of bus services that travel across the island, as well as train services offered by Island Line trains. For particularly enchanting travel that will delight individuals and families alike, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway offers a fantastic way to enjoy the beautiful landscape while travelling in style.

Discovering the Isle of Wight made easy

Whether you decide to bring your car or opt to explore the Isle of Wight on foot, bicycle or using public transport, the great range of ferry services will help you to find a travel route that is just right for your needs so you can have a stress-free and exciting island adventure.