3 days ago
The pretty English train station on the edge of a Victorian seaside town pier which has reopened after 10 months
A UNIQUE floating train ride to the end of the UK's oldest pier is once again welcoming passengers aboard.
On the edge of Ryde Pier is a train station that is used to pick up passengers from ferries, which is why it 'floats' over the sea, and it's just reopened after 10 months of essential upgrades.
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Ryde's Victorian pier opened in 1814, and Ryde Pier Head first became a tramway station in 1864.
The tramway was at first horse-drawn, but it was electrified in 1886, making it one of the first electric tramways in the world and later it was developed into a train station.
In October 2024, the train station on the pier was closed in order to undergo renovation work.
Upgrades were undertaken to ensure the structure could hold new trains that would be added onto the route - for the first time in 30 years.
Lots of the track was replaced, steel barriers were installed, weather screens were put in, and it was freshened up with new paint.
The station was due to reopen in May 2025, but was delayed until early July 2025 after issues due to storms.
The station is a stop on the Island Line train service that operates between Ryde and Shanklin.
The journey offers incredible views, and doesn't cost much either - the one-stop trip from Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier costs £1.70 and takes two minutes.
Tickets from Ryde to the neighbouring town of Shanklin cost £3.90.
A pier train station isn't all the town has to offer - the seaside town is so charming that it was even the inspiration behind the Beatles song, Ticket to Ride.
The Mykonos-like beach restaurants in the Isle of Wight
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Paul McCartney said the title referred to "a British Railways ticket to the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight."
One of the most popular spots is Appley Beach - the coastline has long stretches of soft sand, a cafe and playground.
Visitors say that the beach gets even bigger at low tide making it ideal for kids and families.
And the stretch of beach nearest the village of Seaview is dog-friendly too.
One beachgoer wrote on Tripadvisor: "Lovely flat sandy beach for the kids to play without the worry of deep water and then the tide came in around 2-3pm and was so lovely, still super shallow."
On Appley Beach is a historic watchtower that used to be part of a sprawling family estate.
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The tower is right on the beach and formed part of the home of the Hutt family, who owned the Appley House in the late 1800s.
Ryde is great for shopping, with Union Street lined with boutiques, gift and souvenir shops.
If you continue walking, you'll reach Shanklin, which is actually the UK's sunniest town.
The town has, on average, the most hours of sunlight per day, according to a new study, looking at which places in the country are the safest bet for a warm day out.
The beach at Shanklin is one of the better-regarded stretches of shoreline on the Isle of Wight, with its traditional English seafront promenade adding to the seaside resort experience.
Here's more on why visitors say heading to the Isle of Wight is like 'going back in time'.
And where to find the best caravan spot on the island.
