Ryde is one of the Island's principal towns and ferry ports, with regular catamaran and hovercraft services to the Mainland. Has a busy, bustling shopping centre and a sea front, which boasts a swimming pool, kiddies' funfair, bowling alley and an ice rink, along with a marina.

There is a pleasant walk along the seafront to Appley, and on to Puckpool, with some well-maintained, safe, sandy beaches on route. One of the more curious features of maritime Ryde is a mobile sandbank, which travels the length of the sea front and back over a period of time!