Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight.

Their width means the regular ferry service to the mainland requires a long listed pier – the fourth longest in the United Kingdom, and the oldest surviving.

[2] In 1782 numerous bodies of men, women and children from HMS Royal George, which sank suddenly at Spithead, were washed ashore at Ryde.

[4] Up until the pier was opened in 1814, ferry passengers landing at low tide were brought almost half a mile into the shore by horse and cart.

[6] The town's large and long esplanade area has always been an attraction for tourists, especially those day-tripping from the mainland, as the amenities are all available by walking from the pier.

Ryde has its own inshore rescue service, which mostly deals with people stranded on sandbanks as the incoming tide cuts them off from the shore.

The pier is also a feature on the 67-mile (108 km) Isle of Wight Coastal Path, which is marked with blue signs bearing a white seagull.

It is tidal and dries out at low water, hence it is more suitable for smaller sailing (bilge keel) and motor cruisers.

Holy Trinity Church closed in January 2014 and the building became the Aspire Ryde community centre.

It was constructed in 1827 as a proprietary chapel and continues to be active, with services at 10:30am and 6:30pm each Sunday and a range of youth and mid-week groups.

The town's Roman Catholic church, St Mary's in High Street, was built in 1846 at a cost of £18,000, provided by Elizabeth, Countess of Clare.

[8][9][10] Ryde Castle, situated on the Esplanade, was built about 1840 as a private house in crenellated style and is now a hotel.

The former is no longer open to the public, and the Isle of Wight's ice-hockey team, the Wightlink Raiders, has disbanded.