Travel to the Isle of Wight
The usual way to travel to the Isle of Wight from the mainland is by ferry across the Solent as there are no bridges linking the two. For the more extravagant visitor, there is the option of chartering a light aircraft to one of the two small airports on the Island. The main one is at Sandown, which has two grass runways, the other at Bembridge, which has a hard surfaced runway. However, for the vast majority, sea travel is the only choice of travel to the Isle of Wight. The ferries run regularly during the day and night, leaving and arriving to and from several locations. See below for details of the Isle of Wight ferry services.
Wightlink
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries operates a round-the-clock service between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. They run every day of the year on three routes across the Solent and sail up to 230 times a day. Portsmouth to Ryde catamaran: 18 minutes (foot passengers only) Portsmouth to Fishbourne: 40 minutes (vehicles & foot passengers) (From London by train: London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour) (From London by coach: National Express coach from Victoria Coach Station to Portsmouth - The Hard Interchange) Lymington to Yarmouth: 30 minutes (vehicles & foot passengers) (From London by train: London Waterloo to Lymington Pier).
Red Funnel
Red Funnel ferry services sail around the clock, 364 days a year between Southampton and East and West Cowes, the home of world yacht racing. Southampton (Terminal 1) to East Cowes: 55 minutes (vehicles & foot passengers) Southampton (Terminal 2) to West Cowes: 22 minutes (foot passengers only) (From London by train: London Waterloo to Southampton. There is a free frequent CityLink bus service between the train station and ferry terminals) (From London by coach: London Waterloo to Southampton. There is a free frequent CityLink bus service between the train station and ferry terminals).
Hovertravel
Hovertravel provide the fastest ferry travel to the Isle of Wight for foot passengers.
Southsea to Ryde: 10 minutes: (foot passengers only)
(From London by train: London Waterloo to Portsmouth And Southsea station)
(From London by coach: Victoria Coach Station to Southsea - Clarence Pier)