One ticket each.
Everyone buys a ticket from their own station to Ryde Pier Head. It covers the train and the FastCat, so there is no ferry to book and nobody needs a car.
Getting here, RT Café Grill, Ryde
Train, boat, table.
London Waterloo to the Ryde seafront in a little over two hours, on one ticket. Three taps and the whole day is planned: the train, the boat, the table, and the way home.
Three taps to the table.
1 Where are you starting?
2 Which day?
3 Lunch or dinner?
Your day
Your day.
Your moves 0 of 3 done
All set. See you in Ryde.
Every step of the day
Train times are from National Rail and boat times from Wightlink and Hovertravel, as timetabled to mid-December 2026. Check the day you travel.
Make a night of it
Places to stay.
Three hotels a few minutes’ walk from the restaurant, or see every room free in Ryde for your night.
- Royal Esplanade Hotel On the Esplanade. 01983 562549
- Ryde Castle Hotel On the Esplanade, by the harbour. 01983 563755
- Yelf’s Hotel On Union Street, in the middle of town.
Taxi. Ryde Taxis, 01983 811111. There is a rank on the Esplanade by the station. From the pier, the hovercraft and these hotels, it’s a short walk.
Bringing a group.
For anyone organising colleagues, clients or a family party from the mainland.
One plan to send.
Plan the day above in three taps, then send it round. Each guest gets the train, the boat, the walk, the address and a calendar entry.
A room of your own.
The Cellar has two private dining rooms beneath the restaurant, for 8 to 36 guests. Tables of up to 10 book online; for 11 or more, call 01983 526118.
Three ways over.
Royal Maritime House, 17 St Thomas Street, Ryde, PO33 2DL. Get directions.
By FastCat.
From Portsmouth Harbour, at the end of the railway platforms, to Ryde Pier Head. Foot passengers only.
- Crossing
- About 22 minutes
- From Portsmouth
- Quarter past the hour by day
- From Ryde
- Quarter to the hour by day
- Last boat back
- 23:10
By hovercraft.
From Southsea to Ryde Esplanade, landing on the beach a short walk from the restaurant. The Hoverbus meets trains at Portsmouth & Southsea station. It suits lunch.
- Crossing
- About 10 minutes
- From Southsea
- Half past the hour by day
- Last flight back
- 18:30 (winter, to 31 March 2027)
By car.
Wightlink’s car ferry from Portsmouth lands at Fishbourne, a short drive from Ryde. We don’t have on-site guest parking.
- Parking
- Two large public car parks within a two-minute walk
- Nearest
- Directly opposite the restaurant
- On the mainland
- Gunwharf Quays by the FastCat
The practical bits.
Anything else, call the team on 01983 526118.
How do I get to Ryde from London?
Take the train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour. The FastCat leaves from the same station and reaches Ryde Pier Head in about 22 minutes. A rail ticket to Ryde Pier Head covers the train and the boat. Door to pier takes a little over two hours.
Can I do it as a day trip from London?
Yes, for lunch. The 09:30 or 10:30 from Waterloo has you at Ryde Pier Head at 11:37 or 12:37, and boats and trains run back through the afternoon and evening. For dinner, the planner above shows whether a train gets you home; if not, stay the night.
How far is the restaurant from the boat?
The FastCat comes in at the end of Ryde pier. Walk the pier in about 10 minutes, or take the Island Line one stop to Ryde Esplanade, and the restaurant is a few minutes from there. The hovercraft lands at Ryde Esplanade itself.
What time is the last boat back?
The last FastCat from Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour leaves at 23:10, every day. The last hovercraft back to Southsea leaves at 18:30 on the winter timetable, which runs to 31 March 2027. Timetables change with the seasons, so check the day you travel.
Where can we stay?
There are hotels on the Esplanade and Union Street, a few minutes’ walk from the restaurant, and rooms and houses to rent in the town. The planner above opens the rooms free for your night.
Is there a taxi?
Ryde Taxis are on 01983 811111, and there is a rank on the Esplanade by the station. From the pier or the hovercraft you won’t need one: it’s a short walk.
Is there parking?
We don’t have on-site guest parking. There are two large public car parks within a two-minute walk, one directly opposite the restaurant.
Can I bring the car over?
Yes. Wightlink’s car ferry from Portsmouth lands at Fishbourne, a short drive from Ryde. Red Funnel’s from Southampton lands at East Cowes, on the other side of the Island.