Ryde

Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight, and is situated on the north-east coast. It provides a catamaran ferry service from the pier (which is the second longest in the United Kingdom after Southend's) to Portsmouth. There is also a hovercraft ferry to Portsmouth when the sea is not too rough. The town grew in size as a seaside resort, but has become rather neglected over the past 20 years, with out-of-town supermarkets and Newport's growth in popularity as the main shopping town contributing to its decline.