Ferries to the Isle of Wight
Check prices & times »The Isle of Wight sits just off England's south coast, across the Solent, and it's one of the busiest ferry destinations in the UK — with frequent, short crossings all day. Three operators run the routes: Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.
There are car ferries and faster foot-passenger services, from four mainland ports. As it's a domestic trip you won't need a passport, and crossings are short — the quickest takes just ten minutes. This guide covers all the routes and how to choose.
Isle of Wight ferry routes
| Route | Operator | Type | Crossing Time | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lymington–Yarmouth | Wightlink | car ferry | ~30–40 min | View » |
| Portsmouth–Fishbourne | Wightlink | car ferry | ~45 min | View » |
| Southampton–East Cowes | Red Funnel | car ferry | ~55–60 min | View » |
| Portsmouth–Ryde Pier | Wightlink | foot (FastCat) | ~22 min | View » |
| Southampton–West Cowes | Red Funnel | foot (Red Jet) | ~28 min | View » |
| Southsea–Ryde | Hovertravel | foot (hovercraft) | ~10 min | View » |
Three car ferry routes and three fast foot-passenger services, run by Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel. See our full routes guide for detail on each.
Table of Contents
Car ferries vs foot passenger services
The routes split into two types:
- • Car ferries: Wightlink (Lymington–Yarmouth and Portsmouth–Fishbourne) and Red Funnel (Southampton–East Cowes) carry vehicles and foot passengers
- • Foot passenger services: the faster catamarans and hovercraft — Wightlink's FastCat, Red Funnel's Red Jet and Hovertravel's hovercraft — for quick crossings without a car
- • Note: you can't stay in your car during the crossing; all passengers travel in the lounges or on deck
The operators
Three companies run the crossings:
- • Wightlink: two car ferry routes (Lymington and Portsmouth) plus the Portsmouth–Ryde FastCat
- • Red Funnel: the Southampton–East Cowes car ferry and the Southampton–West Cowes Red Jet
- • Hovertravel: the Southsea–Ryde hovercraft, the fastest crossing at around ten minutes
Which route should you take?
With so many crossings, your choice comes down to your nearest port and whether you're driving:
- • Taking a car, West Wight: Lymington–Yarmouth, the quickest car crossing
- • Taking a car, near Portsmouth: Portsmouth–Fishbourne
- • Taking a car, from the west: Southampton–East Cowes
- • On foot, fastest: the Southsea–Ryde hovercraft, or the Portsmouth–Ryde FastCat with rail links both ends
- • For Cowes on foot: the Southampton Red Jet
Do you need a passport?
No — the Isle of Wight is part of England, so travelling there is a domestic journey and no passport is required. You'll just need your ferry ticket.
Crossings are short and frequent, and bikes travel free if you're a foot passenger on the car ferries, making the island very easy to reach for a day trip or a longer stay.
Explore Isle of Wight ferries
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to the Isle of Wight by ferry?
By car ferry from Lymington, Portsmouth or Southampton, or by fast foot-passenger service from Portsmouth, Southampton or Southsea. Operators are Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel.
What's the fastest ferry to the Isle of Wight?
The Hovertravel hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde, at around ten minutes — the quickest crossing.
Which is the quickest car ferry?
Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth crossing, at around 30 to 40 minutes.
Do I need a passport for the Isle of Wight?
No — it's part of England, so travel is domestic and no passport is needed.
Can I take my car to the Isle of Wight?
Yes — Wightlink (Lymington and Portsmouth) and Red Funnel (Southampton) run car ferries. You travel in the lounges, not your car, during the crossing.
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