Isle of Wight Ferry Companies
Check prices & times »Three companies run ferries to the Isle of Wight across the Solent: Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel. Between them they cover car ferries and fast foot-passenger services from four mainland ports.
Each has its own ports and route types, so choosing a company usually means choosing your nearest port and whether you're taking a car. This page is a quick directory of who runs what.
Table of Contents
Isle of Wight operators at a glance
| Operator | Routes | More Info |
|---|---|---|
| Wightlink | Portsmouth–Fishbourne, Lymington–Yarmouth (car); Portsmouth–Ryde (FastCat) | Details » |
| Red Funnel | Southampton–East Cowes (car); Southampton–West Cowes (Red Jet) | Details » |
| Hovertravel | Southsea–Ryde (hovercraft) | — |
Wightlink
Details »Red Funnel
Details »Hovertravel
Wightlink
Wightlink is the largest Isle of Wight operator, running two car ferry routes — Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth — plus the Portsmouth to Ryde FastCat for foot passengers. Its flagship on the Portsmouth route is the environmentally friendly Victoria of Wight.
Read our full Wightlink guide »Red Funnel
Red Funnel runs the Southampton to East Cowes car ferry and the high-speed Red Jet catamaran from Southampton to West Cowes. It's the original Isle of Wight ferry company, and the Southampton routes connect well with the city's rail and bus network.
Read our full Red Funnel guide »Hovertravel
Hovertravel operates the Southsea to Ryde hovercraft — the fastest crossing to the island at around ten minutes, and a genuinely unusual way to travel. It's a foot-passenger service only, popular with commuters and day-trippers, with a hoverbus link to Portsmouth's transport connections.
Which company will I travel with?
Your operator depends on your nearest port and whether you're driving. Taking a car, it's Wightlink from Portsmouth or Lymington, or Red Funnel from Southampton. On foot, you can add Hovertravel's quick hovercraft from Southsea. Because the crossings are short and frequent, it's often worth comparing all the operators serving your route on price and timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the ferries to the Isle of Wight?
Three companies — Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel. Wightlink and Red Funnel run car ferries; all three run fast foot-passenger services.
Which companies carry cars to the Isle of Wight?
Wightlink (Portsmouth–Fishbourne and Lymington–Yarmouth) and Red Funnel (Southampton–East Cowes).
What is Hovertravel?
Hovertravel runs the Southsea to Ryde hovercraft, the fastest crossing to the island at around ten minutes, for foot passengers only.
Which company is best for foot passengers?
It depends on your port — Wightlink's FastCat from Portsmouth, Red Funnel's Red Jet from Southampton, or Hovertravel's hovercraft from Southsea.
Do the ferry companies have similar prices?
They have broadly similar pricing structures, so the best value often depends on your route, timing and how far ahead you book.