Hovercraft to the Isle of Wight

The world's last commercial hovercraft service

The Hovertravel service between Southsea and Ryde on the Isle of Wight is the last remaining commercial hovercraft route in the world. The service has operated since 1965, carrying passengers across the Solent in approximately ten minutes. The terminal at Southsea sits at the western end of the seafront, near Clarence Pier.

The service uses AP1-88 hovercraft, which ride on a cushion of air and can operate regardless of tide height, unlike conventional ferries which require deep water. This makes the Southsea to Ryde crossing practical at all states of the tide, whereas the shallow waters and tidal range at this point in the Solent would make a conventional ferry service difficult.

Services run throughout the day, roughly every thirty minutes, though frequency varies by season. Tickets can be bought online, at the terminal, or on the day. The hovercraft carries foot passengers and bicycles but not cars. For car transport to the Isle of Wight, the Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth Harbour or the Red Funnel service from Southampton are the main options.

Watching the hovercraft depart is a Southsea experience in itself. The craft rises on its air cushion with a rush of spray and engine noise, then accelerates across the water at speed. The terminal area also includes information about the history of hovercraft technology. The Isle of Wight is visible from most of Southsea's seafront, and the hovercraft crossing provides the quickest way to reach it.