When we think of a classic British seaside, we often picture those quintessential Victorian piers with their vibrant decorative signs, the sound of 2p machines and the aroma of hot doughnuts. There are thought to be around 60 piers still lining the shores across England today, yet one stands out as the oldest, boasting some rather unusual features that visitors have long praised.
Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight is the oldest in the UK, holding Grade II status since its opening in 1814. It was originally 1,740ft in length, but it has since expanded to a whopping 2,305ft, making it the second-longest pier in the UK, following Southend Pier in Essex, which extends to 1.33 miles.
While Ryde Pier might not boast amusement arcades and fairground rides, its characteristics are much more striking as it has its own railway line. After it first opened, the pier underwent several extensions and expansions, which saw it welcome a tramway pier in 1864 and a railway pier in 1880.
The dedicated rail line runs along the entire length of Ryde Pier, connecting the town to Shanklin on the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth on the mainland. Interestingly, the unique railway uses refurbished 1938 London Underground trains and the train station is situated at the end of the pier.
As it serves as a train station, there’s also a car park located at the end of the pier, another unusual feature of a pier from the Victorian era. Many locals use this as an efficient mode of public transport, while some visitors ride the train or drive along the pier as part of the experience.
One visitor shared on TripAdvisor: « How weird to drive along a pier!!! Never driven along a pier before, so because you can we did!!! 10 miles an hour maximum speed gives you plenty of time to drive & take in the views. Another visit to Ryde & we’ll walk it (ran out of time this visit). »
A second shared: « Cool experience driving above the sea! A nice view out towards the surrounding area. A bonus was seeing the hovercraft speeding across the water onto land! »
« How bizarre! We’d never driven onto a pier before visiting. It’s an active working railway station with a car park and a ferry port, and boasts being one of the longest piers in the UK (I think?) It was a bit of a must-see, to be honest. Not sure what we were expecting – walked along and back, and then drove on and back – just because we could! », a third shared.
One more added: « What an amazing pier. Has to be one of the most interesting in the UK. Not only for pedestrians, but also for cars and a train. We walked out to the train station that connects to small boats for passage to the mainland. It is also well-maintained. »
One visitor noted that the pier is also a great location to capture the sunset: « We visited this pier at sunset in the summer, and the views were beautiful. It was so peaceful and calm, and was a nice quiet walk. »
Another agreed and said: « Plenty going on here with the railway station, the Hoverport and the great views of the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour. We sat admiring the views, soaking up the sunshine, eating freshly cooked doughnuts from the stall on the pier. »
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