The ferry to the Isle of Wight takes between about 10 minutes and an hour, depending on the route. The hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde is the quickest at about 10 minutes. Wightlink's FastCat to Ryde takes 22 minutes and Red Funnel's Red Jet to West Cowes 28 minutes. The car ferries are slower: 40 minutes from Lymington to Yarmouth, 45 minutes from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and about an hour from Southampton to East Cowes.
Crossing times comparedSection titled Crossing times compared
| Route | Operator | Carries | Crossing | Check in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southsea – Ryde | Hovertravel | Foot passengers | About 10 min | At least 10 min before; at the gate 5 min before |
| Portsmouth Harbour – Ryde Pier Head | Wightlink FastCat | Foot passengers | 22 min | 15 min before |
| Southampton – West Cowes | Red Funnel Red Jet | Foot passengers | From 28 min | 5 to 15 min before |
| Lymington – Yarmouth | Wightlink | Vehicles and foot passengers | 40 min | Vehicles 30 min; foot 15 min |
| Portsmouth – Fishbourne | Wightlink | Vehicles and foot passengers | 45 min | Vehicles 30 min; foot 15 min |
| Southampton – East Cowes | Red Funnel | Vehicles and foot passengers | 55 min to about 1 hour | Vehicles 30 to 60 min; foot 10 to 60 min |
Crossing times are the operators' own published figures, checked in October 2026. They are scheduled times: sailings can run late or be cancelled in bad weather, so check each operator's live service status on the day.
Foot passenger routesSection titled Foot passenger routes
Hovertravel: Southsea to RydeSection titled Hovertravel: Southsea to Ryde
The hovercraft is the fastest way across. Hovertravel says the service "takes approximately 10 minutes", running from Clarence Pier in Southsea to Ryde, next to Ryde Esplanade station. If you're coming by train, South Western Railway's combined tickets use Portsmouth & Southsea station and the HoverBus to the hovercraft terminal.
Hovertravel advises arriving at least 10 minutes before your crossing, with extra time if you still need to buy a ticket. You need to be at the boarding gate 5 minutes before departure to be sure of that crossing.
Wightlink FastCat: Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier HeadSection titled Wightlink FastCat: Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head
The FastCat takes 22 minutes. Its Portsmouth terminal is inside Portsmouth Harbour railway station, and at Ryde it docks at the end of the pier beside the Island Line station, so it's the easiest route if you're travelling on by train. Foot passengers need to check in 15 minutes before departure.
In South Western Railway's timetable for 20 September to 12 December 2026, the FastCat runs roughly hourly through the day, leaving Portsmouth Harbour at quarter past most hours. The timetable says to allow at least 10 minutes to change between train and boat at Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head.
Red Funnel Red Jet: Southampton to West CowesSection titled Red Funnel Red Jet: Southampton to West Cowes
The Red Jet takes from 28 minutes and leaves from Terminal 2 at Town Quay in Southampton, not the car ferry terminal. Red Funnel asks Red Jet passengers to check in 5 to 15 minutes before their crossing. Combined rail tickets to Cowes West include the Quayconnect shuttle bus from Southampton Central station to Town Quay.
Car ferry routesSection titled Car ferry routes
All three car ferries also carry foot passengers. For which one suits your journey, see can you drive to the Isle of Wight?
Wightlink: Lymington to YarmouthSection titled Wightlink: Lymington to Yarmouth
At 40 minutes, this is the shortest car crossing, landing in Yarmouth in the west of the island.
Wightlink: Portsmouth to FishbourneSection titled Wightlink: Portsmouth to Fishbourne
The crossing takes 45 minutes, from the Gunwharf car ferry port in Portsmouth to Fishbourne, between Ryde and Wootton.
Wightlink asks drivers on both its car routes to check in 30 minutes before departure and to leave time for traffic on the way. Foot passengers should arrive at least 15 minutes before.
Red Funnel: Southampton to East CowesSection titled Red Funnel: Southampton to East Cowes
The longest crossing. Red Funnel describes its car ferries as taking "approximately 1 hour"; South Western Railway lists the crossing as 55 minutes. They leave from Terminal 1 in Southampton. Red Funnel's check-in times depend on the day:
- Vehicles on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays: 30 to 45 minutes before departure
- Vehicles on Sundays and Tuesday to Thursday: 30 to 60 minutes before departure
- Foot passengers: 10 to 60 minutes before departure
The same vehicle windows apply at East Cowes for the trip back.
Total journey times from LondonSection titled Total journey times from London
The crossing is only part of the trip. Using South Western Railway's weekday timetable for 20 September to 12 December 2026:
- To Ryde: the 07:30 from London Waterloo reaches Portsmouth Harbour at 09:08. The 09:15 FastCat arrives at Ryde Pier Head at 09:37, so just over two hours in all.
- To Shanklin: from the same FastCat, the 10:03 Island Line train from Ryde Pier Head reaches Shanklin at 10:31, about three hours after leaving Waterloo.
Wightlink says Ryde Pier can be reached from London "within around two hours". Connections aren't guaranteed, and trains and boats aren't held for late running. For more on the island's railway, see is there a train on the Isle of Wight?
Combined train and ferry ticketsSection titled Combined train and ferry tickets
National Rail and South Western Railway sell combined tickets that include the crossing: Wightlink or Hovertravel via Portsmouth, Red Funnel via Southampton, or Wightlink via Lymington Pier. Some include onward Island Line travel. Wightlink says your sailing is booked along with the train, but a place on board isn't reserved, so at very busy times, such as the Isle of Wight Festival, contact it to guarantee a sailing. Most railcards discount the ferry part of a combined ticket.
Planning your crossingSection titled Planning your crossing
- Fastest without a car: the hovercraft to Ryde, or the FastCat if you're arriving by train at Portsmouth Harbour.
- Fastest with a car: Lymington to Yarmouth, if the west of the island suits you.
- Fares: see is the Isle of Wight expensive? for 2026 foot passenger prices and how car fares work.
- On the day: our ferry day planner helps you fit a day trip around the crossing.
- Travelling with a dog: see can you take a dog on the Isle of Wight ferry?
- Leaving the car at home: see do you need a car on the Isle of Wight?
SourcesSection titled Sources
- Wightlink: routes (crossing times, checked October 2026)
- Wightlink: Portsmouth Harbour FastCat port and travelling on foot (foot passenger check-in, October 2026)
- Wightlink: top tips for ferry travel (vehicle check-in)
- Wightlink: trains to the Isle of Wight (combined tickets, London journey time, October 2026)
- Red Funnel: Red Jet and fleet (crossing times, October 2026)
- Red Funnel: Southampton Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and East Cowes terminal (check-in times, October 2026)
- Hovertravel: on the day travel planning (crossing time and check-in, October 2026)
- South Western Railway: combined ferry and train tickets (October 2026)
- South Western Railway: Island Line timetable, 20 September to 12 December 2026 (train and FastCat times)
