Quarr Abbey
Binstead
About 5 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.05am and you have 5 hrs 25 min before it closes at 4.30pm.
- Landmark
- Outdoors
- Free
- 1–2.5 hours
Plan your days
Plan the day you arrive, and the day you go home
Pick your Wightlink, Red Funnel or Hovertravel crossing and see what is open near the terminal with time to spare, on the day you arrive or leave.
By Steve Dumas
Published
You land at Fishbourne Car Ferry Port at about 10.45am (45 minutes from Portsmouth Car Ferry Terminal, Gunwharf Road). Allow a few minutes to get off the boat.
This is the only island car ferry with sailings in the small hours, which suits late arrivals.
Fits around your crossing
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Havenstreet
About 10 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.10am and you have 5 hrs 50 min before it closes at 5pm.
- Railway
- Partly indoors
- Adults £29.50
- 3–5 hours
- Dogs welcome
Ryde Superbowl
Ryde
About 15 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.15am and you have 10 hrs 45 min before it closes at 10pm.
- Activity
- Indoors
- 1–2 hours
Robin's Nest Soft Play
Newport
About 15 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.15am and you have 5 hrs 40 min before it closes at 4.55pm.
- Indoor play
- Indoors
- 1.5 hours
Monkey Haven
Newport
About 15 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.15am and you have 4 hrs 45 min before it closes at 4pm.
- Animals
- Outdoors
- Adults £18.50
- 2–3 hours
Osborne
East Cowes
About 15 min from Wootton. Get there by 11.15am and you have 5 hrs 45 min before it closes at 5pm.
- Historic house
- Partly indoors
- Adults £25.40
- 3–5 hours
- English Heritage
Or a beach near the terminal
The six crossings at a glance
| Route | Takes | Crossing | How often | Check in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Fishbourne car ferryWightlink | Cars and foot passengers | About 45 min | about hourly | Vehicles check in up to an hour before and no later than 30 minutes before the booked sailing. Foot passengers check in at least 15 minutes before. |
| Lymington to Yarmouth car ferryWightlink | Cars and foot passengers | About 40 min | about hourly | Vehicles check in up to an hour before and no later than 30 minutes before the booked sailing. Foot passengers check in at least 15 minutes before. |
| Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head FastCatWightlink | Foot passengers | About 22 min | hourly, and about every 30 minutes from late morning to early evening | Foot passengers only. Check in at least 15 minutes before sailing. |
| Southampton to East Cowes car ferryRed Funnel | Cars and foot passengers | About 60 min | about hourly | Check in at least 30 minutes before departure, and no more than 60 minutes before on peak dates. Red Funnel does not give a separate time for foot passengers on the car ferry. |
| Southampton to West Cowes Red JetRed Funnel | Foot passengers | About 28 min | every 35 minutes at busy times, less often in the middle of weekdays | Foot passengers only. Red Funnel asks you to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. |
| Southsea to Ryde hovercraftHovertravel | Foot passengers | About 10 min | about every 30 minutes | Foot passengers only. Hovertravel does not publish a check-in time on its timetable page, so check your booking confirmation. |
Checked 2026-10-19 against each operator’s own site. Timetables change by season, so confirm your sailing when you book.
Then fill the days in between with the trip planner. Wondering whether you need the car at all? Read do you need a car on the Isle of Wight.
Frequently asked questions
Which Isle of Wight ferries take cars?
Wightlink's Portsmouth to Fishbourne (about 45 minutes), Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth (about 40 minutes), Red Funnel's Southampton to East (about 60 minutes). The others carry foot passengers only.
What is the quickest way to the Isle of Wight?
Hovertravel's southsea to ryde hovercraft, at about 10 minutes. It is for foot passengers; with a car, the shortest crossing is lymington to yarmouth car ferry.
How early do I need to be at the ferry?
For the car ferries, check in between an hour and 30 minutes before your sailing. Foot passengers on Wightlink and the Red Jet should arrive at least 15 minutes before. The planner works back from your sailing time using these rules.