Free Entry to The Museum of Ryde

~~ The Museum of Ryde is in the Grade II* listed Royal Victoria Arcade, named after the young Princess Victoria. Later, as Queen, she visited the Arcade many times with her family to have their photographs taken.

~~ Learn how, although a young town, Ryde can boast the UK's first pier, in 1814, and then, 74 years later, the UK's first carnival. It was also home to the inventor of the UK's first production electric car in the 1970s, who went on to design and build Thrust 2, which won the World Land Speed Record in 1983.

~~ The Arcade itself is home to a unique Ice Well (within the museum), storing imported ice from Norway and North America, and was owned by the man who invented one of the first tin openers, many years after the tin can came into use.

~~ Downstairs, see displays of old school photos, development of the Hovercraft, the Carnivals, the Isle of Wight Rifles, Ryde Buccaneers, old shops and businesses, the Puckpool Swingers, items from St Thomas's Church, the Royal George and many more. The museum has hundreds of artefacts, and thousands of pictures - reminisce about the people and places you knew, or learn about them if you didn't!

~~ The museum is also home to the world-famous Donald McGill "Saucy Seaside" Postcard Museum, where you can see (and buy!) the cards that were banned in the 1950s for being obscene. See how social attitudes have changed from the not-so-strait-laced Edwardian era to the more liberated post war New Elizabethan age.

Timings & Tours

Monday 09 September:

11am - 4pm (last entry 3:30)

Location & directions

The Museum of Ryde, Royal Victoria Arcade, Union Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2LQ

Directions:

~~ The Museum of Ryde is down the stairs at the rear of the Royal Victoria Arcade, which is halfway up or down Union Street, on the west side. ~~ If coming to Ryde by Hovertravel, FastCat or Island Line, cross the Esplanade, and Union Street ascends to the right.

Contact on day:

Brian Harris

Telephone number:

+441983717435

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

~~ The museum has a stairlift at the front entrance (from within the Royal Victoria Arcade). ~~ To get a wheelchair into the Arcade itself, use the rear entrance in Church Lane which has just one step, varying from 11" to 5". ~~ Alternatively, come in through the museum's rear fire exit (straight off Church Lane) which has three steps down, of differing heights: 6", 8" and 9". ~~ There are four single steps within the museum of 4". ~~ Due to narrow doorways, wider wheelchairs might need their push rims removing. ~~ There are seats in most of the display areas.

Additional information

~~ The 188 year old floor is somewhat uneven in places, and some doorways or entrances are lower than normal, so please take care.

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