Arcadia Amusements Tour - Ryde Esplanade - Isle Of Wight - June 2018 | kittikoko

Arcadia recently moved from its original building to a smaller room a few doors down - a real shame! They did keep a few classics like Sega Rally but I believe the rest of their machines were auctioned off.

#ryde #isleofwight #arcade

From Visit Isle Of Wight:

With long, spacious stretches of sandy beach, a thriving independent shopping scene and fabulous eating out, Ryde is a quirky mix of a traditional seaside fun, Victorian architecture and unexpected hidden gems!

One of the UK's original seaside destinations and much loved by Queen Victoria, a trip on the FastCat or Hovercraft is part of the joy of a visit to Ryde. The town is easy and quick to get to from the mainland - it's perfect for a day out or short break. If you're already on the Island you'll find Ryde easy to reach by bus, train, car and on foot and bicycle.

If you’re looking for a sandy beach, Ryde is the place!

To the east of the pier, Appley Beach is one of the finest on the Isle of Wight. It’s a 20-minute flat walk from the pier past beach cafes, a small harbour and other sandy beaches.

Appley Beach is a stunning beach of fine golden sand, bordered by a lush green park with a small playground for younger children. The beach shelves gently into the sea, making it perfect for a family day out. In Summer the tide laps in over the hot sand, and the water is some of the warmest on the Island. In winter it’s the perfect place for splashing about in wellies.

Appley Tower sits on the edge of the sand casting a magical golden spell over days spent building sandcastles, splashing and swimming.

Keep heading east and you’ll find more sandy beaches and Puckpool Park with tennis courts, crazy golf and a playground.

To the west of Ryde Pier, the beach is more accessible at low tide. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and a super spot for beachcombing - there's usually a jewel or two of sea glass to be found here!

The beaches of Ryde are also a haven for birds including the elusive sanderling.

The flat walk along the seafront is made for strolling, especially if you’re less mobile or have children, scooters and buggies in tow. Stop off for an ice cream or a glass of something on route – there's lots of space and plenty of places to rest and enjoy the views across the sea to the mainland.

Wander further along to the east and you'll come across Appley Tower. This magical tower on the beach is actually a coastal folly built in 1875 by Sir William Hutt. It's the perfect backdrop for a seaside selfie especially at sunrise! The walk will take you about 25 minutes from the 'dry end' of the pier.

To the west you can follow the coastal path slightly inland until you reach the Benedictine monastery of Quarr Abbey in the other direction.

East or west, both routes are suitable and safe for cycling.

If warm sands and sea don't tempt you, head inland from Ryde's transport connections and take a slow meander up Union Street into the heart of the town. You'll go slow because it's a hill and because you'll want to go in every boutique you see! Stopping for a coffee won't be a problem as Ryde's shops handily intermingle with some great cafes, bars and restaurants.

Ryde is just a short crossing from the mainland. From Portsmouth Harbour (connects with trains from London and the south coast) take the Wightlink FastCat to the 'wet end' of Ryde Pier. The crossing takes around 22 minutes. On arriving at the pier head, take the train down the pier or enjoy the stroll into Ryde town centre - the pier is about half a mile long.

Hovertravel at Southsea can get you to the Island in 10 minutes, and you'll be flying across the sea on the world's only passenger hovercraft service. Connect with mainland train services using the hoverbus service or coaches.

Southern Vectis have a busy bus station at Ryde, with different routes around the town and across the Island.

[Grim]

Out Run, Asteroids, Hard Drivin'...all gone :( When I first visited over 10 years ago, as well as those they had Space Harrier, Super Hang On and several others but they all gradually disappeared. Such a shame. It was the best retro arcade on the island.