From Cowes a road leads via Fishbourne, at the mouth of Wootton Creek, to Ryde (pop. 24,000). The largest town on the island, it boasts wide sandy bays, a pier approximately 0.5mi long and a wide variety of entertainment. The town's architecture remains mainly Victorian, and is dominated by the tall tower of All Saints' Church, completed in 1872
and the symbol of Ryde. As a terminal of the frequent ferries coming from the mainland, Ryde is very busy during summer. Out-of-season visitors are catered to by a heated open-air swimming pool.