Standing timetable, no end date published: first crossing 05:00 Monday to Saturday and 06:30 on Sundays, last crossings about 00:20-00:25. The platform shuttles continuously, so there are no fixed departure times and no countdown. · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Isle of Wight Council (Floating Bridge)
Map – Cowes Floating Bridge
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Foot passenger, single | £1.00 |
| Foot passenger, return | £1.50 |
| Car or small van | £3.00 |
| Motorcycle | £1.70 |
| Large van or minibus | £3.30 |
| Lorry (up to 7.5 tonnes) | £9.00 |
| Saver Card: foot passenger, single | £0.50 |
| Saver Card: car or small van | £2.50 |
| Saver Card: motorcycle | £1.20 |
| Saver Card: large van or minibus | £2.70 |
| Saver Card: lorry (up to 7.5 tonnes) | £7.00 |
Fares are per crossing and are paid on board or through the council's online ticket site; the council does not take reservations, so a ticket does not hold a place. The operator publishes two price columns: a lower Saver Card price and a standard price. The fares shown here are the standard, non-Saver Card prices, with the Saver Card prices listed separately. No fare is published for bicycles or additional passengers in a vehicle; the council's terms say dogs travel free. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Cowes Floating Bridge is a chain-hauled vehicle and passenger platform that shuttles across the River Medina between West Cowes and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. It is run by the Isle of Wight Council rather than a private ferry company, and the council's own terminal office sits on Medina Road in Cowes. The service dates back to 1859. Its practical value is simple: the nearest road crossing of the river is at Newport, and the operator reckons the bridge saves an 11-mile round trip by road.
It carries cars, small and large vans, motorcycles, bicycles and foot passengers, seven days a week all year, but it is not suitable for caravans or motorhomes. Vehicles are limited to 7.5 tonnes and 40 feet unless the council agrees otherwise. There are no timed departures. The platform simply keeps crossing between the two slipways, boarding is first come first served, and the council does not take reservations or pre-bookings, so in busy periods you queue.
The published hours are a first and last crossing for each day type: from 05:00 on Monday to Saturday and 06:30 on Sunday, with the last crossings in the first half hour after midnight.
This is a ferry where the operating status matters as much as the timetable. The bridge has a short annual refit, which in 2026 ran from 5 to 19 May, and a planned suspension from 21 to 28 September 2026 to replace its chains and change the hydraulic oil. During closures the council runs a foot-passenger launch between the same two banks, with room for 50 people, which is hard going with prams or limited mobility, especially on high tides. The bridge was due back in service at 05:00 on Monday 28 September, and the council's status line read normal on 6 October.
Fares are low and paid per crossing. A foot passenger pays £1.00 a single, a car or small van £3.00, with cheaper Saver Card prices for registered regular users. Island Roads has postponed the planned repair of Medina Way Bridge in Newport, which had been expected to lengthen queues here, to autumn 2027.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
The council's live status banner read 'Service running to normal timetable' when this page was last checked on 6 October 2026. The planned chain-replacement closure ran from 05:00 on 21 September to 05:00 on 28 September 2026 and has finished. The bridge can still be stopped without notice for weather or technical reasons, so check the live status page before a time-critical journey.
The first crossing is at 05:00 from Monday to Saturday and 06:30 on Sundays, and the last crossings are about 00:20 to 00:25, though the council's home page gives the day as 05:00 to 00:30. Because the platform shuttles continuously, there are no individual departure times. Late-night extensions and Cowes Week hours are published as news items.
A foot passenger pays £1.00 single or £1.50 return, a car or small van £3.00, a motorcycle £1.70, a large van or minibus £3.30 and a lorry up to 7.5 tonnes £9.00. Saver Card holders pay less: 50p for a foot passenger single, £2.50 for a car or small van and £1.20 for a motorcycle.
The council describes it only as a few minutes, and it does not publish a figure. The two slipways are about 160 metres apart. Allow extra time for queuing and for loading, which is first come first served.
No. The council says the service is not suitable for caravans and motorhomes. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes or over 40 feet long need the council's prior approval, and lorries up to 7.5 tonnes pay £9.00.
No. Under the council's terms there are no reservations or pre-bookings, boarding is first come first served and the crew decide how many people and vehicles can safely load. Tickets can be bought online through the council's ticket site, but they do not reserve a crossing.
The council arranges a foot-passenger launch for cyclists and pedestrians, running about 05:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday and 06:30 to 23:00 on Sundays. For the September 2026 chain replacement it ran to 22:50. Vehicles have no replacement and must go round by road through Newport.