I’ll never forget the drive over to the Isle of Wight – what was meant to be a straightforward ferry crossing from Portsmouth turned into a right faff when we hit a massive queue at the terminal. It was one of those Bank Holiday weekends, you see, and everyone and their auntie had the same idea. We sat there for over an hour, engine idling, kids bickering in the back about who got the last Haribo, and me frantically checking the sat-nav on my phone because the signal kept dropping. By the time we finally rolled onto the Wightbus from Southampton (after a last-minute rethink to beat the ferry chaos), we were all a bit frazzled, covered in crisps crumbs and dreaming of a sit-down.

Still, as we trundled into Ryde, that seafront buzz hit us like a breath of fresh air. The high street was alive with holidaymakers ambling along, ice creams in hand, and the Solent sparkling just beyond. Spotting our spot – this gorgeous apartment tucked into a grand old Georgian building right on the esplanade – my heart did a little flip. It’s got this proper historical vibe, built back in 1820 for Lady Hamilton no less (with her beau Lord Nelson’s place next door), and you can feel that elegant past peeking through even after a full modern makeover. We parked up (after a few sweaty laps circling for a space) and hauled our bags up the steps, anticipation bubbling despite the earlier palaver.

Stepping inside was pure magic – first impressions? Blimey, top-notch. It opens straight into this airy open-plan living and dining space, all sleek and inviting with high-end furnishings that make you feel instantly at home. There’s a cracking window seat by the huge panes overlooking the beach, perfect for three of us to perch with cups of tea, watching the hovercraft zip across from Southsea. A neat little breakfast table sits nearby, and tucked in one corner is this bespoke triple bunk – double at the bottom for me and the missus, single up top for our lad – genius for a family setup without anyone feeling short-changed. We dumped the bags, cracked open a bottle of fizz we’d stashed, and just soaked it in. No more road rage; this was holiday heaven.

That first evening, we wandered straight out to the promenade, barely 50 yards away, grabbing fish and chips from one of Ryde’s classic spots and eating them on the pebbles as the sun dipped. The next morning, after a lazy brekkie on that window seat, we hired bikes from the nearby rack and pedalled down to Appley Beach – it’s only a couple of minutes away, with its splash pool and playground keeping the little one chuffed. We even dipped into Ryde Seafront’s mini golf course for a laugh; I lost spectacularly, naturally, which had us all in stitches.

Looking back, that arrival kerfuffle was a blessing in disguise – it made the calm of the apartment feel all the sweeter. In a world that’s always rushing, finding a gem like this right on the seafront reminded me to slow down, breathe the salty air, and make memories with the family. We didn’t venture far – Ryde’s got everything you need within a stone’s throw – and it was perfect. Can’t wait to go back.