Southsea is the long stretch of seaside at the southern end of Portsmouth. It has a large open common and views across the Solent and over to the Isle of Wight. The seafront is home to Clarence Pier and a fairground with lots of rides and some arcades. Further along the beach is South Parade Pier which offers a really nice seaside atmosphere. Just beside Clarence Pier you can also watch the hovercraft arriving from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, making Southsea a particularly interesting place to visit when the tide is moving and the waterfront is busy.