Ferries to England

Calais – Dover

Calais – Dover (P&O Ferries, DFDS and others) is the main Channel route, with a crossing time of around 90 minutes. Ferries run at a very high frequency – roughly every 30–60 minutes during the day, with regular sailings at night too.

Eurotunnel

The fastest option is the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle for cars on the Calais – Folkestone route: the train journey through the tunnel takes only about 35 minutes. Dover is just around 110 km from London, making it an ideal arrival port for trips to south-east England.

Departing from the Netherlands

Three ferry lines run from the Netherlands to England – a handy way to skip the Channel crossing altogether.

Rotterdam – Hull

Rotterdam – Hull (P&O Ferries) is a comfortable overnight ferry with a crossing time of around 11–12 hours (departing in the evening, arriving in the morning). Hull is in northern England (Yorkshire) and gives you direct access to the north without driving through the south of the country.

Amsterdam – Newcastle

Amsterdam (IJmuiden) – Newcastle (DFDS) also sails overnight, with a crossing time of around 16–17 hours. Newcastle, in north-east England, is the ideal starting point for trips to northern England or Scotland.

Hoek van Holland – Harwich

The Hoek van Holland – Harwich route (Stena Line) takes around 6–7 hours and runs daily, with both day and night sailings. Harwich lies on England's east coast (Essex), with good transport links to London.

Departing from Normandy

Several ferry connections run from Normandy in northern France to southern England – a practical option if you're travelling via Paris or France's Atlantic coast.

Dieppe – Newhaven

Dieppe – Newhaven (DFDS/Transmanche) takes about 4 hours. Up to three ferries a day connect the Normandy port town of Dieppe (near Rouen) with Newhaven in Sussex (near Brighton). Some sailings run overnight with cabins or reclining seats.

Le Havre – Portsmouth

Le Havre – Portsmouth (Brittany Ferries) currently runs only a few days a week as an overnight crossing (around 10–11 hours). Le Havre has good transport links to greater Paris, while Portsmouth in Hampshire is a key gateway to England's south coast.

Caen – Portsmouth

The busy Caen (Ouistreham) – Portsmouth route (Brittany Ferries) takes around 6 hours by day or 7 hours overnight, with up to three sailings a day. Both day and night crossings are available, and cabins can be booked.

Cherbourg – Portsmouth / Poole

From the port of Cherbourg on the Normandy peninsula, two routes run directly to England:

• Cherbourg – Portsmouth: overnight crossing (around 8 hours); in summer, also available as a fast ferry taking around 3 hours
• Cherbourg – Poole (Dorset): sailing most days year-round, taking around 4½ hours

These routes from Cherbourg save you a long drive across France and are especially handy if you're heading straight for south-west England (Dorset, Devon, Cornwall).

Departing from Brittany

Two ferry routes run from Brittany in western France to England (Brittany Ferries) – perfect if you want to combine Brittany's scenic coastline with a trip to south-west England.

St Malo – Portsmouth

St Malo – Portsmouth runs year-round, up to daily. The crossing takes around 9 hours by day or 10–11 hours overnight. Night sailings are common, and cabins are available.

Roscoff – Plymouth

Roscoff – Plymouth also runs year-round, usually once a day. Depending on the time of day, the crossing takes around 5–6 hours (daytime) or about 8 hours (overnight). This route links Brittany directly with Devon/Cornwall, saving you the long drive across England.

Tip: Book your ferry crossing well in advance – especially in high season and on popular routes – to secure the best prices and availability.