Ferries to France from the UK
Ferries to France from England
Ferry Crossings from the UK to France Across the Channel
There are plenty of ferry routes from the south of England to various destinations in France, including Calais, Caen, Brittany, Normandy, and more.
Ferries depart from English ports like Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Dieppe, and Dover, crossing the Channel to the Continent. Depending on your starting and destination points, you usually have 2 or 3 options that can easily be compared using our booking engine and route map.
In total, there are at least 10 ferry routes to France, serving Normandy, Brittany, and Pas-de-Calais. Which crossing makes the most sense for you? Our handy ferry map offers a convenient way to decide, giving you a clear visual overview.
But it's worth digging deeper! Some ferries offer faster journeys, while others are more budget-friendly. You might also prefer a night crossing, allowing you to sleep on board and save on an additional hotel stay.
Ferry route map UK to France
About the crossings to France
Getting to France from the UK by ferry
If you're planning a trip from to France, you have several options: flying, driving, taking the train, or catching a ferry. A wide range of ferry routes connects Southern England with Northern France, and the best route depends on your starting point and destination.
Brittany Ferries offers many crossings to Normandy and Brittany.
If you live near Plymouth, Portsmouth, or Poole, Brittany Ferries is likely the most convenient option for booking your crossing. From Portsmouth, you have plenty of choices for routes to France. Additionally, the shorter channel crossings from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk are very popular.
- The shortest crossings from the UK to France are the ferries from Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk.
- From Portsmouth, you have the most choice in terms of arrival ports,
but most daily crossings depart from Dover. - For Dover – Calais: not all ferries allow foot passengers, but P&O Ferries does.
- You can bring your car to all the crossings.
- The shortest ferry crossing to France takes just 90 minutes.
- Purchasing and comparing tickets online in advance can help you save money
Dover-Calais is the shortest crossing
The car ferry from Dover to Calais covers a distance of just 26 miles (42 km), making it the shortest route to France. The ferry journey takes only 90 minutes, and there are up to 35 departures per day during the summer season.
The Strait of Dover Ferries
Some of the most popular ferry routes to France are those crossing the narrowest part of the Channel: the ferries from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk.
The Dover to Calais ferry stands out for its short 1.5-hour crossing time and affordability compared to other French routes.
While these ferries head to France, many passengers use them to travel onward to Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and beyond.
For those heading to southern France, the Dover to Calais ferry is a more logical choice than the Dover to Dunkirk ferry, which docks further north, near Belgium.
More Ferry Routes to France from the South of the UK
There are more alternatives to make the crossing to France; above we've listed the most logical/fastest routes. But also Brittany Ferries offers a lot of crossings which can be handy if you live close to Poole, Plymouth or Portsmouth.
Ferries from the UK to Normandy, Brittany and the South of France
There are no direct ferries to the south of France, but you can choose a ferry route that puts you on the right path.
Most of these ferries depart from Portsmouth, Poole, or Plymouth, taking you to Normandy and Brittany. There are plenty of options if you want to travel from the UK to these regions, with ferries to Le Havre, Cherbourg, Caen, and Saint-Malo.
If you're heading to the south of France and want to avoid the traffic around Paris, the ferries from Portsmouth to Le Havre or Caen are excellent options.
In the map above, you'll find the different crossings to Normandy and Brittany, from where you can conveniently journey further to Southern France, the Côte d'Azur, and Provence.
From Portsmouth to France by Ferry
Since there are four crossings from Portsmouth, we’ll highlight Portsmouth specifically:
These are the ferry routes to different destinations along the French coastline, all operated by Brittany Ferries. You can travel to Caen, Le Havre, Cherbourg, or Saint-Malo from Portsmouth.
Ferries from London to Paris
The Newhaven to Dieppe route is an excellent option for those travelling from London to Paris. This ferry takes you in a relatively straight line towards the French capital, meaning fewer miles to cover and less driving on this route.
This route is a popular alternative to the ferries crossing the Strait of Dover. Another good option is the ferry to Le Havre from Portsmouth. In the route map below, you can easily find the ferry that makes the most sense based on your departure point.
On board the ferries and route maps
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- On this map you can see all the crossings from the UK / England to France – From Dover, Portsmouth, Newhaven, Poole & Plymouth to France.
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- Dover to France crossings captured
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- From Portsmouth, ferries operate routes to Caen, Le Havre, St Malo, and Cherbourg.
All the ferry crossings from England to the French coast
Travelling through France
In combination with the ferry, most people make the crossing with their car.
PS. Do remember that you have to drive on the right side of the road!
The good roads are unfortunately not always free. In France, you travel a lot on toll roads. These do not cost much, but the amount can add up considerably over a long drive to the South. In Google Maps, a function allows you to avoid toll roads. That will surely help save a bit!
If you don't go by car, you can choose to travel through France by train. The country is known for its good connections with the TGV. The stations are easily accessible from some ports of arrival, but you could also consider travelling through the Channel Tunnel with the Eurostar. In Paris, you can then change to other connections or get off.
Fastest ferry route uk to france
Hi Kenneth,
That would be the Dover to Calais crossing – approx 90 mins.