Ferries to France from the UK
All the routes leading to France
There are at least 10 ferry routes from England to France. Which you can see on our interactive maps below. Depending on your departure and destination points, you typically have 2 or 3 options, which you can compare with our tools.
Picking the best ferry for your trip
We aim to help you choose the best route. While “Dover to Calais” might seem like the best option, travelling through Dover on busy days can lead to queues and delays. It might be worth considering alternative routes to avoid these issues.
Book and compare with us
You can use the booking module and select ‘UK‘ to find the crossings to France.
Ferry route map UK to France
Use the interactive map to find the right crossing and ferry company. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports.
Above, you'll find a map displaying the ferry routes from England to France, including Dover-Calais, Dover-Dunkirk, Plymouth-Roscoff, and various ferries departing from Portsmouth to France.
Getting to France from the UK by ferry
These are all the crossings from the UK to France.
Ferry Guide to France from the UK
Getting to France from the UK by ferry
If you're planning a journey from the UK to France, you've got several options: flying, driving, taking the train, or catching a ferry. A wide range of ferry routes connects Southern England with Northern France. The most suitable route depends on your starting point and destination.
The quickest crossing is typically Calais-Dover, but if you reside near Portsmouth or Plymouth, there are plenty of logical crossings to the French coast from those locations too.
- The shortest crossings from the UK to France are the ferries from Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk.
- You're not welcome on all ferries as a foot passenger; however, you are with P&O Ferries.
- On all crossings, you can bring your car.
- The shortest crossing to France is 90 minutes
- Buying tickets online in advance might help you save
In all, there are a minimum of 10 ferry routes to France, serving Normandy, Brittany, and Pas-de-Calais. Which crossing is the most sensible choice? Our handy ferry map offers a convenient way to decide, providing a clear visual overview.
But it's worth exploring further! Some vessels offer quicker journeys, while others are more budget-friendly. Alternatively, you might prefer a night crossing where you can catch some sleep, thus saving on an additional hotel stay.
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.
Ferries from Dover to Calais stand out with their brief 1.5-hour crossing time and affordability compared to other French routes. However, potential delays at border checks can be a downside.
Although these ferries head to France, passengers often use them to travel to Belgium and Germany and further.
For those bound for Southern-France, the Dover to Calais ferry is a more logical option than the Dover to Dunkirk ferry, which docks further north, near Belgium.
More routes to France from the south of 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.
From Portsmouth to France by ferry
From Portsmouth, there are a total of four ferries departing to different destinations along the French coastline, all operated by Brittany Ferries. You have the option to travel to Caen, Le Havre, Cherbourg, or Saint Malo from Portsmouth.
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.
Ferries from the UK to the south of France
There are no direct ferries to the South of France, but you can opt for a ferry to France that sets you on the right course. Most of these ferries usually depart from Portsmouth, Poole, and Plymouth, ferrying you to Normandy and Brittany.
If you're heading to the south of France and wish to circumvent the traffic around Paris, the ferries from Portsmouth to Le Havre or Caen are an excellent option.
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.
Ferries from London to Paris
Newhaven Dieppe is a great connection for those who want to travel from London to Paris. You travel with this ferry in a fairly straight line in the direction of the French capital. So you make fewer miles/kilometres and don't have to drive that far on this route.
This route is a very popular alternative to the ferries operating in the Strait of Dover. A good alternative is a ferry to Le Havre from Portsmouth. In this route map below you can easily find the ferry that makes the most sense for your point of departure.
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.
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Fastest ferry route uk to france
Hi Kenneth,
That would be the Dover to Calais crossing – approx 90 mins.