Ferries to France from the UK run mainly from five ports in the south of England. Dover is the most popular port.

Here is a round-up of the different ports, routes and ferry companies. I have also added tables showing distances from the French ports to various cities, plus toll costs and fuel costs.

I have included ferries from Ireland to France at the end of this article.

TIP: Two useful French sites to check before you decide on Ferries to France from the UK.
Autoroutes in France is the official website giving accurate information on distances, real time traffic information, weather etc.
European tolls gives a comprehensive guide to tolls throughout Europe.

Where to stay in each French port

I have recommended hotels in each port, some of which are quite basic. Alternatively, all the ports have a selection of the well known budget chains, so check out my Budget Hotel Chains in France.

For Normandy hotels check out Hotels and Accommodation in France near the Normandy D-DayLanding Beaches.

Booking your Ferry

For the best deal book as early as possible. Off season and night ferries are cheaper.

The biggest booking service for ferries to France from the UK is operated by AFerry.co.uk offering ferry routes around the whole of Europe.

Also consider booking companies that compare rates like www.ferrycheap.com.

When you book you will need details of passengers and details of the car (make, model, number plate, size, trailer, caravan, etc.).

Dover to Calais

Currently three ferry companies operate on the Dover to Calais route. Sailing time is 1 hour 30 minutes. If you want a quick getaway, it’s worth paying for priority boarding which will get you to the front of the ferry. Also consider the Premium Lounge offers. Each ferry company has a comfortable, large lounge with free soft drinks, tea, coffee and macaroons. You can buy a meal in any of the onboard restaurants/cafes and take it to the lounge. 

Check-in is 30 minutes before departure but each company advises you to arrive 45 minutes early. And with the present delays people are experiencing at Dover, check the websites before setting off. You may have to wait a very long time, due to the new Brexit restrictions which are badly affecting all sailings.

Please note: the low prices on each site refer to unpopular sailings so it might be for a crossing during the night. You should reckon around £150 for off peak sailings at civilised times.

DFDS runs every day of the year for 24 hours. There are fewer crossings in winter, but the prices are cheaper (apart from peak Christmas and New Year sailings).

Prices for a car and up to 4 passengers start from £68 return. Free WiFi.
Priority boarding is £10 each way.
Premium Lounge is £12 per person each way.
You cannot travel as a foot passenger on DFDS on this route.
Check out the DFDS sailings.

P&O has reinstated its Dover to Calais route. It is more expensive generally.
Priority boarding is £12 each way
Premium Lounge is £24 per per person each way.
Check out the P&O sailings.

Irish Ferries has entered the market.

Prices for a car and up to 4 passengers from £69. Free WiFi.
Priority boarding and club class lounge is from £18 per passenger each way.
Check out the Irish Ferries sailings.

Why Calais?

Calais is the perfect place for a short break to the north coast with its lovely north France seaside resorts.

If you’re interested in World War II there’s plenty to see.
La Coupole and Hitler’s V2 Rockets
Eperlecques Blockhouse
The Secret Mimoyecques Fortress and the V3 Rocket

DFDS has up to 15 sailings a day. Prices for a car and up to 9 passengers start from £44 each way. Free WiFi.
Priority boarding is £10 each way.
Premium Lounge is £12 per person each way.
You cannot travel as a foot passenger on DFDS on this route.
Check out the DFDS timetable for Dover to Calais.

P&O has lost so much money due to Covid that it is currently changing its crews and sailings, having sacked up to 800 staff with no warning. It is going to use agency staff from abroad to save money.

Hotel Recommendation

Ibis Styles Calais Centre Hotel is a good choice. Completely refurbished, this 3-star hotel is central and near both the beach and the train station as well as good restaurants. There’s a fitness room, lounge with billiards, football and darts so you’re likely to meet fellow Brits. Well priced also.
Ibis Styles Calais Centre Hotel
56 rue Royale
Calais
Tel: +33 3 21 97 45 00
Website

Dover to Dunkirk (Dunkerque)

DFDS is the only ferry company running to both Calais and Dunkirk. Dover to (Dunkerque) service takes 1 hour. Prices for a car and up to 4 passengers start from £40 each way. This is a cheaper option than Dover to Calais and slightly quicker but you are further north.
However it’s a good port if you are going to Eastern France and Champagne-Ardenne.
Check out the DFDS sailings.

Why Dunkirk?

Well apart from being a cheaper crossing and its World War II attractions, Dunkirk is just near the Belgian border so it’s a good start for a hop over to Bruges. It’s also very near Calais, St-Omer and Lille.

Hotel Recommendation

On my last trip I had an excellent stay at the All Suites Apart Hôtel by the water. It’s aimed at the University so there are plenty of families of students, etc. Each apartment has a kitchenette but if you’re just passing through you won’t have time, so take the breakfast provided.
All Suites Apart Hôtel
Quai Freycinet
1 Avenue de l’Université
Dunkerque
Tel: +33 3 28 69 70 40
Website

Newhaven to Dieppe

DFDS operates 3 daily sailings from May to September and 2 at other times, and the crossing takes 4 hours. DFDS  recommends a check-in of 1 hour 30 minutes. Prices from £98 return. There are reclining seats in a quiet area or better still, book a cabin which takes up to 4 passengers. Prices for cabins from £24 to £35.

Summer departures (May 1 to September 30) are 10am, 5pm and 11pm.

Winter departures (Oct 1 to April 30) are 10am arriving at 3pm and 11pm arriving at 4am.

Information about DFDS here.

Why Dieppe?

Dieppe gives you easy access to Rouen and points south such as Chartres, Orleans and the Loire Valley and further south.

Hotel Recommendation

I first stayed at the 3-star Logis hotel Auberge du Clos Normand many years ago and was enchanted. It was a fairy tale place with rooms looking out onto rolling farmland and a restaurant with red brick walls and a stone-flagged floor. It’s still a fabulous stay just 10 minutes outside Dieppe.
Auberge du Clos Normand
22 rue Henri IV
76370 Martin Eglise
Tel: +33 (0)2 35 40 40 40
Website

Ferry to France from the UK – Southern England

All routes from England’s south coast are operated by Brittany Ferries, a company founded in the 1970s by a group of French farmers who wanted to export their cauliflowers to the UK. Today it’s the top ferry company to France, operating comfortable ships that are more like mini cruise ships than ferries.

Portsmouth to Le Havre

Brittany Ferries operates up to three crossings a day taking from 6 hours 30 minutes up to 8 hours on overnight sailings. This crossing is cheaper than other routes on the Brittany Ferries timetable.

Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Le Havre sailings.

Why Le Havre?

Le Havre itself is a surprisingly interesting city, despite the heavy destruction of World War II and rebuilding. Contemporary architecture and a museum with the second largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside the Musee d’Orsay in Paris are just some of the attractions.

Le Havre is close to Rouen and is well placed for going south to Le Mans, Tours and Poitiers.

It’s also the starting point if you are taking a holiday in the Normandy Cotentin peninsula.

Hotel Recommendation

The Best Western ARThotel is just five minutes from the seafront and stands opposite the Volcano cultural center, one of the iconic buildings by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. 31 rooms with stylish decor. some overlooking the water, a tapas bar and live jazz.
The Best Western ARThotel
17 rue Louis Brandeau
Tel: +33 2 35 22 69 44
Website

Portsmouth to Caen

This is Brittany Ferries’ most popular route. There are 3 crossings a day taking 6 hours during the day and 7 hours overnight.
The ferry terminal is at Ouistreham, 15 kms (9 miles) north of Caen.

Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Caen sailings.

Why Caen?

Caen is the port to choose for exploring the Normandy coastline and the D-Day Landing Beaches and Bayeux for its tapestry and Rouen. Like Le Havre, it’s ideal for going south to Le Mans, Tours and the Loire Valley.

Check out this guide to visiting Normandy and the various beaches from Mech Traveller.

Hotel Recommendation

Le Dauphin, set in a former priory is a good central hotel. It has a spa and a notable restaurant where they use local ingredients.
Le Dauphin
Quartier des Quatrans
29 rue Gémare 
14000 Caen
Tél : +33 2 31 86 22 26
Website

Check out my hotel recommendations in Normandy near the D-Day Landing Beaches.

Portsmouth to Cherbourg

Take the Normandie Express to Cherbourg, taking just 3 hours on Brittany Ferries’ high-speed catamaran. There is one crossing a day each way in the high season; less at other times.

Check out the Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Cherbourg sailings.

Poole to Cherbourg

Brittany Ferries also runs from Poole in Dorset to Cherbourg, taking just 4 hours 30 minutes. Barfleur sails from Poole in the morning and returns from Cherbourg in the evening.
Check the timetable here.

Why Cherbourg?

No longer the great port for transatlantic crossings, Cherbourg is still a good place to visit. Its great attraction is the Cité de la Mer museum which is all about that transatlantic journey, with a section on the ill-fated Titanic.

Hotel Recommendation

La Régence hotel is a good value choice. Overlooking the harbour the 3-star family run hotels is comfortable and has a good value restaurants.
La Régence
42 quai de Caligny
50100 Cherbourg
Tel: +33 (0)2 33 43 05 16
Website

Portsmouth to St Malo

Brittany Ferries operates luxury ferries to St. Malo in Brittany taking 11 hours overnight, making this a delightful mini cruise. The ferries leave at 8.15pm so you have plenty of time for a good meal and a decent night’s sleep.
On the return, there’s both a daytime and an overnight service.

Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to St Malo timetable.

Why St Malo?

Quite apart from its real charm, St Malo is perfect for exploring Brittany. The beautiful wild coast beckons in the north and at places like Quimper. Or going further south to fabulous Nantes, La Rochelle and Bordeaux.

Hotel Recommendation

We went for a cheaper hotel but it was outside the centre. Factoring in taxi fares and time taken, it would have been far better to pay more and be more central. So I recommend the stately De France et de Chateaubriand near the main square and within the citadel walls. Take a more expensive room for great sea views. Good bistro downstairs and posh restaurant on the top floor.
De France et de Chateaubriand
12 place Chateaubriand
Tel: +33 2 99 56 66 52
Website

Plymouth to Roscoff

Brittany Ferries operates its luxury boats to Roscoff in Brittany, taking 6 hours during the day and 8 hours overnight. There are up to two sailings per day from March to October.

Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Roscoff timetable.

Why Roscoff?

This small resort is ideal for exploring the western end of Brittany. Or go further south to Nantes and beyond.

Hotel recommendation

Les Arcades in a 16th-century building is central and just five minutes from the ferry. It has wonderful sea views and a good value restaurant.
Les Arcades
15, rue Amiral Réveillère
Tel: +33 2 98 69 70 45
Website

From Ireland to France

Cork to Roscoff

Brittany Ferries runs overnight and daytime services taking 15 hours. It is less frequent than the other crossings but it’s on one of their best ships so treat it as a mini cruise.

Brittany Ferries from Cork to Roscoff.

Dublin to Cherbourg

Irish Ferries runs ferries on Saturday, Tuesdays and Thursdays taking around 18 hours. You must book seating or cabins on this route.

Irish Ferries Dublin to Cherbourg sailings.

Tourist Board Sites

Pas de Calais Tourism Website
Nord-Pas de Calais Tourism Website
Normandy Tourism Website
Brittany Tourism Website

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