Travelling to France - by ferry & tunnel
There
are numerous options for getting to France from the UK. Much depends on where
you are starting from and heading to - and time and budget!
The short-sea crossings from Kent (Dover and Ramsgate) are the most popular (and shortest), but the western channel crossings from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth are ideal for getting direct into Brittany, Normandy and western France.
If you live in the North, then North Sea crossings from Hull can be a useful option to avoid the long drive down to the south coast.
| From Dover:- | ||||||||
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SeaFrance (Dover-Calais) - one of the two major operators on the shortest crossing - frequent departures day and night - taking 75-90 minutes dock to dock | |||||||
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P & O Ferries (Dover - Calais)- one of the two major operators on the shortest crossing - frequent departures day and night - taking 75-90 minutes dock to dock | |||||||
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Norfolk Line (Dover - Dunkerque) - - originally a freight only line but with three new passenger ships the accommodation and facilities are well up to standard - regular sailings take 2 hours and although the port at Loos Plage is not pretty, it is well-situated for fast access to the autoroutes for Lille, Reims, Burgundy and Paris and see our report and news of new ships | |||||||
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SpeedFerries (Dover - Boulogne) - see www.speedferries.com/ - and see our report | |||||||
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Transmanche Ferries (Newhaven - Dieppe) and Newhaven- Le Havre(Summer) - see www.transmancheferries.com | |||||||
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Portsmouth - Le Havre with LD Lines - from 3 October 2005, 1 crossing each way daily (Portsmouth - Le Havre depart 23.00 arrive 07.30) (Le Havre - Portsmouth depart 1700 arrive 2130) - see http://www.aferry.to | |||||||
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Transeuropaferries operate a service from Ramsgate - Ostend (previously operated by Sally Line). Ostend is well connected to the motorway system and ideal for eastern France and the Alps. See www.transeuropaferries.com |
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Hoverspeed Ferries (Dover-Calais) has ceased operation. Speedferries have taken over the old terminal at Dover Western Docks | |||||||
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EUROTUNNEL - Folkestone - Calais - see www.eurotunnel.com | |||||||
| WESTERN CHANNEL | ||||||||
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Portsmouth - Caen, Cherbourg & St Malo, Poole - Cherbourg, Plymouth - Roscoff and Santander (NW Spain - good for access to SW France), Cork-Roscoff - see www.brittany-ferries.co.uk | |||||||
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P & O Ferries Portsmouth - Bilbao (NW Spain) - see P&O have closed their Portsmouth/Le Havre and Portsmouth/Cherbourg routes - Brittany Ferries have taken over the Cherbourg route, whilst LDFerries (top of pgae) have a single crossing nightly to Le Havre. |
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Condor Ferries - Weymouth and Poole to St Malo - see www.condorferries.co.uk | |||||||
| NORTH SEA CROSSINGS | ||||||||
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Hull - Zeebrugge & Rotterdam(overnight) | |||||||
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