Ferry

Getting to London from the Ferry Port

London is easily reached by road from the major ports. For foot passengers, there are frequent train services into London's Victoria station from Dover, Folkestone, Ramsgate and Newhaven. Read more about driving to London.

Harwich services terminate at Liverpool Street station. There are rail links between Holyhead and Euston (some interchanges involved), and between Fishguard and Paddington (interchange at Cardiff Central).

For train timetables and fares from UK ports visit the National Rail Enquiries website

Ferry Crossings to Continental Europe

The quickest ferry crossing from continental Europe is from Calais to Dover. Crossings take between 70 and 90 minutes. Ferries are operated by Sea France and P&O and run regularly throughout the day and night. Norfolkline and SpeedFerries also operate out of Dover, running ferries to and from Dunkerque (2 hours) and Boulogne (55 minutes) respectively.

Longer routes from France and Spain, operated by P&O and Brittany Ferries, arrive at Portsmouth, Poole, and Plymouth. Crossings take between 6 and 24 hours depending upon the route. Ferry services also operate from France and Belgium to Newhaven and Ramsgate.

Stena Line operates a service from the Netherlands (Hook of Holland in Rotterdam) to Harwich. The journey takes just over 6 hours. There is also a ferry from Esbjerg in Denmark to Harwich, operated by DFDS Seaways, with a journey time of approximately 19 hours.

Ferry Crossings to Ireland

Undoubtedly the fastest routes for ferry travel between Ireland and London are Dublin-Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead. On both routes, high speed vessels operate alongside normal ferry services. Services are operated by Irish Ferries and Stena Line and journey times are approximately 2 hours on the high speed vessels and 3 hours 15 minutes on the traditional ferries. Stena Line also operates a crossing from Rosslare to Fishguard with journey times of upwards of 2 hours.

Eurotunnel and Eurostar

Eurotunnel provides high-speed car, coach and freight services via the Channel Tunnel between Coquelles (Calais) and Folkestone. Folkestone has good access to the motorway network and London. The approximate channel crossing time is 35 minutes. Return fares start at £100 per car, with frequent traveller discounts available. Read more about driving to London.

Leave your car behind and travel on Eurostar - a frequent, good value rail service which runs via the Channel Tunnel, linking continental Europe and Central London. Read more about Eurostar and Eurotunnel.