UK to France Ferry Routes
Check prices & times »There are around 11 ferry routes between the UK and France, running from five English ports to eight French ones, operated by four companies. They range from the 90-minute Dover to Calais dash to overnight crossings of eleven hours or more.
The trick to choosing well isn't finding the shortest crossing — it's finding the one that lands you closest to where you're actually going, so you spend less time driving in France. This page lays out every route and what each one is best for.
The five core routes
- Operators P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries
- Duration 1h 30m–1h 40m
- Foot Passengers P&O only
- Operators DFDS
- Duration ~2 hours
- Foot Passengers No
- Operators DFDS
- Duration ~4 hours
- Foot Passengers Yes
- Operators Brittany Ferries
- Duration 6–8 hours
- Foot Passengers Yes
- Operators Brittany Ferries
- Duration 6–11 hours
- Foot Passengers Yes
| Route | Operators | Duration | Foot Passengers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover–Calais | P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries | 1h 30m–1h 40m | P&O only |
| Dover–Dunkirk | DFDS | ~2 hours | No |
| Newhaven–Dieppe | DFDS | ~4 hours | Yes |
| Portsmouth–Caen | Brittany Ferries | 6–8 hours | Yes |
| Plymouth–Roscoff | Brittany Ferries | 6–11 hours | Yes |
These are the five routes we cover in full — follow any link above for crossing times, port detail, onboard facilities and booking tips.
Table of Contents
The short Channel crossings (Dover and Newhaven)
If you're travelling from London, the Midlands or the south-east, the short eastern crossings are usually the obvious choice.
- Dover to Calais: is the fastest and most frequent route to France, with three operators running more than 30 sailings a day.
- Dover to Dunkirk: takes about half an hour longer but lands you further east — handy if you're heading into Belgium or the northern edge of France.
- Newhaven to Dieppe: a DFDS route of around four hours, is the calmer alternative, dropping you straight into Normandy and one of the few short routes that genuinely works for foot passengers and cyclists.
The western crossings (Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth)
For the west of France — Normandy, Brittany, the Loire and the Atlantic coast — the longer western crossings often make more sense, trading time at sea for far less driving once you land.
- Portsmouth: is the busiest western port, with Brittany Ferries sailing to Caen (the best all-round Normandy route, and the gateway to the D-Day beaches), Cherbourg (western Normandy and the Cotentin Peninsula, around three hours on the fast service or longer overnight), Le Havre (the closest ferry route to Paris, roughly two hours' drive away, and handy for Honfleur and Rouen) and St Malo (the deepest into Brittany, an overnight crossing that routes past the Channel Islands).
- Poole to Cherbourg: is the shortest western crossing at around four hours, useful if you're starting further west along the south coast.
- Plymouth to Roscoff: is the natural choice from the West Country, landing you in western Brittany.
Which route should you choose?
As a rule of thumb: pick the crossing closest to your French destination, not your UK home. Someone in Kent heading for Calais should obviously take the short Dover hop, but a family in Bristol driving to Brittany will usually do better sailing from Plymouth or Portsmouth than battling across to Dover and then driving the length of northern France.
Foot passengers and cyclists have fewer options — Dover-Calais (P&O only), Newhaven-Dieppe and the Brittany Ferries routes are the ones to look at.
And if you want to sleep through the journey, the overnight western crossings come with a cabin, effectively swapping a hotel night for a night at sea.
Ferry or Eurotunnel?
Alongside the ferries, Eurotunnel's LeShuttle carries vehicles through the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais in around 35 minutes. It's faster than any ferry and runs several times an hour, but it only serves the Folkestone-Calais corridor and doesn't carry foot passengers — so it's really only a Dover-Calais alternative, not a substitute for the western routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ferry routes are there from the UK to France?
Around 11, from five English ports (Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth) to eight French ones.
Which is the shortest ferry route to France?
Dover to Calais, at around 90 minutes.
Which route is best for Brittany?
Plymouth to Roscoff, or Portsmouth to St Malo if you want to arrive further south.
Which route is closest to Paris?
Portsmouth to Le Havre, about two hours' drive from the city.