Ferries to France leave from four English ports — Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth — spread along the south coast from Kent to Devon.
Which one you use comes down mostly to where you're starting from, but the ports themselves differ in ways worth knowing before you book: some have no parking at all, some are a short walk from a train station, and only some take foot passengers. Here's what each is like and who each suits best.
Dover
- Routes Dover-Calais, Dover-Dunkirk
- Operators P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries
- Parking none within the port — use private off-site car parks in the town
- Foot passengers yes, on P&O's Dover-Calais only
- Getting there A2/M20; Dover Priory station for foot passengers
Dover is the busiest ferry port in the country and the natural choice from London and the south-east, with the shortest crossings to France.
There's no long-stay parking inside the port itself, so if you're leaving a car behind you'll need one of the private off-site car parks in Dover town, most of which run a taxi transfer to the Eastern Docks.
Foot passengers report to the Passenger Terminal — which has a Costa, a Border Force counter and toilets — and are then taken to the ship by a dedicated shuttle bus, as walking through the working docks isn't permitted.
Newhaven
- Route Newhaven-Dieppe
- Operator DFDS
- Parking at the terminal, around £8 per 24 hours, cash only, can't be pre-booked
- Foot passengers yes
- Getting there A26/A27; Newhaven Town station 250m (3-minute walk)
Newhaven, in East Sussex, is the small and uncongested alternative to Dover, served solely by DFDS sailing to Dieppe. Its standout feature is how well it works for foot passengers: Newhaven Town train station is just 250 metres from the terminal, a three-minute walk, with direct trains from London Victoria in around 90 minutes.
The port car park sits right by the terminal building — cash only, around £8 for 24 hours, and rarely full — and the terminal has a café, showers and a rest area. For anyone travelling to Normandy without wanting to battle through Dover, it's often the easier option.
Portsmouth
- Routes Portsmouth-Caen (plus Cherbourg, Le Havre, St Malo on wider services)
- Operator Brittany Ferries
- Parking long-stay multi-storey at the port, open 24 hours, a few minutes' walk from the terminal
- Foot passengers yes
- Getting there M275; Portsmouth & Southsea station then ~10-minute taxi
Portsmouth is Brittany Ferries' main UK hub and the busiest of the western ports, sailing to Caen for Normandy alongside its other France and Spain routes.
Unlike Dover, it has its own long-stay multi-storey car park at the port, open around the clock and a few minutes' walk from the terminal — handy if you're leaving a car while you travel.
Foot passengers can reach it by taking a train to Portsmouth & Southsea station and a short taxi to the port. It's the most convenient port for the south, the south Midlands and anyone heading for western Normandy.
Plymouth
- Route Plymouth-Roscoff
- Operator Brittany Ferries
- Parking at the port, £10 per 24 hours (first 2 hours free)
- Foot passengers yes
- Getting there A38; Plymouth station then a short taxi
Plymouth, at the Millbay Docks, is the westernmost French ferry port and the natural departure point for anyone in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset or South Wales — saving the long drive east to Dover or Portsmouth. Brittany Ferries sails from here to Roscoff, the company's original 1973 route.
Parking at the port is £10 per 24 hours with the first two hours free, and there's a modern passenger terminal, though foot passenger access to the ship involves a fairly long walk with some stairs and slopes. Direct trains reach Plymouth from London Paddington in around three and a half to four hours.
Which port should you use?
As with the routes, the rule of thumb is to leave from the port that best fits both ends of your journey.
- From London and the south-east: Dover is quickest, with Newhaven the calmer choice for Normandy — and the best for foot passengers, thanks to that station right by the terminal.
- From the south coast and Midlands: Portsmouth opens up Normandy and beyond with proper on-site parking.
- From the West Country or South Wales: Plymouth saves hours of driving east.
If you're leaving a car behind, factor in the parking differences too: Dover has none of its own, while Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth all do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK ports have ferries to France?
Four — Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth.
Which UK ferry port is best for foot passengers?
Newhaven, where the train station is a 3-minute walk from the terminal and DFDS carries foot passengers to Dieppe.
Which UK ferry ports have parking?
Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth all have parking at or by the terminal; Dover has none within the port, only private off-site car parks in the town.
Which port should I use from the West Country?
Plymouth, which sails to Roscoff and saves the long drive east to Dover or Portsmouth.