Independent ferry advice for UK travellers · Free, honest, no upsells
England to France Honest routes & real advice
Home Routes Overnight ferries Driving in France About Find your route →
UK → France · The crossings

Ferry routes to France

There is a crossing for every starting point and every corner of France. Quick Channel hops from the south east, longer sailings that land you deep in Normandy and Brittany, and – for the south – the long haul to Spain that saves a day of driving. Here are all the routes we cover, taken straight from the operators.

Ferry routes from the UK to France

Short Channel crossings

The quick way over from the south east. These crossings are fast, frequent and usually the cheapest, and they are the natural choice if you are heading for Paris or the north of France.

Short Channel hop
Dover Calais
1h30
From£88
Foot passengeryes
OperatorsP&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries
Compare operators →
Short Channel hop
Dover Dunkirk
2h
From£97
Foot passengerno
OperatorDFDS
Book with DFDS →
Short Channel hop
Newhaven Dieppe
4h
From£93
Foot passengerno
OperatorDFDS
Book with DFDS →

Crossings to Normandy and Brittany

Longer sailings, often overnight, that land you deep in the west of France. They cost more and take longer at sea, but they save hours of driving once you arrive, and the cruise-style ferries make the crossing part of the trip.

To Normandy
Portsmouth Ouistreham (Caen)
5h45 – 7h
From£114
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Normandy
Portsmouth Cherbourg
3h – 9h
From£135
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Normandy
Portsmouth Le Havre
5h30 – 6h30
From£114
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Brittany
Portsmouth Saint-Malo
8h45 – 11h
From£184
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Normandy
Poole Cherbourg
4h15 – 4h45
From£114
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Brittany
Poole Saint-Malo
6h (via Guernsey)
From£143
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Brittany
Plymouth Roscoff
5h15 – 6h40
From£117
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →

For the south of France: sail to Spain

No ferry lands you in the south of France, but there is a clever way to get close. Brittany Ferries sails from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao in northern Spain, where the French border is barely an hour away and Bordeaux around two and a half.

To Spain
Plymouth Santander
20h – 21h
From£235
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Spain
Portsmouth Santander
28h – 31h
From£231
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
To Spain
Portsmouth Bilbao
33h – 36h
From£231
Foot passengeryes
OperatorBrittany Ferries
Book with Brittany Ferries →
It sounds like a detour, but for the south-west it usually is not. The drive from Calais down to Bordeaux is around eight hours; from Bilbao it is closer to two and a half. You swap a long motorway slog for a night or two aboard a comfortable cruise-ferry, with a cabin, restaurants and a chance to arrive rested and already in the right corner of the map. These are the longest crossings we cover – up to a day and a half at sea – so they suit a proper holiday more than a quick getaway. Book early, as cabins on the popular summer sailings go fast.

Not sure which crossing suits your trip? Use the planner on the homepage to see the best options from your starting point.