Ferries from London to France
London is one of the easiest places in the UK from which to travel to France by ferry. While there are no international ferries from London itself, several major ferry ports can be reached within a few hours by road or rail. Dover offers the shortest crossing to France, while Portsmouth and Newhaven provide direct access to Normandy. You can choose between fast Channel crossings, overnight sailings and routes that bring them closer to western France.
Routes
Our experience
We have sailed Dover–Calais with every operator on the route. P&O Ferries stood out for us: competitive fares, modern ships and plenty of clean, comfortable space inside and out on deck. For most travellers heading to France, it’s usually the quickest and best-value way across.
Ferry services from London to France
Most travellers from London use Dover, Portsmouth or Newhaven. Dover offers the largest number of departures and is served by DFDS, P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries. Further south, Brittany Ferries operates routes from Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg, Saint-Malo and Le Havre, while DFDS connects Newhaven with Dieppe. Together, these routes provide access to Normandy, Brittany and beyond.
Map with suggested London – France ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from London to France, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
Travellers from London can choose between several very different ferry experiences. Dover crossings take around 90 minutes and focus on getting you across the Channel quickly. Routes from Portsmouth are generally longer and are operated by larger ferries with restaurants, lounges, bars and optional cabins. Newhaven-Dieppe sits somewhere in between and is often popular with travellers heading to Normand
By car
London is well connected to several ferry ports by motorway. Dover, Portsmouth and Newhaven can all be reached in around two hours by car, giving drivers access to a wide range of routes to France.
| Departure port | Distance from London | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | 80 miles | 2h |
| Newhaven | 65 miles | 1h 45m |
| Portsmouth | 75 miles | 2h |
| Poole | 105 miles | 2h 30m |
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Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.