Ferries from Bournemouth to France
Few towns are better placed for the France crossings than Bournemouth, even though no ferry sails from the town itself. Poole, fifteen minutes away, sails to Cherbourg and, in season, to Saint-Malo via the Channel Islands; Portsmouth, under an hour east, offers the widest choice of routes into Normandy and Brittany. Depending on where in France you are heading, you can be on the right ship within the hour.
Routes
To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend.
Our experience
We sailed from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries as a family, and this day crossing felt much more like part of the holiday than just transport. Saint-Malo is a brilliant place to leave from, the views on departure are beautiful, and there was enough on board to keep the children busy during the crossing. It is not the fastest way to England, but if you are travelling from Brittany or western France, it is a relaxed and very logical route Between the UK and France.
Ferry services from Bournemouth to France
Brittany Ferries is the main operator for travellers departing from Bournemouth, with routes from nearby Poole and Portsmouth to several destinations in France.
Map with suggested Bournemouth – France ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Bournemouth 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
The Poole-Cherbourg route is one of the shortest sailings to France from southern England: restaurants, lounges and deck space without spending a full day at sea. From the same harbour, the seasonal Poole-Saint-Malo sailing calls at the Channel Islands on the way, which turns the crossing into a small voyage in itself. From Portsmouth, the Caen route runs on larger ships with cabins for the overnight departures, and the Saint-Malo route is a Brittany Ferries flagship where the ship genuinely is part of the holiday.
From the arrival port to your destination
Where you land shapes the drive. Cherbourg and Caen suit Normandy and western France; Saint-Malo drops you straight into Brittany, whether you sail there from Poole or Portsmouth. Travellers heading far south can compare the long sailings to Spain, which trade sea time for hundreds of continental miles.
By car
All ferry routes accept cars and motorcycles. Portsmouth generally offers the greatest choice of routes and sailing times, while Poole provides one of the shortest drives from Bournemouth.
| Departure port | Distance from Bournemouth | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Poole | 6 miles | 15 min |
| Portsmouth | 35 miles | 50 min |
| Newhaven | 105 miles | 2h 15m |
| Dover | 165 miles | 3h |
Compare & book
Pick your route to see live times and prices.
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By campervan
Motorhome spaces can sell out well in advance during summer, particularly on Brittany Ferries sailings. Early booking is recommended, especially for longer routes to Brittany.
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.