There’s nothing like the adventure of taking a ferry to France, with its great food, wonderful history and scenic landscapes (just don’t tell ’em we said that), but which of the ferry ports in France to head for? Who operates each of the cross-channel ferry routes? And, where is the best place to book a cheap ferry to France?! Sacre Bleu! Mais non! Don’t panic, because in this post we’ve done all that research to save you the time and effort. So grab your baguettes and get your towels ready, cos we’re about to go port-to-port, covering all the ferry routes to France from UK…
Ferry routes to France from UK: all the ports, crossings & companies
Ferries to France from UK
Let’s start at the beginning with what British ferry ports you can depart from when travelling to France. Whether you select a port based on its proximity to your home, the cheapest tickets available, or which French port it links you with, you’ll be looking to save money and/or time on your journey. You have a choice of five different UK ferry ports, all of which are located on the south coast of England. From west to east, these are: Plymouth (Devon), Poole (Dorset), Portsmouth (Hampshire), Newhaven (East Sussex), and Dover (Kent).
Ferry ports in France
Arguably, the more important choice, however, is which of the French ferry ports to head to, as depending on your final destination in France, you’ll want to choose a route that saves you time with your onward journey, whether that means driving to your campsite, gite or hotel, or taking public transport if travelling as a foot passenger. There are eight ferry ports in France that serve mainland UK. Again, moving west to east, these are Roscoff, St Malo (Brittany), Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre, Dieppe (Normandy), and Calais and Dunkirk (Hauts de France).
Map of ferry ports in France
Things to see and do around the ferry ports in France
- Caen/Cherbourg – best for: Bayeux and the Bayeux Tapestry, D-day beaches & tours, driving time to Paris approx 3hrs (Caen) or 4 hrs (Cherbourg).
- Le Havre/Dieppe – best for: Honfleur, the city of Rouen (Joan of Arc), closest ports to Paris (equidistant at approx 2.5 hrs driving time)
- St Malo- best for: Le Mont Saint Michel, St Malo (well, obviously!), Dinan, Rennes, Vannes.
- Roscoff – best for: Morlaix, Quimper, lovers of onions.
- Calais/Dunkirk – best for: Lille, Belgium and the Netherlands, the Somme Region, approx 3 hrs 15 mins driving to Paris.
We’ve written a detailed guide on what to see and do in Normandy, while our Brittany guide is coming soon.
England to France ferry routes: who operates each crossing?
In total, there are 10 different cross-channel ferry routes between the UK and France, and there are five different companies that operate them. They are P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, Brittany Ferries, and Condor Ferries. Below I’ve made a list of which company operates each of the ferry routes from England to France:
Plymouth to Roscoff
Poole to Cherbourg
Portsmouth to St Malo
Portsmouth to Cherbourg
Portsmouth to Caen
Portsmouth to Le Havre
Poole to Cherbourg
Poole to St Malo
Dover to Calais
Dover to Dunkirk
Newhaven to Dieppe
Dover to Calais
Dover to Calais
Portsmouth to France Ferries
Portsmouth offers the largest number of cross-channel ferry crossings and routes of all the British ports. The Hampshire city located centrally on the south coast of England, offers four different ferry routes to France from the Solent, including three routes to Normandy (Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre) and one to Brittany (St Malo). Portsmouth is the main hub for Brittany Ferries, who are in fact the only cross-channel ferry operator using Portsmouth as a cross-channel port. Portsmouth ferries are likely to be most suitable for people travelling down from London and the midlands. You can reach Portsmouth from the M25 south of London in just over an hour.
Which England to France ferry is for you?
Of course, this totally depends on what you’re into, and where you’re coming from and heading to. Personally, we love a bit of history here at the Travel Tortoise, and also delightful reminders of childhood holidays over to France, so either St Malo (for Mont Saint Michel) or somewhere close to the D-day landing beaches in Normandy (Caen or Cherbourg) would be our top picks. If you’re bringing your car or hiring one on arrival, you can head to any of the French ports really, as northern France has so many worthwhile places to visit. A host of delightful towns like Morlaix, Dinan, Honfleur and Rouen are waiting for you to come and explore.
How to Book a Cheap Ferry to France?
Now that you know which ferry to take, you need to book it. When searching for a cheap ferry to France from England, the best option is usually going direct to the company that offers that route, although do also check a ferry aggregator like Direct Ferries to compare and double check prices, as they often have some cracking deals. Booking direct with P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries, Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries though, should not only get you the best prices, but also the best customer service in case you need to make any changes to your trip for any reason. Booking a cheap ferry ticket is much like booking a flight – doing it in advance saves you money. Ferry companies release their cheaper seats and cabins early, so the sooner you know what your travel plans are, the better chance you have of getting a cheap ferry to France!
Ferries to France from UK: the verdict
The range of UK to France ferries gives you plenty of options to discover the beauty, culture, and cuisine of the Gallic country. Cruising across the English channel is genuinely slow travel, so, of course, it’s also much better for the environment compared with flying. The northern regions of Brittany and Normandy are some of France’s most beautiful, and both punch well above their weight culturally and gastronomically. Even if you plan to drive straight down to Paris, the south of France, or even further afield, choosing the right ferry route will get your holiday started the right way. Just make sure you’ve also read our list of ferry travel requirements before you travel too. Bon voyage!
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