Voie Rapide : About France : Crossing the Channel

About France: Crossing the Channel

You're planning on driving to France, but do you know all of the options on how to cross the English Channel? Naturally, how to get to France is one of the most important things to consider, given La Manche is the biggest obstacle sitting between the UK and north-west Europe. But what do you need to consider?

Each route has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth considering what best suits your needs and budget.

		Travel by LeShuttle train

Folkestone - Coquelles
		Intensive service up to every 30 minutes, with up to four trains per hour in the peak summer season.
		Trains run 24/7, with services running every day - including Christmas Day.
		Fastest option with an end-to-end journey time of just 35 minutes.
		It does cost more than the ferry, but there are very good offers for short breaks and day trips.
		Flat fare per car, including all passengers.
		Tesco Clubcard points can be redeemed towards payment.

		Travel by ferry - Eastern Channel

Dover - Calais
		Daily frequent service provided by three operators: DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries.
		Ferries run up to every 90 - 120 minutes (limited service at night), with a crossing time of 90 minutes.
		Cost effective option with travel as little as £92 per car each way (up to four passengers). Offers are available for short breaks and day trips.
		Easy access to both terminals as they are close to major road networks.
		Tesco Clubcard points can be redeemed towards payment on Irish Ferries and P&O services.

Dover - Dunkerque
		Daily frequent service provided by DFDS every 2 hours, with a crossing time of 2 hours.
		Cost effective option with travel as little as £97 per car each way (up to four passengers). Offers are available for short breaks and day trips.
		Easy access to both terminals as they are close to major road networks.
		An ideal option for those travelling towards Lille, or on to Belgium, Netherlands and beyond.

Newhaven - Dieppe TransManche
		Daily service provided by DFDS, operating 2 to 4 times per day, with a crossing time of 4 hours.
		Cost effective option with travel as little as £100 per car each way (up to four passengers).
		Easy access to both terminals as they are close to major road networks.
		A quieter route that is an ideal option for those travelling to Normandy or the Loire Valley.

		Travel by ferry - Western Channel

		Services from ports further west are provided by Brittany Ferries, with crossing times of 4½ to 6 hours.
		Choice of departure port with options from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth.
		Destinations in Normandy and Brittany - Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Roscoff and St Malo.
		Crossings usually a few times a week, with daily service on the Poole - Cherbourg and Portsmouth - Caen routes during peak summer.
		Some services operate overnight, with longer journey times to allow for sleeping - this could save against hotel costs.
		Return travel from £136 for a car and two people, travelling on a short break return ticket; for a longer trip this will be considerably more, even on an early-bird saver rate.

		Travelling from Ireland?

		There is an increasing number of services from Ireland direct to France, avoiding the need leave and re-enter the EU.
		Routes are: Dublin to Cherbourg (Irish Ferries), Rosslare to Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries & Stena Line), or Cork to Roscoff (Brittany Ferries).
		These are more limited services, running 2 to 5 times a week.
		Some services operate overnight, with longer journey times of 15 to 29 hours to allow for sleeping.

Other things to take into consideration

		Ensure you arrive a minumum of 60 minutes before your booked time, and longer during very busy periods.
		On Dover ferry and LeShuttle services, if you miss your ferry you will normally be re-booked onto the next available service; however, this is not always an option on day trip tickets, so check the operator's booking conditions.
		Pets are permitted on board, however you will need to keep them either in the vehicle or in dedicated pet areas - your operator will advise you of this; you may be asked to check-in earlier to allow for documentation checks.
		If you are taking your own food to eat on the way, be aware that meat and dairy products cannot be brought into the EU, so you'll need to eat your sandwiches or that cheeky burger before you reach border control. There are restaurants on board ferry services, but will naturally cost more than elsewhere.