Finding the best, quickest or cheapest way from Britain to the Continent can be a daunting task. Ultimately, the choice will depend on a number of factors but the final destination and whether or not a car is being taken are likely to be the deciding factors.
Apart from flying, there are four ways of crossing the English Channel
- · Passenger Train Services
- · Take a car on Eurotunnel
- · Short Ferry Crossing
- · Long Ferry Crossing
Take Eurostar to Brussels, Lille or Paris
Eurostar run regular high speed services from St Pancras International to Brussels, Lille and Paris. Journey times from London to Brussels are under 2 hours and trains to Paris take a little over 2 hours. Some trains call at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International, both these stations are in easy reach of the motorway network and provide secure, long stay car parking.
Take the Car on Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais
Eurotunnel provide a drive on, drive off service under the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais. The Folkestone Terminal is just off the M20 motorway and the Calais Terminal links directly to the French autoroute network.
Eurotunnel trains run 24 hours a day at frequencies up to every 30 minutes. The 35 minute journey time is the quickest route for motorists to cross the English Channel. Passengers stay with their vehicles in air conditioned carriages and the ticket price for the car includes the driver and all passengers.
Short Ferry Crossings from Dover to Calais
The shortest ferry crossing is from Dover to Calais, the 22 mile crossing takes about 1 hours 30 minutes. P&O Ferries and Sea France both run regular sailings and LD Lines operate on the slightly longer route between Dover and Boulogne.
Longer Ferry Crossings May Save Time and Money
The crossings from Folkestone or Dover are the quickest and cheapest way of getting from England to France, but it may be more economic to take a longer ferry crossing. Many European destinations are a long drive from Calais, and other routes give the option of shorter drives across Europe. The extra cost of a longer ferry crossing can often be less than the savings in time and petrol.
The routes the South Coast to Western France cut the driving times to Western Normandy, Brittany and the Atlantic Coast. There are a range of routes including
- Portsmouth – Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries)
- Portsmouth – Caen (Brittany Ferries)
- Portsmouth – St Malo (Brittany Ferries)
- Plymouth – Roscoff (Brittany Ferries)
- Poole – St Malo (Condor Ferries)
Travellers heading for Germany, Belgium or The Netherlands may find it easier to take a ferry from Harwich or Hull. Stena Line operates daily sailings between Harwich and The Hook of Holland and P & O connect Hull with Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.
John Oyston - I am a freelance travel writer, accountant and further education teacher. I have spent a lifetime travelling across the UK, Western Europe ...
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