Ferry route planner
Ferries from the UK to France
Ferries to France leave from five English ports. Dover is the short-sea hub for Calais and Dunkirk; Newhaven sails to Dieppe; Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth cross the western Channel to Normandy and Brittany. The table is sorted from the shortest crossing to the longest.
UK to France Ferry Routes Map
Every UK to France crossing on FerryConnect. Select a route on the map, or compare them in the table below.
Compare UK to France Crossings
Sorted from the shortest crossing to the longest.
| Route | Operator | Typical crossing | Cars | Foot | Pets | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover → Calais | P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries | 1h 30m – 1h 40m | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Dover → Dunkirk | DFDS | 2h | ✓ | — | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Newhaven → Dieppe | DFDS | 4h | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Portsmouth → Cherbourg🌙 Overnight | Brittany Ferries | About 5h by day; about 7h 45m overnight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Plymouth → Roscoff🌙 Overnight | Brittany Ferries | 5h 15m (day) – 11h (overnight) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Poole → St Malo | Brittany Ferries | About 6h (via Guernsey) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Portsmouth → Caen (Ouistreham)🌙 Overnight | Brittany Ferries | 6h – 7h (day) / overnight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
| Portsmouth → St Malo🌙 Overnight | Brittany Ferries | 9h – 11h (overnight) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Times & booking → |
Pets ✓ means at least one operator carries pets on the crossing under its own rules (in the vehicle, a kennel, a lounge or a pet cabin). Foot ✓ means at least one operator takes foot passengers. Rules differ by operator: see each route page.
Crossing times are typical ranges from operator timetables and vary by ship, direction and season; each route page shows its own sources and verification date.
Shortest ferry to France
Dover to Calais is the shortest crossing, at about 90 minutes, with P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries all on the route. Dover to Dunkirk is DFDS only. If you live in Sussex or west London, Newhaven to Dieppe lands you closer to Paris and Normandy.
Western Channel: Normandy and Brittany
Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham), Cherbourg and St Malo, from Poole to St Malo via Guernsey, and from Plymouth to Roscoff. These are longer crossings, some overnight with cabins, that save driving if you are heading to Normandy, Brittany or western France. Brittany Ferries announced in June 2026 that a daily Portsmouth–Cherbourg service replaces Poole–Cherbourg from November 2026, and that it is looking to close Portsmouth–Le Havre from October 2026.
Foot passengers and dogs
On Dover–Calais, P&O Ferries carries foot passengers, but foot passengers cannot bring pets (guide dogs excepted). DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover routes; on Newhaven–Dieppe it does, and foot passengers can travel with a pet if they book a kennel or pet-friendly cabin. With a car, dogs on Dover–Calais stay in the vehicle or, if you book it, in P&O’s Pet Lounge or Irish Ferries’ Pet Den. Brittany Ferries’ France sailings let pets stay in the vehicle or a pet-friendly cabin.
UK departure ports
- Dover
- Newhaven
- Plymouth
- Poole
- Portsmouth
UK to France Ferry FAQs
What is the shortest ferry crossing to France?
Dover to Calais, at about 90 minutes. P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries all sail the route.
Is there a ferry from Hull to Calais?
No. There is no Hull–Calais ferry. P&O Ferries’ only passenger route from Hull goes overnight to Rotterdam. For Calais, the crossings leave from Dover.
Can I take my dog on the ferry to France?
Yes, on every UK–France route listed here, under each operator’s rules. Leaving Great Britain, your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an Animal Health Certificate; returning, it needs a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival.
Checked 2026-09-29 against: P&O Ferries: routes · P&O Ferries: travelling as a foot passenger · P&O Ferries: travelling with a pet · DFDS: pet travel · Irish Ferries: pet travel FAQ, Dover–Calais · Brittany Ferries: pets on Pont-Aven (France and Spain sailings) · Brittany Ferries newsroom: network changes (30 June 2026) · GOV.UK: taking your pet to an EU country. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.