The Fastest Route: Through the Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel, known as one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century, offers two primary methods for crossing.
Eurostar
The Eurostar is a high-speed rail link that connects various major cities directly to London St Pancras Station or Ashford, Kent. This service operates from destinations such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Lille, Disneyland Paris, the French Alps (during the ski season), and extends as far south as Marseille. With frequent departures, the travel time from Paris averages about two hours and 15 minutes. Moreover, travelers can find attractive deals when planning ahead through Eurostar’s website.
Passengers enjoy spacious and comfortable seating, with meal services available based on the selected fare. A key advantage of Eurostar is the convenience of traveling from city center to city center. This means you board the train in central Paris and, within a few hours, arrive in central London. This eliminates concerns regarding costly taxi fares or navigating complex public transportation options after a long journey.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle operates the car shuttle service from Coquelles, near Calais, to Folkestone in Kent. Known colloquially as Le Chunnel, this service also accommodates bicycles and coaches. During peak times, there are four departures per hour, and bookings are available in two-hour increments. After driving your own vehicle onto the train in France, the journey takes just 35 minutes beneath the Channel, before you disembark in England. Additionally, passengers can save money by booking in advance to secure great deals.
For pet owners, Le Shuttle is particularly convenient because pets can travel with you in your vehicle, provided they have a valid pet passport, facilitating minimal formalities. Furthermore, traveling with larger families or groups can be more economical, as the price is per car for up to nine passengers.
The terminals for Le Shuttle provide access to major motorways at both ends of the journey, ensuring a smooth driving experience on the proper side of the road based on the country.
Crossing the Channel by Ferry
Despite initial expectations that the completion of the Channel Tunnel would eliminate ferry services, ferries remain a popular and economical option. They are especially favorable for cyclists, pedestrians, individuals with oversized vehicles, pet travelers, and those who appreciate a scenic journey between countries.
There’s nothing quite as picturesque as approaching the stunning white chalk cliffs of Dover’s English coast. The ferry route from Dover to Calais is the shortest sea crossing between France and England, taking approximately 90 minutes, followed by a two-hour crossing from Dover to Dunkirk. On many longer crossings, cabin bookings are available, and overnight ferries operate to Normandy, Brittany, and Spain. Your chosen route will depend greatly on your departure point.
Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries operates the highest number of crossings to France and Spain, with a unique backstory. Founded by Bretagne farmers in 1973 to facilitate open trade with Britain, the company started by purchasing its own ship when they could not find a ferry operator. Today, it stands as the largest company managing western Channel crossings, still under the ownership of Brittany farmers. Notable ferry crossings include:
- From Santander, Spain, and Roscoff, Brittany to Plymouth, Devon
- From Bilbao and Santander, Spain to Portsmouth, Hampshire
- From Cherbourg, Normandy to Poole, Dorset
- From Caen, Cherbourg, and Le Havre, Normandy and St. Malo, Brittany to Portsmouth
Condor Ferries
Condor Ferries operates routes from St. Malo to Poole and Cherbourg to Portsmouth, with connections to the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.
DFDS Seaways
DFDS Seaways, a leading ferry operator in Northern Europe, provides services from Dunkirk and Calais to Dover—the shortest crossing—along with routes from Dieppe in Normandy to Newhaven, Kent, and Newcastle to Amsterdam. Their ferries are noted for being clean, comfortable, and well-organized, featuring good catering and spacious lounges, making them an ideal choice for travelers headed to Normandy or Pas de Calais.
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries offers frequent ferry services from Calais to Dover, as well as longer crossings across the North Sea, connecting Zeebrugge in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands to Hull on England’s northeast coast. For these longer journeys, passengers can reserve cabins, which are especially beneficial for those seeking comfort during an approximately 12-hour maritime journey.
