Up-to-date prices and schedules from P&O, DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, Condor and more. France, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and the Channel Islands — one search.
Pre-checked prices and operators for the busiest UK-international ferries.
Guides to every major UK ferry port — operators, routes, terminal directions and getting there.
We show prices for the actual car + passenger combinations most British families travel with — not headline foot-passenger fares that quietly evaporate.
P&O, DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, Condor, Wightlink and more — in one search via our Direct Ferries partner.
Every port guide, every route page, every FAQ is written for travellers leaving from or arriving in the UK. No filler.
No pop-ups, no countdown timers, no fake scarcity. Just the information you need to choose a ferry.
For short crossings, Dover-Calais and Dover-Dunkirk are usually cheapest — typically from £75-£90 for a car plus two passengers, with prices rising during school holidays. For travellers further west, Newhaven-Dieppe (DFDS) and Poole-Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries) can match the Dover prices once you factor in the drive to Kent.
For peak summer and school holidays, booking 4-6 months ahead usually wins the best price. Off-peak, you can often still find good fares 2-4 weeks out. Foot passenger and bicycle bookings are rarely full and can usually be booked late. Vehicle decks for popular crossings (Dover-Calais Friday evenings, summer Brittany routes) sell out fastest.
Yes — every international ferry from the UK requires a valid passport. For most EU countries you need at least three months' validity from your date of return. Check your passport before booking, and confirm operator-specific requirements on the operator's own pre-boarding page or gov.uk.
Yes, most major UK ferry operators carry pets — usually in your vehicle on the car deck, with limited pet-friendly cabins on overnight routes. You'll need an animal health certificate (AHC) for travel from GB to the EU. Check your operator's pet travel page before booking.
Often, yes — particularly outside peak times. The Dover-Calais ferry is usually £30-£60 cheaper than the equivalent Eurotunnel Le Shuttle crossing for a car plus passengers, although Le Shuttle is faster (35 minutes versus ~90 minutes). For larger vehicles, motorhomes and trailers, the ferry is usually significantly cheaper.
Travel midweek where possible — Tuesday and Wednesday sailings are usually cheapest. Book early for peak periods. Consider the slightly longer routes (Dover-Dunkirk vs Calais, Newhaven-Dieppe vs Dover) if you're flexible. Vehicle size matters — short cars under 5m are cheaper than the same booking with a roof box or tow bar attached.
Brittany Ferries' Portsmouth-Bilbao and Portsmouth-Santander routes — around 28-32 hours across the Bay of Biscay — are the longest scheduled passenger ferries from the UK. The Newcastle-Amsterdam DFDS service is the longest UK-Netherlands route at around 17 hours overnight.