Ferry vs Eurotunnel — which to choose

Eurotunnel — the standard route

Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais is the default route for most UK-to-France moves. The crossing itself is roughly 35 minutes; trains run frequently throughout the day; vehicles drive on at one end and off at the other with no offloading.

For households in London, the Midlands, the South East, and most of central UK, Eurotunnel is the practical choice — fastest channel crossing, most flexible timing, predictable schedule. Our weekly Eurotunnel runs leave Folkestone after the customs declarations are processed; the lorry then drives onward through northern France to the destination region.

Dover-Calais ferry — the alternative crossing

The Dover-Calais ferry is the legacy crossing — slower (90 minutes) and more weather-dependent than Eurotunnel, but with similar Calais arrival point. We use it occasionally where the Eurotunnel timing is problematic or where the cost favours, but it is not our default.

Western ferries — the Brittany / Normandy direct route

Plymouth to Roscoff (Brittany Ferries, ~6 hours daytime or overnight) and Portsmouth to Saint-Malo (Brittany Ferries, ~10 hours overnight) are direct western crossings that land the lorry close to the destination region. For Brittany destinations specifically, the western ferry is almost always the right choice — the lorry lands in Brittany rather than driving from Calais.

Portsmouth to Caen (overnight, ~6 hours) is the equivalent direct crossing for Normandy — Caen is roughly an hour's drive to most Normandy destinations, much shorter than the Calais alternative.

For destinations beyond Brittany or Normandy, the western ferries cost more than Eurotunnel but save substantial France-side ground driving. We compare both at quote stage and pick the most economical for the specific move.

Hull-Zeebrugge route — the Northern alternative

For households in the North of England or Scotland, the Hull to Zeebrugge ferry (P&O, ~14 hours overnight) sometimes makes sense — particularly for destinations in northern France or Brittany where the Belgian land entry plus French ground onward is shorter than the southern Eurotunnel route. The cost economics favour Hull-Zeebrugge for full-house moves over partial loads.

Choosing the right route — by destination

For Paris, Lyon, Provence, Côte d'Azur, Bordeaux, Loire — Eurotunnel from London / Midlands / South East / Bristol; western ferry from Bristol if heading west.

For Brittany — Plymouth-Roscoff for Finistère; Portsmouth-Saint-Malo for Ille-et-Vilaine; Eurotunnel only for non-coastal Brittany destinations.

For Normandy — Portsmouth-Caen direct; Portsmouth-Cherbourg for Cotentin; Eurotunnel as alternative.

From Northern UK or Scotland — Hull-Zeebrugge for Brittany / Normandy; Eurotunnel via M6 for southern French destinations.

We pick the route that suits your move at quote stage; the comparison is not about preference but about which route is faster, cheaper, or more reliable for your specific journey.