Ferry routes to Great Britain - Ferry routes to Great Britain

CautionCOVID-19 information: Due to a new variant of COVID-19 that is spreading in the UK, many ferries have shut off non-essential travel as many countries have banned UK travellers from entry. Travel to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain, is strongly discouraged.

Many ferries may also require you to get a COVID-19 test before hopping on board the ferry. If you must travel, it is strongly advised to check with your ferry operator on any changes on the routes as well as any requirements that you must follow. Wearing a mask and following social distancing guidelines is also required in public areas.

(Information last updated 23 Dec 2020)

As Britain is an island, ferries were the only way to get into the country prior to the advent of aviation and later the construction of the Channel Tunnel which gave a "dry foot" route from Britain to the continent for the first time since the Ice Ages. See also the Get in section of the Britain article. Below is a list of routes that are available. It may not be complete.

From the south coast

Crossing the English Channel

The modern Seven Sisters Ferry, Newhaven
Major airports and ferry routes (some are missing)

Portsmouth and Southampton act as ports for transport to the Isle of Wight; Portsmouth and Poole also have routes to Guernsey and Jersey, provided by Condor Ferries.

By coach or bus

If you are booked onto a scheduled international bus route that crosses the Channel, it may either go by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel; you don't get the choice. However, in general FlixBus and Ouibus use the tunnel, Sindbad and Transmarian use the ferry, and Eurolines use both, depending on route. Schedules can change day-to-day depending on conditions at sea and fluctuations in ticket prices between the ferry companies and Eurotunnel. You can also catch a domestic bus to any Channel port of your choosing and take the ferry as a foot passenger, but this is not possible with the Eurotunnel. If you are going on a package coach holiday, the company will always explain how you are supposed to get to and from your start point.

To Ireland and Northern Ireland

The Irish Ferries Ulysses, the world's largest ferry

Crossing the Irish Sea

Isle of Man

East coast routes

Crossing the North Sea

These routes may be subject to change. It is recommended to contact the ferry operators and book ahead.

This travel topic about Ferry routes to Great Britain is an outline and needs more content. It has a template , but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow !