So you fancy taking a ferry on your next holiday? Well, here are the best ferry routes from the UK, including how long they’ll take you to travel and how much you can expect to pay.
For even more information on ferry routes, check out our friends at Discover Ferries. It’s the UK ferry industry body that represents 13 ferry operators and its mission is to promote the joy of ferry travel!
Coming up in this article
The Best UK Domestic Ferries
Let’s kickstart with some ferry routes that stay in the UK. After all, we’re lucky to live in such a beautiful country and the ferry is actually an amazing way to access some of those harder to reach destinations.
Scotland
The scenery on Scotland’s islands is sure to give you the wow factor! The good news is that there’s lots of ferry routes available in Scotland via Caledonian MacBrayne including:
Caledonian MacBrayne
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rothesay | Wemyss Bay, Isle of Bute | 35 mins | £8.40 return | £38.30 return |
Ardrossan | Brodick, Isle of Arran | 55 mins | £10.20 return | £51.20 return |
Oban | Craignure, Isle of Mull | 50 mins | £9.40 return | £44.60 return |
Mallaig | Armadale, Isle of Skye | 30 mins | £7.70 return | £33.30 return |
Kennacraig | Port Ellen, Isle of Islay | 2 hours 10 mins | £17.40 return | £105.20 return |
Ullapool | Stornoway, Isle of Lewis | 2 hours 40 mins | £24.60 return | £158.10 return |
Prices shown are lowest fares and concessions are available. The price of a car is in addition to the individuals travelling.
London
Didn’t realise London had its own ferry? It’s called the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and it’s a great way to explore the capital by river!
The boat stops at 24 piers along the Thames so you’re able to hop on and off, though you could do the entire route if you fancied:
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Child Foot Passenger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barking Riverside Pier | Putney Pier | 1 hour 57 mins | £25.40 unlimited travel | £12.70
unlimited travel |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Family tickets are also available for 2 adults and up to 3 children (aged 5-15) for £50.80.
There’s also ‘Single’, ‘Return’ and ‘East Zone River Roamer’ ticket options available too.
Isle of Wight
Situated just off the south coast of England, the Isle of Wight is only two hours from London via ferry or hovercraft. Thanks to its diverse landscapes, pretty beaches and charming towns the island has earnt the nickname “England in miniature”.
There are three ferry operators that serve the Isle of Wight including Wightlink, Hovertravel and Red Funnel. Here’s an example of some of the available routes for each:
Wightlink
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Up to 7 Adults + Car | Foot Passenger Day Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth | Ryde Pier Head | 22 mins | £20.70 one way £41.40 return | N/A | £28.80 pp |
Portsmouth | Fishbourne | 45 mins | £17.20 one way £34.40 return | From £87 return | £24.20 pp |
Lymington | Yarmouth | 40 mins | £16.70 one way £33.40 return | From £97 return | £23.40 pp |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Kids even travel for free during school holidays!
Hovertravel
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Adult Foot Passenger Day Return | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southsea | Ryde | 10 mins | £24.60 one way | £33.60 (£45.60 90-day return) | N/A |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. There are also family tickets (max 2 adults and up to 3 children) available online.
Red Funnel
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Up to 7 Adults + Car | Adult Foot Passenger Day Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southampton | East Cowes | 1 hour | £13.20 one way £24.30 return | £64.50 one way | £26.30 foot passenger return £47.10 family day return £98 return with a vehicle & up to 7 passengers |
Southampton | West Cowes | 28 mins | £22.75 one way | N/A | £34.90 pp foot passenger £47.10 family day return |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly are one of those places that make you gasp and go ‘is that really in the UK?’ but yes, yes it is!
Travelling with Isles of Scilly Travel, it’s actually cheaper to do a day return journey but since you have to complete it in one day, it doesn’t give you much time to explore. Tickets get more expensive during peak times, i.e. during the summer.
Isles of Scilly Travel
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | Adult Day Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Penzance | St Mary’s | 2 hours 45 mins | £75 one way | £35 return |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. There are flights available too, as well as ‘Fly + Sail’ rates, though they are more expensive.
The Best UK to British Islands Ferries
If you’re wondering what counts as ‘British Islands’, you won’t be the first – nor the last! But it’s because the islands of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom. In fact, they each have their own parliament, government and laws!
But geography aside, all that really matters at this moment is that they are brilliant destinations to visit by ferry and if you’re travelling directly from the UK, you don’t even need to remember your passport to get there!
Isle of Man
Did you know that the Isle of Man is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and Dark Sky area so great for nature and star gazing? And you can head to explore it with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which has routes including:
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 1 Adult + Car | Day trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heysham | Douglas | 3 hours 35 mins | £25.25 one way | £162.50 one way | £42.50 for foot passengers £258 for a car & 4 passengers |
Liverpool | Douglas | 2 hours 45 mins | £25.25 one way | £218.25 one way | £50.50 for foot passengers £262 for a car & 4 passengers |
Belfast | Douglas | 2 hours 45 mins | £25.25 one way | £203.25 one way | NA |
Dublin | Douglas | 2 hours 55 mins | £25.25 one way | £203.25 one way | NA |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
Channel Islands: Guernsey & Jersey
I think we forget just how close Guernsey and Jersey are to France and so what a great way to get that abroad feeling without having to travel too far!
Here’s some of the routes available:
Condor Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Poole | Guernsey | from 3 hours | £45 one way | £165 one way |
DFDS
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth | Jersey | 9 hours | £54 one way | £160 one way |
Poole | Jersey | from 4 hours 30 mins | £55 one way | £245 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants
The Best UK to Ireland Ferries
When I think of a ferry trip, my mind always goes to taking the crossing over to Ireland. I mean, what better way to prime yourself for a trip to the Emerald Isle than by enjoying a pint of Guinness on board beforehand?!
Ireland
There are lots of options for getting the ferry over to Ireland, with routes being offered by Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, and Stena Line.
P&O Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cairnryan | Larne | 2 hours | £25 | £170 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants
Stena Line
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cairnryan | Belfast | 2 hours 15 mins | £36 | £181 one way |
Liverpool | Belfast | 8 hours | £36 | £188 one way |
Holyhead | Dublin | 3 hours 15 mins | £32.30 | £167.80 one way |
Fishguard | Rosslare | 3 hours 30 mins | £32.30 | £167.80 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. A day trip to Belfast from Cairnryan costs as little as £20.
Irish Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 1 Adult + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pembroke | Rosslare | 4 hours | N/A | £156 one way |
Holyhead | Dublin | 3 hours 15 mins | £38 | £155 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants
Also, a shout out to the Cairnryan – Belfast route on Stena Line as selected ferries have an onboard spa!
The Best UK to Europe Ferries
Growing up, the ferry was the answer to many of the holidays my family would take if we wanted to leave the UK. As there were six of us, it often worked out as the cheapest way. That, and there’s nothing quite like not having to worry about baggage allowances when you have a car to fill up instead!
France
Now, there’s quite a few options here from different ferry operators, including DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, and Brittany Ferries.
Here’s some of our favourite routes:
DFDS
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 1 Adult + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dover | Calais | 1 hours 30 mins | N/A | £104 one way |
Dover | Dunkirk | 1 hours 30 mins | N/A | £104 one way |
Newhaven | Dieppe | 4 hours | £36 | £109.50 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Travellers can take advantage of short break offers to Dover-France including a 3 day return from £199 or a 5 day return from £149 for a car and up to 4 passengers.
Irish Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 9 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dover | Calais | 1 hour 30 mins | N/A | £89 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Currently travellers can book a day return from £44.
P&O Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 4 Adults + Car | Day Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dover | Calais | 1 hour 30 mins | £30 | £93 one way | £45 for a vehicle & up to 9
passengers |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Short break offers include a 3 day return from £199 or a 5 day return from £149 for a car and 9 passengers.
Brittany Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth | Le Havre | 6 hours | £22 one way | £64 one way |
Portsmouth | Caen | 5 hours 45 mins / 7 hours overnight | £22 one way | £64 one way |
Portsmouth | Cherbourg | 8 hours overnight | £22 one way | £64 one way |
Portsmouth | Saint Malo | 11 hours overnight | £22 one way | £100.50 one way |
Poole | Cherbourg | 4 hours 30 mins | £22 one way | £54 one way |
Plymouth | Roscoff | 5 hours 30 mins / 9 hours overnight | £51 one way | £75.50 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants. Fancy a budget-friendly short break? Book a 30 hour return trip to France from £26 per person when travelling as a foot passenger. Or book a 5 day return for a car and 2 passengers from £186.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is another great option if you’re planning to take the ferry – it always surprises me how quickly you can reach this country after you get off the boat!
Again, there’s a few different ferry operators offering routes here including DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line:
DFDS
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger + cabin | 2 Adults + Car + Standard Cabin | 2 Night Mini Cruise for 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newcastle | Amsterdam | 12 hours | £187 one way | £167 one way | from £55pp |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
P&O Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car | 2 Night Mini Cruise for 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hull | Rotterdam | 11 hours 15 mins | £119 one way | £243 one way | from £75pp |
Prices shown include a standard cabin, and are also the lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
Stena Line
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Harwich | Hook of Holland | 5 hours 30 mins / 8 hours overnight | £50.96 | £102 one way |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
Spain
The final destination on our radar is less of a go to option when it comes to ferry travel but the great news is that yes, you can get to Spain by sea too! These are longer routes, but are perfect if you’re hoping to reach somewhere further afield with your own car in tow.
These routes are all with Brittany Ferries:
Brittany Ferries
From | To | Duration | Adult Foot Passenger | 2 Adults + Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plymouth | Santander | 20 hours 15 mins | from £90 | £141 |
Portsmouth | Bilbao | 32 hours 30 mins | from £90 | £252 |
Portsmouth | Santander | 31 hours | from £90 | £141 |
Prices shown are lowest fares and discounts may be available for additional adults, and also for children and infants.
However, I do think taking a 20 hour ferry to Santander would be a great adventure, especially with their ORCA co-ordinated deck watches for marine life. Who needs cruises when you can make that a part of your trip instead?!!
Want to find out more about travelling by ferry? Visit DiscoverFerries.com, which has information on different ferry destinations, advice for travelling with pets and guidance on making sure your travel documents.
