Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel connects England and France. It is not possible to drive your car through the Channel tunnel. Instead you will need to use a Eurotunnel train (sometimes called Le Shuttle or Chunnel trains). These are special trains able to carry hundreds of cars quickly and safely through the tunnel. Ticket prices start at £49. The Eurotunnel terminal is at Folkestone, a few miles from Dover.
Passenger trains also run the the Channel Tunnel. These trains are run by Eurostar, and take passengers to various destinations, including from London to Paris in just over 2 hours. Prices start at £59 return.
The best ways to travel from Dover to Calais and to Cross the Channel
| Fastest | Cheapest | Most Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
 Eurotunnel takes just 35 minutes from Folkestone (near Dover) to Calais. Better still, the Eurotunnel Terminals are directly on the major road networks in England and France. Prices start at just £49 per car. Click here to find cheap deals and book tickets |
 The cheapest Channel ferry crossing from Dover is actually to Dunkirk, just a few miles from Calais. Crossings are available from Norfolk Line Ferries. Norfolk Line have up to 12 crossings a day from Dover to Dunkirk. Visit their web site here for all the best deals. Prices start at just £24 per car. Click here to book |
 Relax on the comfortable Eurostar train, then arrive in Paris 2 hours 15 minutes later. Eurostar trains depart from London, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, and stop in Calais, Lille, Paris, Eurodisney and beyond. Prices start at £59 return, London to Paris. Click here to book |
Compare Dover to Calais ferries and crossings
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P&O Ferries
|
Dover to Calais | 90 minutes | Up to 23 crossings per day | £30 per car |
 | |
| How to find the best fares: P & O Ferries offer more ferry crossings to France than anyone else. Crossing times are 90 minutes, and cheap fares can be found if you book ahead, travel at off peak times, and book direct through their web site. | ||||||
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | Sea France Ferries
|
Dover to Calais | 90 minutes | Up to 15 crossings per day |
£29 per car |
|
| How to find the best fares: As with P&O, the best fares can be found if you book direct with the operator online. Also look for the later or earlier ferries, preferably on a week day, as these will be cheaper. Consider too a day trip fare, which will be cheaper and often include special deals. Sea France also offer good fares on their multi-ticket Carnets for frequent travellers. | ||||||
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | |
| Norfolk Line
|
Dover to Dunkirk | 2 hrs | Up to 12 crossings per day |
£24 per car |
| |
| How to find the best fares: Book direct with Norfolk Line, as they will have the biggest choice of the cheap deals and fares available. For the cheapest deals you will need to book in advance, and travel at off peak times. | ||||||
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | |
| Eurotunnel
|
Dover to Calais | 35 minutes | Up to 37 crossings per day |
£49 per car |
|
|
| How to find the best fares: As with many of the cross channel travel companies, by booking in advance and travelling at a quieter, off peak time, you are more likely to find the cheapest deals available. Click here to find some of the best deals and prices for Eurotunnel | ||||||
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | |
| Eurostar
|
London to Paris | 2 hrs 15 mins | 18 trains per day from London to Paris |
£59 return per person |
| |
| How to find the best fares: Eurostar offer 3 types of fare - Business, Leisure Select and Standard. The cheapest tickets are the Standard fares. If you can travel at off peak times, and don't have to have flexible travel times, then you will be able to find the cheaper deals. Book direct and online with Eurostar for the full range of deals and fares at the cheapest prices. | ||||||
| Operator | Route | Journey Time | Frequency | Usual Prices From | Book Online | |
| L D Lines
|
Dover to Boulogne | 1 hr 45 mins | Up to 6 crossings per day |
£24 per car |
| |
| LD Lines have been operating various ferry crossings for some time, but their Dover to Boulogne route is fairly new. Click here to find the best deals. | ||||||
"Dover to Calais - Find the best deals online"
Here at Dover to Calais we constantly check all travel deals from the ferry, train and coach companies who offer services from Dover to Calais. So you can be sure to find the right deals and prices for your trip.
Travel using the Channel Tunnel
The Channel tunnel has made travel between England and France much quicker and easier. You can now get to France so much faster with your car by Eurotunnel, or travel from the centre of London to the centre of Paris on Eurostar in just over 2 hours.
About the Eurotunnel Trains:
Eurotunnel trains carry cars through the channel tunnel.
The
Eurotunnel train leaves from Folkestone just a few miles away from Dover.
Coming down the M20, the Eurotunnel even has its own motorway exit, junction
11A. Leave the motorway here and you will be straight at the check in
booths.
Eurotunnel offer a very reliable service, and unlike the ferries, isn't dependent
on the weather. There are frequent crossings, up to 3 departures per
hour and around 37 per day, late through the night and early into the
morning (hint: these are the cheap, off peak times!)
Boarding the Eurotunnel:
Getting on the train couldn’t be easier. You should check in between 2 hours and 30 minutes before departure. Provided you have booked in advance, you proceed to the Self Check-In lanes and look out for the kiosks situated before the main booths. Having booked your ticket online just insert the card you have used to pay into the kiosk and follow the instructions displayed on the touch screen to obtain your hanger. Your card won’t be debited. It is used for identification purposes only.
Once your hanger is printed, you can proceed to the terminal building
for some last minute shopping or, if your letter corresponds to the next
departure, go straight to the allocation lanes.
The process is exactly the same for your return journey. It doesn’t get
much easier than that!
The terminal caters well for everybody. There are toilets and nappy
changing facilities, bottle and food warmers as well as a feeding chair.
You will find an outdoor playing area for children and picnic tables
nearby so even if you have to wait for your departure, you won’t get
bored.
Eurotunnel - Find the best prices
Finding the best prices for the Eurotunnel is simple:
- Always book way in advance
- Book to travel at quieter, off peak times
- Book online at Eurotunnel's official web site here to avoid booking fees or travel agent's fees
Eurostar Passenger Trains
Eurostar operate the passenger trains that run through the Channel Tunnel. It is possible to board a Eurostar train at London St Pancras, Ebbsfleet or Ashford. Eurostar trains offer a big choice of destinations, including Calais, Lille, Paris, Brussels and Eurodisney.
How to book, and find the best prices and fares
The process of booking your Eurostar train ticket is simple, and can
all be done online at the official
Eurostar web site here. It is always best to book direct with
Eurostar, so that you can avoid any agent's fees or extras. Plus they
will have the greatest choice of fares and tickets available, such as
special offers and cheap deals.
You should also consider which class of Eurostar ticket you need.
Eurostar offer 3 levels of ticket - Business, Leisure Select or
Standard. Standard is the cheapest. Leisure select offers a higher level
of service, and is probably comparable to an airline "Club Class" fare.
Business tickets are obviously aimed at business travellers, and usually
offer the most flexibility.
If you can be specific about when you travel, and possibly travel at
more off peak times, then you are more likely to get a cheaper fare. A
flexible ticket will be more expensive.
Click here to book direct with Eurostar >>
This week's Cheapest deals for travel from Dover to Calais
We constantly check all the channel crossing travel companies so we can bring you the best deals and cheapest prices on travel from Dover to Calais. See the best deals for this week below:
Dover to Calais - Ferries, Trains and Coaches
P&O Ferries | Sea France Ferries | Eurotunnel Trains | Eurostar Trains | Norfolk Line | LD Lines | National Express Coaches |