Ferries to France
from Portsmouth
The closest port to London offers the widest choice to France
- Fast-craft, day or night cruises
- Mix & match your routes
- Day-trips, short breaks and a wide choice of holidays also available
Experiencing the Olympics?
If you're coming to London for the Olympics, but don't have tickets for all your events, why not take a few days out to explore some of the finest regions of France with Brittany Ferries? Not only can we get you there, we can even arrange your accommodation.
Discover Brittany and Normandy
A world away from the bustling streets of Paris - yet still easy to get - the northern regions of Brittany and Normandy are filled with fascinating and fun things to see and explore.
Discover historic medieval towns, magnificent ancient monuments such as the Mont St Michel and mile upon mile of stunning scenery.
Normandy is also of course the home of the significant sites of the D-Day landings, such as Omaha beach, Utah beach, Sword beach and Pegasus Bridge, as well as poignant memorials such as the American and Allied Forces' cemeteries.
Better still, here you'll enjoy a far more typical and authentic French way of life, with a relaxed pace, traditional values and lots of local foodie specialities - as well as fine wines, and even French cider!
Sailing to Caen, you can also enjoy easy access Disneyland® Paris - why not check out our inclusive Disneyland® Paris packages including your sailings, park entry and stay at a nearby hotel.
Cruise direct with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth
To get you there, Brittany Ferries offer a great choice of ferries to France with either daytime, overnight or high-speed sailings direct from Portsmouth, which is an easy trip from London.
Go by road using the new A3 directly from London, with great bus connections to and from the port from the city's main stations. You can also travel by National Express from London's Victoria Coach Station.
| Average journey time | Frequency | Operator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 1h 35m | Up to 4 per hour | National Rail |
| Coach | 1h 40m | Up to 8 daily | National Express |
| Car | Under 1 hour via the A3 & the new Hindhead tunnel | - | Via Michelin |
And if time's precious, our high-speed services are the perfect choice. Whisking you to Caen or Cherbourg in as little as 2½ hours, they're perfect a perfect day trip, or just one night away.
All sailings are perfectly timed too - with day and overnight crossings ensuring you can get from and back to the Olympic venues without missing out on all the actions!
Getting to the Olympics
The main Olympic Park is easily accessible from either Waterloo train station or the Victoria Coach Station, via the Underground to Stratford. However, there are plenty of other ways of getting to the Olympic Park, including train, bus, Docklands Light Railway. If you plan to hire a car in England you are strongly recommended not to drive to Olympic Games venues.
Venue and transport maps
- London Olympic venues and key tourist sites
- Olympic Park showing transport access
- For a London subway / underground map
Make Brittany Ferries part of your holiday
More cruise ship than ferry, we make getting to France all part of the fun with award-winning service and top-class facilities - not to mention an authentic French atmosphere from the moment you step aboard. A refreshing thought when you've probably already endured the hassles of a long flight to get you to the UK!
Enjoy a sumptuous meal in out a la carte restaurant, a cocktail in our stylish bars and lounge areas, watch a film in our on board cinema, or enjoy a spot of shopping in our chic shops. Or simply put your feet up in our comfortable en-suite cabins.
Or if time's precious, choose one of our high-speed ferry services, which will whisk you to Caen or Cherbourg in as little as 2½ hours, making for a perfect day trip or just one night away.
Even more to explore - in northern Spain
If you've got time to venture further, Brittany Ferries also sail to Santander and Bilbao in northern Spain.
Known as 'real' Spain due to its unique culture mixed with breathtaking scenery and dramatic mountain peaks, it's a world away from the busier areas further south; filled with magnificent architecture, historical sites, stunning beaches and of course delicious cuisine.
From Portsmouth you'll sail overnight, enjoying a mini-cruise experience on board one of Brittany Ferries' first-class cruise ferries.
