10 Memorable Boat & Ferry Trips From The UK
In a world of budget airlines and trains that whizz beneath the English channel, we sometimes forget that travelling by ferry is a great way to head off on your family vacation.
Whether it’s a quick ferry crossing to France or a longer journey down to Spain, making a ferry ride your transport of choice means that you get to pack everything that you’ll need into your car, and then when you get to your destination you can simply drive off and get your holiday started.
In this article we take a look at some of the best boat and ferry trips that you can take from the United Kingdom.
Dover to Calais
It’s only a short journey from Dover to the French port of Calais. Why not drive along the coast to Boulogne-sur-Mer, a fantastic coastal community that was used extensively by Napoleon in his designs for launching an attack against England. Whether you’re interested in beaches, cliff-walking, or just admiring the enormous aquarium that is here, Boulogne-sur-Mer is is the ideal family vacation destination.
Newcastle to Amsterdam
From Newcastle you can take an overnight ferry crossing to the port of Ijmuiden which is very close to Amsterdam. If you don’t have your car with you then Amsterdam has extensive rail connections that can take you anywhere across Europe, or if you are travelling with your car then head off on the next stage of your expedition. Why not drive on to Poland — it’s a 12 hour drive from Amsterdam through some of the most beautiful German and Polish countryside.
Portsmouth to Le Havre
Le Havre is in the north-west of France, situated on the estuary of the river Seine which is more generally associated with the capital Paris. This is the second largest port in France (after Marseille) so there is a lot of commercial shipping and container traffic around the docks. This is a good starting point for your journey into France.
Liverpool to Dublin
The capital city of Dublin is always a popular tourism destination. Known for its vibrant nightlife and celebration of the dark liquid Guinness, you can also use Dublin as a launching pad to explore everything that Ireland has to offer.
Plymouth to Roscoff
Roscoff is the gateway to Brittany in the north west of France. Brittany is the large peninsula jutting out into the English channel, the region takes its name from the settlers from Britain who fled their lands following the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England in the fifth century. This is a fascinating part of the world with a distinct culture that is quite different from the rest of France.
Portsmouth to Bilbao
As well as being the ideal landing point from which to explore the vast country of Spain, Bilbao itself is a city worth spending some time in. As a centre for the Basque Country, there is a strong sense of culture and identity that is unique to this part of the world. There is also the Guggenheim Museum which opened in 1997 and draws huge numbers of visitors.
Poole to St Malo
St Malo in the north west of France has historically been infamous as a home for pirates — the corsairs that forced passing English ships to pay tribute. While the ancient walled city was destroyed during fighting in World War II, it has been rebuilt and there are many historic buildings that are worth exploring. Today, St Malo is the most visited place in Brittany.
Plymouth to Santander
The port city of Santander is the capital of Spain’s Cantabria region on the north coast of Spain. Santander has an interesting city and is worth spending a little time in to explore, but most people will be passing through the city in order to head out to explore the mountains and villages that define this part of the country.
Hull to Rotterdam
Rotterdam may not initially strike you as an exciting tourism destination, but there is surprisingly a lot to get excited about in Rotterdam. Rotterdam is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world — a major commercial centre for Europe that brings together the road, rail, and sea transport links that connect Europe together. Completely rebuilt since World War II, today Rotterdam is a modern and vibrant city, renowned for its nightlife and restaurants.
Portsmouth to Jersey
Just off the coast of Normandy lies the small island of Jersey. Although it falls within the domain of the British Crown, Jersey is a self-governing democracy. With a strong French influence and a sense that it is almost a land that has been lost in time, Jersey moves at a different pace, a slower pace, the perfect pace for your next vacation.
Start your vacation with an expedition across the water. The world awaits!
