Crossing to France: Where the Journey Becomes Part of the Dream

There’s a moment, somewhere between departure and arrival, when the idea of France stops being a plan and starts to feel real.

It might be standing on the deck of a ferry as the White Cliffs of Dover fade into the distance, the wind carrying that unmistakable sense of leaving something behind.

Or it might be the quiet hum of a train deep beneath the Channel, knowing that in just a few minutes, you’ll emerge into a different country, a different rhythm, a different way of life.

However you choose to cross, this is more than just a journey. It’s the beginning of something.

The Ferry: A Slower, More Romantic Crossing

For many, the ferry is still the most evocative way to travel to France. It’s not just about getting there, it’s about easing yourself into the experience.

You arrive at the port, queue gently forward, and drive onto the ship. Then, almost ceremonially, you leave your car behind and step into a different space entirely.

There are cafés, lounges, restaurants, and open decks where the sea stretches endlessly ahead.

The crossing itself becomes part of the story.

From Dover, the short routes to Calais or Dunkirk are quick enough, just long enough for a coffee, a wander, and that first quiet moment of reflection. But it’s the longer sailings, particularly those run by operators like Brittany Ferries, that truly transform the journey. Departing from Portsmouth, Plymouth or Poole, these crossings take you deeper into France, Normandy, Brittany, even the western edges of the country, while giving you time to slow down, to breathe, to begin the transition.

You might dine onboard, watch the sunset over the Channel, or simply sit and think about what lies ahead. For many people relocating to France, this is the point where everything starts to feel real.

The ferry doesn’t rush you. It invites you to arrive properly.

The Eurotunnel: The Effortless Leap Between Countries

And then there is the Eurotunnel, quietly brilliant in its simplicity.

There’s no sea air, no horizon, no sense of distance in the traditional way. Instead, there is efficiency. Precision. Movement without interruption.

You drive onto the train at Folkestone, settle into your vehicle, and within 35 minutes, you are in France.

It feels almost unreal the first time. One moment you’re in the UK, the next you’re rolling off the train in Calais, joining the French motorway network as if you’d always been there.

For those who value speed and simplicity, it’s hard to beat. There are frequent departures, often several each hour, and minimal fuss. No weather delays, no long embarkation rituals. Just a seamless crossing that fits neatly into a longer journey, whether you’re heading to Normandy, the Dordogne, or much further south.

If the ferry is about savouring the journey, the Eurotunnel is about removing friction from it entirely.

Choosing Your Crossing: Lifestyle vs Practicality

The choice between ferry and tunnel often says more about your mindset than your itinerary.

Some travellers want to stretch the experience, to let the journey unfold gradually, to mark the transition with something tangible. For them, the ferry offers space, atmosphere, and a sense of occasion.

Others want efficiency. They want to be on the road, covering distance, making progress. For them, the Eurotunnel is the perfect tool - fast, predictable, and refreshingly straightforward.

In truth, most people who travel regularly to France end up using both. The ferry when time allows, when the journey matters. The tunnel when it doesn’t.

The First Step Into France

Whichever route you take, there’s a quiet shift that happens when you arrive.

The road signs change. The language changes. Even the light feels different.

And for those planning a longer stay, or a complete move, this crossing is more than symbolic. It’s also your entry into the wider Schengen Area, where travel rules apply, including the well-known 90 days in any 180-day period limit for short stays.

Increasingly, these movements are tracked digitally through new border systems, reinforcing the importance of planning ahead if France is more than just a visit .

But in that first moment those practicalities tend to fade into the background.

What takes over instead is possibility.

More Than Just a Crossing

In the end, how you cross to France becomes part of your story.

It’s the beginning of a holiday, a regular journey, or perhaps the first chapter of a completely new life.

You might remember the sea air, the stillness, the anticipation. Or you might remember the speed, the simplicity, the almost magical transition from one country to another.

Either way, you’ll remember the moment you arrived.

And that’s what really matters.

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Phil commented:

“When we first purchased our house we were not living full time in France so we would travel out every month or so for a week or two at a time, once Kirsti moved I would be coming out every 8 weeks and still be working in the UK so travel was mainly via Eurotunnel, with the occasional ferry trip Dover to Calais. Today we are using the ferry more and utilising Caen to Portsmouth and other ports such as Cherbourg.

Eurotunnel is quick and easy for those wanting to get to France quickly and also have a shorter crossing and more flexibility on time, but Ashford in Kent is a long way for many in the UK to travel to, plus you have the M25 to navigate. Eurotunnel used to have a really great frequent traveller ticket, where you purchased blocks of 10 crossings, this was really cost effective and made travelling with Eurotunnel very attractive even with the travel time to Ashford. Today there is no frequent traveller tickets and last March Eurotunnel changed its policy on arrival to the terminal, you used to have a bit of give in when you arrived, allowing you to leave earlier and also allow a bit for lateness – but today it is much stricter and even travelling earlier you have to pay to do so. The introduction of the EES border controls are likely to lead to more queues at the port.

Overall travelling with Eurotunnel is very straightforward, it does mean you can get to France quick and easy with a vehicle, but unless you live around London or the East of the UK it is a long way to drive, even from the East you will have to pay for the Dartford crossing aswell. There is nothing wrong with Eurotunnel, it does a job and if you are moving to Northern France, or the East or around Paris then it works well, but the prices have been rising and there is so little flexibility now. The terminal in summer really does struggle in daytime hours, it is to be expected, but it doesn't help.

The channel ferries offer an alternative and are competitively priced especially on the Dover - Calais route. This route is a direct competitor to the Eurotunnel and is a route, as is Eurotunnel, for passenger and freight traffic. The drive is further on from Ashford, the port can get very busy in summer and space at a premium for queuing etc partly due to the geography of the area.

What we found using the ferry on this route was that it gave you a chance for a break, stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat and then be on your way the other side. The downside as with Eurotunnel is location for those coming form further away with a vehicle and also to note has been the ongoing roadworks on the M20, which are nearing completion. The ferry route does what it says, it is more budget on these routes, but it is functional and does the job. There has always been some romance around taking a ferry from Dover to Calais.

Other routes we are now using more is from Caen in Normandy to Portsmouth, this is the most popular route and actually there are 3 crossings a day both ways, this route is also a popular freight route. The set up in France is very straightforward and you literally turn off the main road and straight to check in. The port itself is easily accessible and travelling up in France well accessed by motorway routes. On the UK side the port again is pretty easily accessed, just at the moment there are ongoing motorway works around the area and this is adding time to journeys, but hopefully soon be finished.

Portsmouth is easier to get to for those in the South, South West and Midlands and an alternative for those from the West side of London. There are a number of routes heading into Portsmouth, but also to Newhaven and to Poole with good connections. We have used Brittany Ferries on the Caen to Portsmouth route and found the ferries to be clean, facilities for children and adults alike, plus the choice of an overnight crossing. The crossing takes around 6 hours, we have travelled in the daytime and overnight. The cabins are sufficient and have a toilet and shower, so all you need really. The food offering has a number of choices and you don’t overly feel that you are paying over the odds.

There are many ways to get to France form the UK, but if you are needing to drive then you need to weigh up time and cost, plus driving distances with ease of driving. I have always been a fan of Eurotunnel to just get to France or just to get to the UK and you don’t mind driving or you share the driving, the same for the Dover – Calais ferry, allowing for a small break.

For me now the ferry from Caen to Portsmouth has more benefits to me, it is easier to get to from home in France, it is easier driving when I get to the UK than driving round the M25, plus you get a proper break. When I go to the UK I am heading to Gloucestershire, so the drive just works better. The facilities onboard work and being able to get a bed with ensuite was worth while. My overall view is that all the routes are much of a muchness when you weigh up costs and time – but choose which one gives you an easier time."