Folkestone – Calais
Ferries to France
Folkestone – Calais
Ferries to France
The Folkestone Calais Eurotunnel route connects England with France. Currently there is just the 1 Eurotunnel company operating this Eurotunnel service, LeShuttle (Eurotunnel). The crossing operates up to 42 times each day with sailing durations from around 35 minutes.
Folkestone Calais sailing durations and frequency may vary from season to season so we’d advise doing a live check to get the most up to date information.
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Found on the south-east coast of England, at the foot of a valley hewn by two, tree-lined hills that rise towards the thriving rural sweep of the North Downs, is the port town of Folkestone. The harbour has been a keystone of the town’s culture ever since it was first established as a naval base in the middle-ages, during which time it was used to fortify the north banks of the English Channel against French invaders. Part of this legacy has been preserved by the Martello towers that dot the shore, the cylindrical fortresses built in the 19th Century to help protect the mainland from the fleets of Napoleon. Nowadays Folkestone is most known as the site of the Channel Tunnel train terminal that connects mainland Britain to Calais in northern France. It is also an area of astounding natural beauty. The vast expanse of grassland that envelops the town rolls on verdant hills pitted by woodland copses and picturesque villages while, by the stretch of beaches that line the coast, sandstone cliffs tower over the sea. The Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone is found at the edge of town, just off the M20 motorway that curves in from the north. It’s a large facility consisting of a central terminal and eight platforms that allow passengers, either travelling on foot or by car, to quickly board the trains. As one of the main routes into Europe there are plenty of amenities featuring a number of cafes, fast-food restaurants, a duty-free store, toilets and an indoor seating and exhibition area. There are plenty of daily crossings available from the Folkestone Eurotunnel. A Le Shuttle line makes the short journey through the underground tunnel that crosses the width of The Channel, before arriving in the district of Coquelles in Calais.
Calais is the closest French town to England and the main port for crossing the Channel, with the largest choice of departure time. The crossing between Calais and Dover is the shortest sailing between England and France too. Around 4 miles from Calais, in Coquelles, you'll find the Eurotunnel terminal. There is also a direct link to Paris from Calais, by train. Calais is also a fishing port so you'll be able to taste fresh cuisine all around the town too.
