A Guide to Driving from the UK to Europe [2024]

Your guide to taking your campervan from the UK to Europe

Despite the English Channel that separates the United Kingdom from the rest of mainland Europe, driving from the UK to Europe is really simple. There are several different ways and routes you can do this and we’ll outline them all and our favourite options.

Le Shuttle from UK to France 

Le Shuttle is by far the quickest, easiest, and most environmentally-friendly way to drive from the UK to Europe. The crossing is around 50 kilometres long and only takes 35 minutes. 

This is also a brilliant option if you have a pet, especially if they are not used to being left alone in a vehicle by themselves. You check your pet in to scan their microchip and check their passport, exercise them in the designated pet area and then they can stay in the vehicle with you as you travel on the train. Since it’s not very long, they’ll be enjoying their next walk on French soil before they know it!

Another thing we love about Le Shuttle is that it’s really flexible, if you arrive a little early or a little late for your crossing you will more than likely just be put on the next train without any trouble. Compared to boarding ferries, there is hardly any waiting around so it’s definitely the most efficient option. 

So, why doesn’t everyone take this option? Many people think the channel tunnel is much more expensive than the ferry and while some of the time slots are more expensive than others, you can often find a timeslot that is a similar price to the Dover-Calais ferry.  

Ferries from UK to France

Dover - Calais

The Dover-Calais ferry is the quickest ferry of all the options from the UK to Europe, due to crossing over the smallest distance of water. The ferry usually takes about an hour and a half but you also have to allow time for check in and boarding. 

On this ferry, all of the ferry providers require your pet to remain in the vehicle for the duration of the crossing. As it’s only a short ferry, this isn’t too bad, but if you have a pet that doesn’t like being left alone or in the vehicle, you might want to look a the Eurotunnel or one of the other ferries where you can choose to have a pet-friendly cabin, more on that later!

Personally we think if you are crossing here it is better to get the Eurotunnel simply because it is quicker and the price difference is not much  

Plymouth/Portsmouth - Roscoff/Cherbourg

Both the Plymouth - Roscoff and Portsmouth - Cherbourg ferry routes are a great option if you want to explore Western France or even head into Spain. The ferry journeys are roughly 5 hours so are a good amount of time to be able to enjoy the ferry journey. They are also both Brittany Ferries routes, which are brilliant if you are bringing your dog. You can get a pet cabin and it is one of the best ones we’ve been in. The ferry had clear signs about where your pet can and can’t go on the ferry and the cabin even had a little doggy gift bag with a toy in.

Onward travel 

Once you’ve made it over the channel, you’re in a great place to explore anywhere in Europe due to France’s great location. One of the most perfect destinations from here is to head towards the Alps. From Calais, you can reach Chamonix in the French Alps in only 8 hours of driving. 

Another amazing option is to head North once you reach France and explore some of the beautiful cities in Belgium and the Netherlands. This is a good option if you want to avoid paying any tolls and you want to tackle some smaller countries in Europe. 

Alternative options

If you are planning to explore Spain and Portugal, you might prefer ferries that take you closer to your destination. It’s still possible to drive from France, but it will take you a bit longer and if you’re only a short trip, it isn’t ideal to spend so much time behind the wheel.

There are ferry routes that run from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Bilbao in Northern Spain. Plymouth - Santander is the fastest ferry from the UK to Spain at 20 hours. These ferries are much more expensive than Dover - Calais or the Eurotunnel, but you might find that you save enough money in fuel, and tolls, as well as saving your precious time driving, that it is worth it. 

The pet friendly cabins on these ferries can get booked up pretty quick, so if you are planning to bring your pet you might want to look into this option in advance to ensure that you have the best option for them. 

It’s also worth mentioning that if you live in the North of England then you might find options like the ferry route from Harwich - Hook of Holland a better option because it saves you driving through England. You will have to weigh up the pros and cons of different options depending on where you are planning to road trip, how much time you have and your budget. 

Why drive from the UK to Europe?

There are many reasons why you might want to drive to Europe. Whether you are looking for more eco-friendly, flight-free options to travel, you want to try out car-camping or take your campervan over to the continent, or you might just want to have the freedom of having your own car with you to explore on holiday. Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that it’s easy, if not easier than flying.

Driving in the EU with a UK license

You might be wondering how easy it is to drive in the EU with a UK license since Brexit and the good news is that you don't need any extra documents. You will need to carry your UK driving license with you, as well as your vehicle log book. If you want more information about what UK drivers need to drive in Europe, you can read this guidance on Driving in the EU.

For help planning your road trip, see our road trip guides here.