Ferry from London to Bruges
Bruges has no port, but from London it is one of the easiest Belgian cities to reach: drive to Dover, cross to Calais or Dunkirk, and Bruges is about an hour up the E40 from Dunkirk, a little more from Calais. Door to door count on around four and a half hours. The overnight boat from Harwich to Hook of Holland works too, but leaves you a longer drive of roughly two and a half hours on the far side.
Routes
To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend.
Our experience
We’ve sailed with every ferry operator on the Dover–Calais route ourselves. We were particularly impressed by P&O Ferries thanks to its competitive fares, modern ships, clean facilities, spacious outdoor decks, and overall comfort. For most travellers heading to Belgium, this is often the fastest and most affordable option.
Our experience
This is the only cross-Channel route we haven’t personally sailed, so we can’t offer a first-hand opinion.
Our experience
A comfortable overnight crossing on large ferries. The sailing is short enough to get some rest while still arriving early in the Netherlands, leaving you with a full day to enjoy in Belgium. Thanks to excellent public transport connections, it’s also a popular choice with cyclists.
Ferry services from London to Bruges
The short crossings from Dover are run by P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. Stena Line sails from Harwich to Hook of Holland.
Map with suggested London – Bruges ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from London to Bruges, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
From the arrival port to your destination
Bruges sits close to the coast in the far west of Belgium, so the short Channel crossings reach it quickest: from Calais or Dunkirk it is around an hour to an hour and a half on the E40.
| Route | Travel Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London – Dover – Calais – Bruges | ~4h 30m | Usually the fastest option |
| London – Dover – Dunkirk – Bruges | ~4h 45m | Often quieter on arrival |
By car
Dover can become particularly busy during holiday periods, with border checks and traffic queues sometimes causing delays. If you’re travelling to Belgium, it’s a good idea to check the latest travel updates from your ferry operator before setting off.
Compare & book
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Still weighing up your options?
We have sailed nearly every one of these crossings ourselves, and the photos on this site are our own. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.