You have a choice of going under the channel by Le Shuttle or Eurostar, or over the Channel or across the North Sea by ferry.
Under – Eurostar
RailEurope Booking Form
How do I book a bicycle space? – Bicycle spaces need to be booked at the same time as you book your seat. To make your booking, phone the Rail Europe call centre or visit their London Travel Centre as bike spaces can’t be booked online.
You have three options if you and your bike are travelling to the Continent via the tunnel:
- Fold it – Fold or dismantle your bike. Place it in a bike bag (90 x 120cm) with the saddle, handlebars and wheels removed, or in the case of a genuine folding bike, just neatly folded up. Carry it on board yourself as part of your luggage allowance.
- Reserve a place for your bike on your train – On the London to Paris and Brussels routes, you can reserve a place for a bicycle on your train. To make a reservation or find out more call Eurostar on 0844 822 5822 or visit the EuroDespatch Centre in person at St Pancras International. Charges are £30 one way and you’ll need to quote your Eurostar reference or show your ticket.
- Use the registered baggage service – A registered baggage service operates between London and Paris, Brussels and Lille. It does not guarantee that your bike will travel on the same train as you. However, delivery to your Eurostar destination station within 24 hours after registration. is guaranteed. You can book this service on the day of travel or send your bike before your journey, so it will be ready to collect when you arrive. Charges are £22 and you’ll need to show your Eurostar ticket or booking reference when you register. The charge is non-refundable but it may be exchangeable if space allows before your departure date. Unfortunately, tandems are verboten due to their length, unless you can dismantle them so that they are the same length as an average bike. More information about the registered baggage service can be obtained by calling 0844 822 5822.
Under – Le Shuttle
Eurostar rail services and the Channel Tunnel Shuttle are very different things. The first takes you to destinations in France and Belgium (plus The Netherland and Germany soon), while the latter takes you from Folkestone to Calais. Unlike motorists, you are not allowed to ride your bike onto the Shuttle trains (yes, a big disappointment), but instead you get picked up at your local hotel, with the bike travelling in a trailer, while you and your luggage ride in a minibus. At the other end, you will be taken to a convenient local hotel, or presumably dropped wherever you like. Up to six bikes can be carried this way, and you have to give 48 hours notice. Reviews seem quite positive: www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/vehicles/bicycles/
Over – Ferries
For many Britons, the trip across the Channel by ship is a major part of the holiday. It may be easier to reach a Channel or East Coast North Sea port than to go to London or Kent to catch Eurostar trains. Crossings may well be cheaper. The prices shown in the Cost column are the cheapest single fare for a cyclist with a bicycle about 1 June 2016. Some of the overnight ferries demand that passengers book a Pullman (reclining) seat or a cabin. This is reflected in the price. We would always recommend a cabin, unless you are one of those lucky souls who can sleep anywhere. Overnight trips offer dinner and breakfast. These are not included in the fares shown, but booking these in advance reduces the price. In our experience using the shipping line’s website often yields the cheapest fares. Generally the earlier you book the cheaper the ticket.
| Route | Frequency | Operator | Cost | Railway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle–Amsterdam (Ijmuiden) | Daily | DFDS | £150 for two passengers in one cabin with 2 bicycles | Railway station ±5km in Dreihuis for trains to Amsterdam. or cycle into Amsterdam. |
| Hull–Rotterdam (Europoort) or Zeebrugge | Daily | P&O | £125.50 for two passengers in one cabin with 2 bicycles | Europoort: Maassluis for Rotterdam. Zeebrugge station for Brugge and Brussels |
| Harwich–Hook of Holland | Twice daily | Stena Line | £42 for a passenger and bicycle. Cabins from £42 | Hook of Holland station for Rotterdam (five minutes from the ship) |
| Dover – Dunkirk | Two hourly | DFDS | £5-£20 for a passenger and bicycle | Harbour ±20km outside Dunkirk. Infrequent trains from nearby Gravelines to Dunkirk. Good services from Dunkirk to Paris |
| Dover – Calais | Ten sailings a day | DFDS | £5-£20 for a passenger and bicycle | Calais Centre service to Paris |
| Dover – Calais | 23 sailings a day | P&O | £20 for a passenger and bicycle | Calais Centre service to Paris |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | Two to three times a day | DFDS | Daytime £54, night-time £24 for a passenger and bicycle | Dieppe–Paris 2h, Change in Rouen |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | One overnight ‘economie’ service | Brittany Ferries | £35 for a passenger and bicycle, plus Pullman seat £5, or 4-berth cabin £75 | Le Havre service to Paris |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | Sundays in Summer | Condor Ferries | Bicycles are free of charge. No timetable info at present | Cherbourg service to Paris |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | Up to three times daily | Brittany Ferries | £40 for a passenger and bicycle |
Cherbourg service to Paris |
| Portsmouth – Caen | Two to three times a day |
Brittany Ferries | £40 for a passenger and bicycle, Pullman seat £5, 2-berth cabin £55 | Caen service to Paris |
| Portsmouth – St Malo | One overnight sailing |
Brittany Ferries | tel: 0330 159 7000 or email: reservations@brittanyferries.com |
St Malo service to Paris |
| Portsmouth – Bilbao (Spain) | Three times a week | Brittany Ferries | tel: 0330 159 7000 or email: reservations@brittanyferries.com | |
| Portsmouth – Santander (Spain) | Three times a week | Brittany Ferries | tel: 0330 159 7000 or email: reservations@brittanyferries.com | |
| Poole – St. Malo | Once a day | Condor Ferries | £42.50 for a passenger and bicycle | St Malo service to Paris |
| Plymouth – Roscoff | Once or twice a day | Brittany Ferries | £40 for a passenger and bicycle, Pullman seating £5, 2-berth cabin £55 |
Roscoff Infrequent service to Paris |
| Plymouth – Santander (Spain) | Weekly (See Portsmouth) | Brittany Ferries | Ca £100 for a passenger and bicycle, Pullman seat £10, 2-berth cabin £85 |
Check out Stena Line’s Dutchflyer rail & sail tickets to travel by train from any Greater Anglia station to any Dutch station for between £42 and £79, but beware rush hour restrictions in GB and NL for non-folding bicycles. Dutch Railways bike day ticket costs €6.10.
Links:
- Brittany Ferries www.brittany-ferries.com/
- Condor Ferries www.condorferries.co.uk/
- DFDS www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/
- P&O www.poferries.com/
- Stena Line www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry-to-holland
