After travelling through France, our next destination was the United Kingdom. We were travelling in our camper — my wife, our child, our dog and me — and this time we decided not to use the Channel Tunnel. We wanted to cross the English Channel by ferry from Calais to Dover.
Our route was:
Paris → Calais → ferry → Dover → London
For us, travelling by ferry was more interesting than taking the tunnel. We could leave the camper, walk around the ship, have something to eat and see the famous White Cliffs of Dover as we approached England.
Driving from Paris to Calais
We left Paris in the morning and headed north towards Calais.
The distance is approximately 290 km, so without long stops the journey takes around three hours.
Before leaving, I filled the camper with diesel. I normally prefer to arrive at ferry ports with at least half a tank because I don’t want to start looking for fuel immediately after arriving in another country.
We stopped once on the motorway for coffee, food and to let the dog walk for about 15 minutes.
French motorway costs depend on the exact road and camper category. A larger or taller motorhome can fall into a more expensive toll category than a normal passenger car.
Choosing the Calais–Dover Ferry
There are several operators on the Channel, but one of the main companies we considered was DFDS.
DFDS operates the Calais–Dover route with vehicles and pets. The crossing takes approximately 100 minutes, and the company advertises up to 30 crossings per day.
Another major operator on the route is P&O Ferries.
Because we were travelling with a camper and dog, I checked the pet rules before paying for the booking.
How Much Did the Ferry Cost?
Prices on the Calais–Dover route change considerably depending on the date, departure time and vehicle.
As an example, DFDS currently advertises Calais–Dover fares starting at approximately €114 for a car and up to five people, one way.
A camper can cost more, particularly if it is long or tall.
For our travel budget I allowed approximately:
| Expense | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Camper + passengers | €120–€250+ |
| Dog | €20–€30+ |
| French fuel | €50–€70 |
| Motorway/tolls | €20–€30 |
| Food at the port/ferry | €30–€50 |
| Approximate total | €240–€430+ |
During July, August, weekends and holidays, I would expect the ferry to be more expensive.
We booked in advance rather than arriving at the port without a reservation.
Arriving at Calais Ferry Terminal
We arrived at the port about two hours before departure.
With a camper, child and dog, I think arriving early is worth it. There are several checks before boarding and I didn’t want to be watching the clock while trying to find the correct lane.
At the entrance we followed the signs for Dover / Ferries.
I had our booking reference ready together with our passports and vehicle documents.
Because the UK is outside the Schengen Area, travelling from France to England involves proper border controls.
Documents We Carried
For ourselves and the camper, we had:
- passports;
- driving licence;
- camper registration certificate;
- motor insurance documents;
- ferry reservation;
- documents required for entry into the UK.
Entry requirements depend on nationality, so this is something that should always be checked before travelling.
But the documents for our dog required even more attention.
Taking Our Dog from France to the UK
Great Britain has strict rules for bringing dogs into England, Scotland and Wales.
Our dog needed to be microchipped, and the microchip had to be implanted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination.
The dog also needed a valid rabies vaccination. After a first rabies vaccination, at least 21 full days normally have to pass before travel.
Because we were coming from France, an EU country, we travelled with the dog’s valid EU Pet Passport.
I carried the original passport rather than a photograph or photocopy. UK rules specifically require original pet travel documents.
The Most Important Part: Tapeworm Treatment
This is something that is easy to overlook when travelling from France to England.
Before entering Great Britain, our dog had to receive tapeworm treatment from a veterinarian.
The treatment must be administered:
at least 24 hours before arrival, but no more than 120 hours (5 days) before arrival in Great Britain.
So we couldn’t simply give the dog a tablet ourselves.
We visited a veterinary clinic in France before the ferry trip.
The vet administered the treatment and entered the required information in the dog’s pet passport, including the product information, date and exact time, and added the veterinary stamp and signature.
This timing is extremely important.
If the treatment is given too late or more than five days before entering Great Britain, the dog may not meet the entry requirements.
Pet Check Before Boarding
When travelling to Great Britain by ferry or Eurotunnel, the dog’s documents and microchip can be checked before boarding in France.
That is why I kept the pet passport with our own passports rather than leaving it somewhere inside the camper.
The staff could check the microchip number against the number written in the passport.
A dog that does not meet the requirements can be refused entry, returned or placed into quarantine, with the owner responsible for the costs.
I therefore checked everything twice before leaving for Calais.
Boarding the Ferry with Our Camper
After passport and pet checks, we followed the vehicle lanes towards the ferry.
Campers, cars, motorcycles and trucks were organised into separate queues.
Eventually, a port employee directed us forward.
We drove up the ramp and entered the enormous vehicle deck of the ferry.
Inside, crew members showed us exactly where to park.
I switched off the engine, applied the parking brake and took everything we needed from the camper.
Once the ferry is underway, access to vehicle decks can be restricted, so we took our phones, documents, jackets and everything we needed for our child.
We also prepared the dog’s water and other essentials.
What Happens to the Dog on the Ferry?
This depends on the ferry company and vessel.
When booking, I always declare the dog rather than simply arriving with an animal.
Some ferry services require pets to remain in the vehicle, while certain vessels or services can have dedicated pet areas or pet-friendly facilities.
The UK government also advises travellers to confirm in advance that their ferry or Eurotunnel operator accepts pets on the chosen route.
For a short Calais–Dover crossing, this is much easier than an overnight ferry journey.
Crossing the English Channel
The Calais–Dover crossing takes roughly 100 minutes with DFDS.
After spending several hours driving, it was actually nice to leave the driver’s seat.
We went upstairs, found somewhere to sit and bought coffee and something to eat.
Looking back from the deck, the French coastline gradually disappeared.
Then, towards the end of the crossing, we could see England.
The White Cliffs of Dover were probably the most memorable part of the journey. After travelling across continental Europe, seeing those cliffs made it feel like we were entering a completely different part of the trip.
Leaving the Ferry in Dover
After the announcement, we returned to the camper.
The vehicle deck became noisy very quickly as hundreds of drivers started their engines.
A few minutes later the vehicles ahead of us began moving.
We followed them down the ramp.
And suddenly we were driving in England.
That was when I had to concentrate.
Remember: Drive on the Left
In France we had been driving on the right.
In the UK we had to drive on the left.
The first roundabout required the most concentration.
I kept reminding myself:
keep left.
The steering wheel position in our European camper also meant visibility when overtaking was different.
After about half an hour, however, driving on the left already started feeling much more natural.
From Dover to London
From Dover we continued towards London.
The distance is approximately 80 miles (130 km) and normally takes around two hours, depending heavily on traffic.
We followed the main roads towards London rather than immediately trying to explore smaller British roads.
Driving a camper through rural England can be challenging because some roads are surprisingly narrow.
Fuel Prices in the UK
One immediate difference was that fuel prices were displayed in pence per litre.
If a petrol station showed:
145.9p
that meant:
£1.459 per litre.
For a camper needing 50 litres of diesel, that would be about:
£72.95.
I therefore compared fuel prices before filling the entire tank.
Motorway service stations are convenient but can be considerably more expensive than supermarkets and filling stations away from major motorways.
Parking a Camper in London
Taking a large camper directly into central London was something we wanted to avoid.
Parking is expensive, roads are busy and London also has vehicle charging zones and emissions rules that need to be checked for the specific vehicle.
Instead, our plan was to stay at a campsite outside central London and use public transport.
For a camper pitch around Greater London, I would budget approximately £30–£60+ per night, depending on season and facilities.
For us this was much more comfortable.
We had somewhere safe to leave the camper, electricity, water, showers and enough space to walk the dog.
Then we could take a train or bus into central London without worrying about parking a motorhome.
Ferry or Channel Tunnel?
After doing the journey, I could see advantages to both options.
The ferry is slower, but it feels like part of the holiday. You can leave the vehicle, walk around, eat and see the Channel.
LeShuttle through the Channel Tunnel is much faster. The rail crossing itself is around 35 minutes, making it particularly attractive when the objective is simply to reach England as quickly as possible.
With a child and dog, however, we enjoyed the break from driving that the ferry gave us.
Our France-to-UK Travel Budget
For this section of our European trip, I would plan approximately:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel Paris–Calais | €40–€60 |
| French motorway charges | €20–€30 |
| Calais–Dover ferry | €120–€250+ |
| Dog | €20–€30+ |
| Vet/tapeworm treatment | €20–€50+ |
| Food and drinks | €30–€50 |
| Fuel Dover–London | £20–£30 |
| Camper site near London | £30–£60+ per night |
The ferry ticket is the biggest variable, so booking early can make a significant difference.
Was Travelling to the UK with a Dog Difficult?
Not really — but the preparation had to be done correctly.
The most important things were the microchip, valid rabies vaccination, correct original pet travel document and properly recorded tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entering Great Britain.
Once all of that was prepared, the actual crossing was straightforward.
By the evening, our camper was parked, the dog had finally had a long walk, our child was asleep, and my wife and I were sitting outside with coffee.
That morning we had been driving through northern France.
Now we were in England.
And the next morning, we were heading into London.