Portsmouth to Le Havre Ferries

LD Lines run a daily ferry service from Portsmouth to Le Havre, with the 100 mile crossing taking approximately 5 hours 30 minutes. While the Portsmouth to Le Havre route isn't as popular as some it can be a useful option as Le Havre is the furthest East you can get a ferry to from Portsmouth.

Ferries from Portsmouth

Unless your destination is North-East or Eastern France then a cross channel ferry from Portsmouth is an excellent option. Portsmouth is the UKs second busiest ferry port, being more central and often more convenient than Poole or Plymouth. Although ferry crossings from Portsmouth are longer than those from Dover this is often more than compensated for by shorter driving times and distances once in France. A good selection of destinations and ferry operators help to keep ferry prices competitive and you can choose from either daytime or nighttime ferries. If choosing an overnight ferry it's recommended to book a cabin to make the most of your time aboard and get some good rest before starting your holiday in France!

Ferries to Le Havre

Le Havre (literally "The Harbour") is the second largest port in France - the harbour stretches across half of the Seine estuary. Le Havre was originally built in the 16th century to replace older French ports in Normandy that had started to silt up. In the halcyon days of cruise ships Le Havre was home to some of the greatest luxury liners of the time, including the Normandie and the Ile de France.

Like all the French ports of Normandy Le Havre was heavily bombed during WWII, and many historic building were destroyed. Le Havre was rebuilt in a modernist style, and for decades was considered dreary and utilitarian. It's only recently that the town has managed to shed this image when in 2005 Le Havre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically for it's concrete architechture and exemplarary town planning.