Short Breaks To The UK From France - From €63 Per Car

A day trip to France from Dover is one of the most straightforward European escapes available to UK travellers, and at from €63 per car carrying up to 5 people one way, it's a cost-effective one too. The short crossing to Calais or Dunkirk puts northern France within easy reach - Calais itself has a market worth visiting, while the road south opens up Boulogne, Montreuil, and the Opal Coast. Free Wi-Fi is available on board during the crossing, and food and drink are served throughout. The drive-on, drive-off format means no complicated transfers at either end. A practical option for families or groups wanting a spontaneous taste of France without the cost of flights or a hotel.

The overnight sailing from Newcastle to Amsterdam is a mini cruise in its own right, and with 50% off cabins this is a compelling way to cross the North Sea in comfort. Prices start from €79 per person based on 4 people sharing an inside cabin, with a car included one way. Newcastle's quayside is one of the great embarkation points - there's a sense of occasion about leaving from there as the city lights recede behind you. By morning you're in Amsterdam, a city that rewards time spent on foot along its canals. The return crossing gives you a proper night's rest before arriving back in the UK. Onboard facilities make the journey part of the experience rather than simply a crossing.

Cross from Dover to Dunkirk with a car and up to 5 people from €114 one way. This route is suited to families, with capacity for up to 5 passengers included in the headline price. The crossing connects southern England to northern France, providing access to destinations across France and continental Europe.

Sail from Newhaven in East Sussex to the Norman port of Dieppe from €137 per car and two people one way. This quieter Channel route lands you directly in Dieppe, a characterful fishing town with a decent Saturday market, good seafood, and easy onward access to Normandy's historic coast and countryside. A longer crossing than Dover-Calais, but one that drops you further into France from the moment you arrive - useful if Normandy or Paris is your ultimate destination.

Travel by car from Jersey to the walled port of St Malo on the north Brittany coast, with prices starting from £145 per car and two people one way. The high-speed crossing is short, with free Wi-Fi on board so there is time to plan your visit before you dock. St Malo repays even a brief stay - the ramparts offer wide sea views, the old town's bistros serve proper Breton cooking, and the harbour fills with the kind of quiet energy that encourages you to slow down. Foot passenger options are also available on this route.