Ferries from Portsmouth Ferries Isle of Wight Channel Islands France Spain

Cross-Channel Ferries Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the one of the main terminals for ferries to Europe from the British mainland.

Brittany Ferries run regular services from Portsmouth to Caen, St Malo, Cherbourg and Roscoff in France and Santander in Spain. P&O Ferries run a Portsmouth to Bilbao service too and LD Lines runs a Portsmouth to Le Havre service. All take foot passengers, cars and trucks.

The Portsmouth Port website, link right, is a useful port of call as it has links to all ferry operators and links all special offers together so you can get a good overview of what's available. There is also additional information such as to get to the port and more about the ships and services available.

Ferry services vary from several daily to a few a week so check with each operator for up-to-date timetables and fares, links right.

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Ferries to the Isle of Wight

Passenger ferries run from Portsmouth across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. There is a choice of the Wightlink's car and passenger ferry which lands at Fishbourne or the Fastcat service which takes foot passengers only, taking you to Ryde on the eastern side of the island.

Wightlink Ferries run all year round to both Fishbourne and Ryde. The Portsmouth to Fishbourne journey takes 40 minutes and Portsmouth to Ryde is just 18 minutes.

Services run very regularly throughout the day making it an easy hop across the Solent. Leaving the port you get some fantastic views of the Portsmouth Waterfront and Spinnaker Tower.

Check the Wightlink website, link right for booking online and current timetables and special offers.

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Channel Island Ferries Portsmouth

Condor Ferries operate services to Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands from Portsmouth.

The service runs daily services taking up to 300 passengers and 100 cars. The journey to Jersey takes just over 10 hours while the journey to Guernsey takes 7 hours.

Condor Ferries also run a weekly Portsmouth to Cherbourg service which takes just five and a half hours.

Check the link right for timetables, fares and special offers.

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Southsea Hovercraft to Ryde Isle of Wight

You can easily take a day trip over to the Isle of Wight from Clarence Pier. The hovercraft takes foot passengers only, although you can take your bike over free of charge.

Hovertravel run a regular service to Ryde on The Isle of Wight. Hovercrafts run at least every half hour and the journey only takes 10 minutes, making it the quickest crossing from the mainland to the Isle of Wight.

If you're travelling to Southsea by car there is a mix of pay and display and street parking around Clarence Pier.

Hovertravel Ltd, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3AD. Tel: 023 9281 1000.

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Gosport Ferry to Portsmouth

Not only does the Gosport Ferry run handy trips across Portsmouth Harbour to Gunwharf Quays but they also offer a wide range of boat trips around Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Southampton and the New Forest.

The ferry service runs every day of the from 5.30am-midnight, weather permitting. The crossing time is just under eight each way, and is the only link between Portsmouth and Gosport. As you travel across the harbour you get excellent views of HMS Victory, Royal Naval ships and aircraft carriers and the other larger ferries using water way.

The boat trips they offer include a Portsmouth Harbour Cruise, a day trip to Cowes on the Isle of Wight and to rivers around the New Forest and Southampton. For a spectacular trip take the Cowes Firework Night cruise which gives you sea views of the fantastic firework display that marks the finale of Cowes Week.

Check the link right for up-to-date timetables and details of cruises. Tel: 023 9252 4551. Fax: 023 9252 4802. Email: admin@gosportferry.co.uk

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Portsmouth Boat Trips

You can also pick up boat trips from Gunwharf Quays and Clarence Esplanade. These will give you a seaview of Portsmouth sights such as the historic forts, battleships and Spinnaker Tower.

Solent and Wight Line Cruises offer tours of Portsmouth Harbour and Spitbank Fort, the Royal Naval Base as well as services across to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Solent RIB Rides offer trips around Portsmouth Harbour where you can get some fabulous views of the nineteenth century fortifications and the ships moored at the Historic Dockyard. You can also hire boats for private hire and excursions. Tel: 0870 200 5555. Email: enquiries@bluewaterpromotions.co.uk. Check the links right for more information.

Blue Boat Trips have tours around Portsmouth Harbour departing from the beach landing stage at Clarence Esplanade. The boat trips last up to one hour with commentary on the naval ships, merchant ships, submarine HMS Alliance and historic fortifications that you'll see along the way. Blue Boat Trips, Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2JE. Tel: 023 9282 0564. Fax: 023 9287 4666

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