All Kent Accommodation

Port of Dover, one of the UK's busiest ports served by a choice of cross channel ferry companies
The iconic chalky White Cliffs of Dover where the Kent Downs reaches the English Channel
Ashford International Railway Station - major Kent Eurostar station for fast trains on to France
Ramsgate Ferries to Ostend Belgium
Port of Dover Ferries to France

Kent Travel & Eurostar

Kent has an outstanding transport network whether you're coming into the region from abroad or from elsewhere in the UK. Dover, one of the UK's busiest ports, is the closest to France making it the prime gateway in and out of Europe. Four ferry passenger companies offer frequent and swift sea crossing to Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque including Norfolkline, P&O, SeaFrance and SpeedFerries. Alternatively swift cross channel links with car are via Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone or by Eurostar trains departing from UK stations London St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford International direct to Paris, Brussels or Lille.

Two London Airports - Gatwick and Heathrow are within easy driving distance of Kent with excellent rail links particularly from Gatwick via the Gatwick Express to London Victoria and on into the Kent region. Kent International Airport located near Ramsgate in Kent looks set to expand with future planned direct links from Edinburgh, Manchester, Amsterdam, Prague and Barcelona. Kent's road network, with two main motorways the M20 and M2, is efficient and rarely congested.

Southeastern's plans for high speed trains look set to cut journey times from London to Ashford from 83 minutes to 36.5 minutes. The recent new station at Ebbsfleet and major investment into Ramsgate Station (which sits alongside expansion of Kent International Airport near Ramsgate) all look set to retain Kent's longstanding role as Gateway into the UK from Europe. The region also boasts outstanding local bus services.

Featured Kent Accommodation

The Three Tuns Inn - Staple

Traditional inn with rooms, specialising in weddings and set amongst the fruit orchards of rural Kent in the picturesque village of Staple, near Canterbury.

£33 to £48 Per person B&B (2 sharing)

Eurotunnel Folkestone

Travel options today for Channel Crossings cater for every need, whether its speed, budget, leisurely family with extensive facilities, comfort and luxury. For speed, comfort and convenience opting for crossing the channel from the easily reached Channel Tunnel link just north of Folkestoneis a popular choice (directly off the M20 off at Junction 11A - the Channel Tunnel has its own motorway exit). Eurotunnel Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais is the quickest at 35 minutes. Eurotunnel is a shuttle link where you can take your own car across, with swift and efficient hop on service and various ticket options available including standard, short saver and flexiplus (and discounts for frequent travellers). You've no baggage restrictions on Eurotunnel - as much as you can fit in your car, plus minimum waiting times, a huge choice of timed crossings daily and easy access to motorway links both in the UK and France.

A superb budget option for families holidaying in France and Europe, Eurotunnel fares compete well with flight fares and offer a stress free alternative for travelling to France compared with delays and stress of flying. Discounts apply particularly to off peak travel times by Eurotunnel. Off peak times from Folkestone to Calais are from 16.00 to 05.59 hours. Off peak times on return from Calais to Folkestone are 00.00 to 13.59. High Peak Eurotunnel times for travel from Folkestone to Calais are 06.00 to 15.59 and from Calais to Folkestone 14.00 to 23.59. Double check up-to-date peak and off peak times via the Eurotunnel webguide right, as some days during peak school holidays and summer season revert to High Peak.

Eurotunnel, UK Terminal, Ashford Road, Folkstone CT18 8XX. Tel. 08705 35 35 35 for reservations, Eurotunnel ticket information and travel insurance queries. For the latest passenger travel information/pre-recorded message contact 08000 969 992. For information on Eurotunnel FlexiPlus Tickets contact 08705 38 83 88. See listings for Eurotunnel UK hotels, B&Bs, self catering and pet friendly accommodation in and around Folkestone for convenient Eurotunnel cross-channel accommodation here on Iknow Kent.

Eurostar Trains Ashford, Ebbsfleet St Pancras

Outside of central London, Kent is your main access from the UK into Europe via the county's two Eurostar station links - Ebbsfleet International just minutes off junction 2 of the M25/A2 in North Kent near Gravesend or here from Ashford International in the heart of central Kent.

Ashford International, alongside Dover Priory station, the new Ebbsfleet Station and by 2009 Canterbury West Station, is at the heart of some exciting High Speed train improvements into central London St Pancras. Train times into central London set to be cut dramatically, boosting not only Kent's tourist appeal but also its role as communter base and direct links into Europe. With the London Olympics pending too in 2008, Kent is set to do rather well.

Prices are competitive compared with flying, and with superb facilities at Ashford International including weekly budget on-site long-stay parking, toddlers play area, cafes, restaurants, cashpoints, currency exchange and open daily ticket office on-site with self service ticket collection option.

For Disney Land Paris, you've direct rail links from Paris main station on. (about a 30 minute rail journey!). Eurostar family deals abound to Disneyland Paris - checkout Eurostar's webguide right for details. Some of Europe's top city breaks are within easy reach via the Eurostar channel tunnel link direct from Ashford International to Paris (see Paris official tourist guide right), the heart of Beligium and Brussels plus how about Lille, the historic Flanders city and France's fourth largest metropolis. Lille was European city of culture in 2004 and has been on the up and up ever since, with a choice of new and historic architecture, museums and attractions (see Lille's official tourist weguide for details). Alternatively swift shopping trips across to Calais couldn't be easier from Ashford International, just off the M20 motorway and with ample on-site parking. Book cheap Eurostar tickets on-line via their webguide right!

Port of Dover, Dover Ferry

The Port of Dover is one of the busiest leisure passenger ports in the UK, with four main ferry companies offering upto 55 ferry crossings daily across the English Channel. Main Dover Ferry providers include P&O Ferries, SeaFrance, Speedferries and Norfolkline Ferries, and destinations include Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque. Onboard services on the ferries are particularly good for families, with lots going on for the kids. With UK airports increasingly becoming a nightmare, ferries across to France with your car are both easy on the pocket and stress-free!

Dover is also the UK's second largest Cruise port, with a choice of large cruise liners departing from the now two Terminals at Western Docks. Take your pick from the likes of Fred Olsen, Saga, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Hurtigruten for cruises around Norway, the Mediterranean and Caribbean, Greenland and more. Award winning on-site Dover Marina offers three large berthing areas with a wide selection of facilities including leisure facilities and shops. Transport services in and out of the Port of Dover couldn't be better, with excellent road links direct from the M20/A20 and M2/A2, and a regular shuttle bus service operates from Eastern Docks to nearby Dover Priory Station for London or other Kent links.

The two main passenger dock areas - Eastern Docks and Western Docks have modern terminals with numerous facilities including shops, restaurants, bars, currency exchange and lounges. During school holidays passenger services facilities are open 24 hours. Regular shuttle bus services depart from Dover Priory station around every 20 minutes direct to the Eastern Docks and for passengers wanting to connect by rail to London the train journey from Dover Priory Station takes around 2 hours.

A choice of car hire Dover companies are based in arrivals at Eastern Docks including big names Hertz, Avis, Europcar, National & Alamo and Enterprise. See their individual webguide for prices. Secure on-site parking at Dover is extensive, and you can book car parking online via the Port of Dover webguide. Free parking drop-off at the Travel Centre is restricted to 15 minutes. A comprehensive Dover Port guide leaflet, with maps of both Dover and the relevant cross channel ports is via the Port of Dover webguide. Dover Marina is within the port complex and offers three outstanding berth areas for yachts and pleasure boats. The Marina holds the coverted 5 Gold Anchor Award and offers excellent facilities including on-site shops, 24 hour surveillance CCTV, fresh water and electricity, broadband access and on-site yacht club. See the Port of Dover's webguide for more details and berthing tariffs for both long and short stays. Port of Dover, Harbour House, Dover Kent CT17 9BU. Tel. 00 44 (0)1304 241427.

Kent Airports - Kent International & Lydd

Kent International Airport at Manston just outside Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet offers a limited flight service currently to popular holiday destinations such as Majorca, Gran Canaria, Madeira and Sorrento as well as Jersey. Future planned routes are to include key Spanish destinations like Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and Valencia as well as the Algarve's main hub Faro. Within the UK and Ireland further planned direct routes include Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast and Dublin. This Kent Airport looks set to expand and more details are via the website, including details of booking operators and flight times currently flying from Kent International. Main airport routes into Kent are still the main London Airports Heathrow and Gatwick both of which have easy links onto the M25 for transfers on into Kent by road plus extensive bus and rail links into Kent. See both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport weblinks right for Airport Transfer options into Kent.

Another airport option within easy reach of Kent is Stansted Airport situated just off the M11 motorway at Junction 8a from London and Junction 8 from Cambridge. The Stansted Express departs every 15 minutes from the Stansted Airport's own railway station direct to Liverpool Street London for transfers on to Kent. See Stansted Airport's weblink right for more details on Kent Transfer connections. Gatwick is usually the airport to opt for for transfers into Kent. driving distance into the heart of Kent takes a mere 45 minutes and the Gatwick Express train runs frequently to London Victoria (journey time 30 mins) where you can pick up further train transfers into Kent.

Kent International Airport, PO Box 500, Manston, Kent, CT12 5BP. Tel. 08707 605 755.

Lydd - London Ashford Airport located to the far south of Romney Marsh has plans for expansion, but currently offers just scheduled flight services to Le Touquet on the French Coast just south of Calais as well as opportunities to charter your own flight for 5 passengers. Flight times to Le Touquet from Lydd are a mere 20 minutes. For more information on Fly and Dine deals, special offers and booking on-line visit the Lydd Airport weblink right. Flights depart to Le Touquet daily from Lydd at 0930 arriving at 1100 (French time). Return flights from Le Touquet leave at 1730 arriving at 1700. London Ashford Airport, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent, TN29 9QL. Tel. 44 (0) 1797 322 411. Open 09.00 to 19.00 daily. A golf course, bar, restaurant and ample parking are on-site.

Featured Kent Accommodation

The Three Tuns Inn - Staple

Traditional inn with rooms, specialising in weddings and set amongst the fruit orchards of rural Kent in the picturesque village of Staple, near Canterbury.

£33 to £48 Per person B&B (2 sharing)