Ferry from London to Amsterdam
London has no ferry port of its own, but two routes do the job well. The closest boarding point is Harwich, ninety minutes away, where Stena Line sails to Hook of Holland; the alternative is the DFDS overnight ferry from Newcastle, which lands much closer to Amsterdam. Having used both, our rule of thumb is simple: Harwich if you want to leave from the Southeast, Newcastle if you would rather sail further and drive less on the Dutch side.
Routes
Our experience
The daytime crossing takes up a large part of the day, but it is often one of the more affordable options available. Budget-friendly cabins are frequently offered, giving you a private space to relax during the journey.
Our experience
In our experience, this is the most enjoyable ferry crossing to the Netherlands. It feels like part of the holiday rather than simply a means of transport and is also popular as a mini-cruise. The only drawback is that it leaves you slightly farther from many Dutch destinations than some of the other available routes.
Ferry services from London to Amsterdam
Stena Line sails twice daily from Harwich to Hook of Holland, with a daytime and an overnight option. DFDS sails once daily overnight from Newcastle to IJmuiden. Both carry cars, campervans, bicycles and foot passengers, and both connect onwards to Amsterdam by road or public transport.
Map with suggested London – Amsterdam ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from London,newcastle to Amsterdam, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
The two crossings feel quite different. The Harwich ships are big, practical ferries where the day sailing doubles as a rest stop; the Newcastle route is a proper night at sea with dinner, entertainment and a cabin. Neither is a hardship: we have enjoyed both, and the choice is really about how you want the journey to feel rather than which ship is better.
Amsterdam via Hook of Holland or IJmuiden
Which route works best depends on where you would rather spend your time: on English roads, at sea, or on Dutch trains.
| Route | To the port | Crossing | Port to Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|
| via Harwich-Hook of Holland | ~1h 30m | 7h day / overnight | ~1h 10m by car |
| via Newcastle-IJmuiden | ~5h drive | ~16h overnight | ~30 min |
By car
Most London drivers take the A12 to Harwich: it avoids the Dover queues entirely and lands you on the Dutch motorway network with no other countries to cross. Amsterdam is about an hour and ten minutes from the ramp. Compare it with the short Dover crossings too: the sea leg is quicker there, but you add some 215 miles of driving through France and Belgium; our Dover to Amsterdam page covers that option.
Compare & book
Pick your route to see live times and prices.
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By campervan
Campervans do well on the Harwich route: modest port queues, camper offers on the daytime sailing, and an easy run up the A4 towards Amsterdam’s edge-of-city campsites. Book dimensions honestly; it prevents boarding-lane surprises.
Still weighing up your options?
We are a Dutch team and we have made all three direct crossings ourselves, and the photos on this site are our own. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.