Poole ferry terminal: routes, parking and nearby hotels
Poole to Cherbourg ended in October 2026. Voyager reaches Guernsey in 3 hours and St Malo in 6; Jersey restarts in 2027. Port parking is £15 per 24 hours.
Facts checked against official sources on 17 October 2026. How we research
Which ferries sail from Poole?
Three crossings leave the terminal, all run by two operators. Times below are the operators' standard sailing times for most of the year; the operators say timetables can change with the tide and the season, so check the booking before you travel.
| Route | Operator and ship | Crossing time | Sailing times from Poole | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poole to Guernsey (St Peter Port) | Brittany Ferries, Voyager (high-speed) | 3 hours | Leaves 14:15, arrives 17:15. Return leaves Guernsey 10:00, arrives Poole 13:00 | 4 a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) most of the year; 2 a week in winter; every day except Wednesday in the school summer holidays | Brittany Ferries: Poole to Guernsey |
| Poole to St Malo, via Guernsey | Brittany Ferries, Voyager (high-speed) | 6 hours | Leaves 14:15, arrives 21:15 French time. Return leaves St Malo 08:00, arrives Poole 13:00 | 4 a week most of the year; every day except Wednesday in the school summer holidays | Brittany Ferries: Poole to St Malo |
| Poole to Jersey (St Helier) | DFDS | About 4 hours 30 minutes | Not published for the winter: no sailings until spring 2027 | Closed for winter. 130 return journeys planned for 2027, up from 105 in 2026 | DFDS: Poole to Jersey |
| Poole to Cherbourg | Brittany Ferries, Barfleur | Route closed | No sailings | Ended October 2026. Brittany Ferries points to Portsmouth to Cherbourg and Portsmouth to Caen instead | Brittany Ferries: Poole to Cherbourg |
- Operator and ship
- Brittany Ferries, Voyager (high-speed)
- Crossing time
- 3 hours
- Sailing times from Poole
- Leaves 14:15, arrives 17:15. Return leaves Guernsey 10:00, arrives Poole 13:00
- How often
- 4 a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) most of the year; 2 a week in winter; every day except Wednesday in the school summer holidays
- Source
- Brittany Ferries: Poole to Guernsey
- Operator and ship
- Brittany Ferries, Voyager (high-speed)
- Crossing time
- 6 hours
- Sailing times from Poole
- Leaves 14:15, arrives 21:15 French time. Return leaves St Malo 08:00, arrives Poole 13:00
- How often
- 4 a week most of the year; every day except Wednesday in the school summer holidays
- Source
- Brittany Ferries: Poole to St Malo
- Operator and ship
- DFDS
- Crossing time
- About 4 hours 30 minutes
- Sailing times from Poole
- Not published for the winter: no sailings until spring 2027
- How often
- Closed for winter. 130 return journeys planned for 2027, up from 105 in 2026
- Source
- DFDS: Poole to Jersey
- Operator and ship
- Brittany Ferries, Barfleur
- Crossing time
- Route closed
- Sailing times from Poole
- No sailings
- How often
- Ended October 2026. Brittany Ferries points to Portsmouth to Cherbourg and Portsmouth to Caen instead
- Source
- Brittany Ferries: Poole to Cherbourg
Is there still a ferry from Poole to Cherbourg?
No. Brittany Ferries' Poole to Cherbourg page now says the company is no longer operating the route, and suggests its Portsmouth sailings to Cherbourg and Caen for Normandy. Poole Harbour Commissioners, who run the port, reported that the Barfleur, on the route since April 1992, left Poole for the last time in October 2026 (Poole Harbour Commissioners: Barfleur's final sailing). The only way to France from Poole now is the Voyager to St Malo, which calls at Guernsey on the way.
When does the Poole to Jersey ferry restart?
DFDS says the route is closed for the winter and "will resume sailings in April 2027". Poole Harbour Commissioners give an earlier date: the 2027 Poole service starts on 24 March, against a 1 May start in 2026, so that it runs over Easter (Poole Harbour Commissioners: 2027 DFDS schedule). Until then, DFDS sends Jersey passengers through Portsmouth, which it sails from all year.
DFDS gives Poole to Jersey fares "from £50" one way on foot. For a car with up to two people its route page shows "from £220" one way, while the FAQ on the same page says "from £180", both based on 2026 sailings. Fares depend on the date booked.
Check-in times at Poole
Both operators close check-in for cars 60 minutes before the sailing and for foot passengers 40 minutes before. They advise arriving well ahead of that.
| Operator | Arrive by (car) | Car check-in closes | Arrive by (foot) | Foot check-in closes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFDS (Jersey) | 120 minutes before | 60 minutes before (also bicycles) | 90 minutes before | 40 minutes before | DFDS: baggage and check-in |
| Brittany Ferries (Guernsey, St Malo) | 90 to 120 minutes before | 60 minutes before; 90 minutes if travelling with a pet | 70 minutes before | 40 minutes before | Brittany Ferries: travelling with a vehicle; Condor Ferries: Poole port |
- Arrive by (car)
- 120 minutes before
- Car check-in closes
- 60 minutes before (also bicycles)
- Arrive by (foot)
- 90 minutes before
- Foot check-in closes
- 40 minutes before
- Source
- DFDS: baggage and check-in
- Arrive by (car)
- 90 to 120 minutes before
- Car check-in closes
- 60 minutes before; 90 minutes if travelling with a pet
- Arrive by (foot)
- 70 minutes before
- Foot check-in closes
- 40 minutes before
- Source
- Brittany Ferries: travelling with a vehicle; Condor Ferries: Poole port
Brittany Ferries' own travel advice says passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure, and those with a pet must arrive at least 90 minutes before. The arrival advice and foot passenger times in that row come from the Poole port page on the Condor Ferries website, which lists Brittany Ferries Guernsey as the contact at the terminal. DFDS warns that check-in closes promptly and that all times are local.
Parking at Poole ferry port
Poole Harbour Commissioners run the Passenger Car Park, directly opposite the foot passenger hall. It is pay on foot: you pay at the machines by debit or credit card before driving out. Luggage trolleys are provided and port security officers patrol at night (Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking).
| Stay | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £1 | Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking |
| Up to 6 hours | £8 | Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking |
| Up to 24 hours | £15 | Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking |
| Each further 24 hours or part | £15 | Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking |
| Caravan or motorhome overnight in the check-in lanes | £15 | Brittany Ferries: Poole port guide |
- Charge
- £1
- Source
- Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking
- Charge
- £8
- Source
- Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking
- Charge
- £15
- Source
- Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking
- Charge
- £15
- Source
- Poole Harbour Commissioners: car parking
- Charge
- £15
- Source
- Brittany Ferries: Poole port guide
At £15 for each 24 hours or part, a car left for 7 full days comes to £105 (7 × £15, worked out from the published rate). The Commissioners say they cannot cover extra parking charges caused by a delayed ferry.
Caravans cannot be left in the port car park. For early sailings or late arrivals, a caravan or motorhome can stay overnight in the vehicle check-in lanes for £15, at the owner's risk and not left unattended, and no port facilities are open overnight. There are no electric car charge points at the port.
Getting to the terminal
By car. Brittany Ferries' directions are the A31 to the M27 from the east, the A350 from Bristol and the A35 from Exeter; once in Poole, head for the town centre and follow signs for the port. Use BH15 4AJ in a sat nav. The terminal is on the Hamworthy side of the harbour, across the bridges from Poole Quay, so it is not where the Brownsea and harbour cruise boats leave from (those are on the quay: see boat trips from Poole).
By train. Poole station is the nearest. Brittany Ferries puts the walk to the terminal at about 30 to 35 minutes; Condor Ferries' port page says 20 to 25 minutes, with taxis usually waiting at the station and a ride of about 10 minutes.
On foot from the town centre. Brittany Ferries gives about 30 minutes, Condor Ferries 15 to 20 minutes. The distance depends on where in the town centre you start, which may explain the gap.
By coach. Brittany Ferries refers coach travellers to National Express; Poole's bus and coach station is at the Dolphin Centre.
What is at the terminal?
Brittany Ferries' Poole port guide lists:
- a café, open daily from 06:00
- showers and payphones
- a single-storey, wheelchair-accessible building, with disabled toilets in the terminal and in the vehicle check-in lanes
- a shuttle bus to the ship for foot passengers, an adapted minibus for disabled foot passengers, and a wheelchair on request for boarding the shuttle
- a baby change area
Dogs on a lead are allowed in the port area but not inside the terminal building. Condor Ferries' port page adds that there is no left luggage and no shop, and that the nearest cash machines are in town, about 15 minutes' walk.
Hotels near Poole ferry terminal
The nearest hotels are across Poole Bridge in the Old Town and along Holes Bay, between about half a mile and a mile from the terminal. Walking and driving times are estimates from OpenStreetMap routing between each hotel's postcode and the terminal postcode (BH15 4AJ), with no traffic, so treat them as a guide. The parking column quotes each hotel's own website.
| Place | Est. walk to terminal | Est. drive | Parking | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel du Vin Poole, 7-11 Thames Street BH15 1JN | About 0.5 miles, 11 min | About 3 min | 10 spaces on site, £15 overnight, first come first served; if full, Britannia Quayside pay and display behind the hotel, £12.50 overnight | Hotel du Vin Poole website |
| The Antelope, 8 High Street BH15 1BP | About 0.7 miles, 14 min | About 3 min | Not stated on the hotel website | Greene King Inns: The Antelope |
| RNLI College, West Quay Road BH15 1HZ | About 0.8 miles, 17 min | About 3 min | Not stated on the pages that could be read | RNLI College booking page |
| Travelodge Poole, Lifeboat Quay, Holes Bay Road BH15 1LS | About 0.9 miles, 20 min | About 4 min | Limited free parking, first come first served, run by Smart Parking; give your registration at reception | Travelodge: Poole hotel page |
| Haven Rockley Park, Napier Road, Hamworthy BH15 4LZ | About 2 miles, 43 min | About 8 min | Allocated car parking listed for most of its caravan, lodge and pod grades | Haven: Rockley Park |
- Est. walk to terminal
- About 0.5 miles, 11 min
- Est. drive
- About 3 min
- Parking
- 10 spaces on site, £15 overnight, first come first served; if full, Britannia Quayside pay and display behind the hotel, £12.50 overnight
- Source
- Hotel du Vin Poole website
- Est. walk to terminal
- About 0.7 miles, 14 min
- Est. drive
- About 3 min
- Parking
- Not stated on the hotel website
- Source
- Greene King Inns: The Antelope
- Est. walk to terminal
- About 0.8 miles, 17 min
- Est. drive
- About 3 min
- Parking
- Not stated on the pages that could be read
- Source
- RNLI College booking page
- Est. walk to terminal
- About 0.9 miles, 20 min
- Est. drive
- About 4 min
- Parking
- Limited free parking, first come first served, run by Smart Parking; give your registration at reception
- Source
- Travelodge: Poole hotel page
- Est. walk to terminal
- About 2 miles, 43 min
- Est. drive
- About 8 min
- Parking
- Allocated car parking listed for most of its caravan, lodge and pod grades
- Source
- Haven: Rockley Park
Hotel du Vin Poole is the nearest by the estimate, in the Old Town just off the quay. If its ten spaces are taken, the hotel points guests to the Britannia Quayside pay and display car park behind it, or the Quay Visitors and High Street Shops car parks.
Check prices for Hotel du Vin Poole on Expedia →
The Antelope is a Greene King inn with 23 bedrooms on the High Street, which describes the harbour's cross-Channel ferries as a five-minute drive away. It takes dogs in a limited number of rooms, booked in advance with the hotel, and charges for them.
Check prices for The Antelope on Expedia →
RNLI College is the lifeboat charity's training centre on West Quay Road, on the edge of Holes Bay, and takes hotel guests. Travelodge Poole is further along Holes Bay Road, with limited free parking.
Check prices for RNLI College on Expedia →
Haven Rockley Park is the closest place to stay on the Hamworthy side of the harbour, though by road it is further than the Old Town hotels. Haven lists it as open from March to December in 2026 and 2027; more on it is in holiday parks near Bournemouth and Poole.
Check prices for Haven Rockley Park →
Premier Inn Poole Centre (Holes Bay) and Holiday Inn Express Poole are also close to the port, but their own websites blocked automated reading when checked, so their parking terms could not be confirmed and they are not in the table. For a stay on the Bournemouth side before a sailing, Bournemouth hotels with parking lists which hotels have their own car parks; the drive to the terminal is extra. Harbour-view rooms on Holes Bay and at Sandbanks are compared in hotels near Poole Quay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the address of Poole ferry terminal?
Passenger Terminal, New Harbour Road South, Hamworthy, Poole BH15 4AJ. Brittany Ferries also gives two what3words locations for its check-in: ///insert.forget.judges and ///quiz.wink.stack.
Is Poole ferry terminal the same as the Sandbanks ferry?
No. The Sandbanks Ferry is the chain ferry across the harbour mouth between Sandbanks and Studland. The ferry terminal for the Channel Islands and France is in Hamworthy, inside the harbour.
Can I take my dog on the ferry from Poole?
DFDS lists pets as welcome on Poole to Jersey, with extra charges and conditions. Brittany Ferries requires anyone travelling with a pet to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure. At the port, dogs must be on a lead and are not allowed in the terminal building. For places to stay with a dog, see dog-friendly hotels in Bournemouth.
How fast is the Voyager?
Brittany Ferries describes Voyager as the fastest ship in its fleet, with a top speed of up to 42 knots. It carries up to 850 passengers and 280 cars (Brittany Ferries newsroom: 2027 Poole sailings). Bookings for 2027 are open up to 7 November 2027.