Image via Wikipedia
Travel to Amsterdam from London, Newcastle or Hull with the ferry. Cars, pets, foot passengers all welcome. There is no baggage restriction and all you pay for are your meals, drinks or snacks onboard or you can sleep the whole way. Travelling further then get a reduced train pass or bus to travel throughout Europe.
Ferry & train London – Amsterdam
A good alternative to taking a flight from London is the ferry, especially if you take a car. When everything is taken into account the ferry can be a similar price to a flight or cheaper with a daytime crossing. Obviously there is more travelling time, but with the night crossing you have a cabin and you can sleep the whole way. Or you can take advantage of the onboard entertainment and if you haven’t been on a ferry before you will be amazed that they are actually much similar to small cruise ships with casinos, cinemas, shops, restaurants and disco/bars onboard.
This is the easiest route from London with train connections from Liverpool Street Station to Harwich arriving at the Hoek van Holland in Schiedam near The Hague. It’s possible to get an inclusive ticket all the way from the station to the connecting station in Holland. The train is directly outside the ferry terminal. The ferry takes about 7 hours and there is 1 crossing at night and another during the day.
Prices for the whole thing for a foot passenger start at around €34 one way, though they are a bit higher during July and August. There are comfortable reclining chairs in the normal areas which you can reserve at the time of booking price £13.00. Or you can take advantage of the cabins which are mostly around half price on the daytime crossing at £14.50, which is nice for anyone who stayed up all night. To rent a small cabin on the night crossing is around £30.00 for a single or £50.00 for a double and even cheaper if you share a 4 berth cabin.
If you plan to stay in Holland for a longer break or on a work assignment, you can bring your pet. All ferries have kennel facilities below deck or they can be kept in your car during the crossing. This is subject to strict EU regulations in which your pet must have a passport stating they are disease free after being checked by a vet. They must also be micro-chipped and the price is usually around £15.00 each way. But check the conditions with each ferry. If travelling with your pet an apartment could be a better option as many cater for pets. www.defra.gov.uk to see regulations about taking your pet abroad.
Check for holiday apartments in Amsterdam and London, or find the cheapest hotel for all European cities by comparing the best travel sites in search Hotels.
Another ferry service to Amsterdam is DFDS Seaways who sail to Ijmuiden near Haarlem from Newcastle the north-east of England with one crossing per night. Coach transfers are provided to nearby Haarlem and Amsterdam and takes about 30 minutes. Foot passengers can expect to pay around £55 per person sharing a cabin. Check website for details of special offers with and without a car.
This ferry sails from Hull near York to Rotterdam with one overnight crossing and takes about 11 hours. The ferry docks at Europoort and is about 40 km/24 miles from the centre of Rotterdam. There is a Eurolines bus connection taking you to the central station in Rotterdam, but for Amsterdam and other main cities there is a train connection. Check P&O website for special offers for passengers with a car and foot passenger with 2 sharing a cabin £58.50 one way.
Bus from London to Amsterdam
Amsterdam narrow cobbled streets
Another way to travel from London to Amsterdam is with the Eurolines bus service. This is by far the cheapest method but the fact that it takes around 10 or 11 hours makes it less than ideal for many people. The Eurolines bus leaves from Victoria Coach Station in the centre of London and drives to the Channel Tunnel where it goes onto a shuttle train all the way to Calais in France. The bus drives off the train the other end and after making a pit stop, continues the journey to Amsterdam. It arrives at Amstel Station in Amsterdam, which is about 2 km south of Centraal Station, and easy to reach by tram or metro.
The one-way fare for the bus is €40 for adults or €36 for people 13-25 years old, but you can also get a promotional fare for €14 each way no matter your age. That’s all the way from London to Amsterdam on one bus, including a trip through the tunnel. If you are backpacking around on a small budget this is your best option. The Eurolines bus also has trips from cities in Holland to Germany, France, Belgium and others at very cheap prices. Or get a Eurail pass at reduced prices if planning to travel onto other countries, this seems a good deal.
Related articles
- A taste of Amsterdam …..mmmm! – Amsterdam, Netherlands (travelpod.com)
