Ferries Between the United Kingdom and Ireland: How to Choose the Right Provider Before You Book
You have already decided to travel by ferry between the United Kingdom and Ireland. Now the important question is which route and provider to choose. The Irish Sea has several well-established ferry connections linking England, Wales and Scotland with Dublin, Rosslare, Belfast and Larne. The best option depends on where you are starting, where you need to arrive, whether you are travelling with a car, how much luggage you have, your budget and whether speed or convenience matters most.
This guide is written for travellers who are ready to book and want to find the right ferry provider. Instead of asking whether a ferry is worth it, the focus is on comparing routes, operators and booking options so you can choose the crossing that makes the most sense for your journey.
Start With Your Destination in Ireland
The first decision is whether you are travelling to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. If you are heading to Dublin, the main route is from Holyhead in North Wales. If you are going to the south-east of Ireland, Rosslare is usually the best arrival port, with sailings from Fishguard and Pembroke. If your destination is Belfast, the most useful routes are from Cairnryan in Scotland or Liverpool in England. If you are heading to Larne, north of Belfast, look at the Cairnryan to Larne route.
Choosing the right port can save hours of driving. A cheap ferry is not always the best value if it leaves you with a long journey at the other end. Before you compare ticket prices, check the full door-to-door journey from your home to your final destination.
Holyhead to Dublin: Best for Dublin and Central Ireland
The Holyhead to Dublin ferry with Stena Line is one of the most popular ways to travel between Britain and Ireland. Stena Line promotes this route as a direct connection between Wales and Ireland, with crossings taking around 3 hours and 15 minutes on its main service.
Irish Ferries also operates the Dublin to Holyhead route, including conventional ferry services and, depending on schedule and season, a faster option. This makes Holyhead to Dublin one of the most competitive routes, giving travellers more choice on sailing times, onboard experience and pricing.
This route is usually the best option if your final destination is Dublin, the east coast, central Ireland, Galway, the Midlands or much of the west of Ireland. It is also a strong choice for travellers coming from London, the Midlands, North West England or North Wales, especially if they are driving.
Fishguard to Rosslare: Best for South Wales and South-East Ireland
If you are travelling from South Wales or heading to counties such as Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow or Cork, the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry with Stena Line is a practical choice. Rosslare is a useful arrival port for the south-east of Ireland and can help you avoid driving through Dublin if your destination is further south.
This route is often attractive for holidaymakers with cars, caravans, motorhomes or pets. It can also be a more relaxed option for travellers who want to avoid the busiest Dublin route. When comparing prices, check the sailing time, departure time and how well the port connects with your onward road journey.
Pembroke to Rosslare: Best for South Wales and Car Travel
Irish Ferries operates the Pembroke to Rosslare route, another strong option for travellers heading between South Wales and south-east Ireland. Irish Ferries describes the route as taking just over four hours port to port and highlights it as a convenient way to bring the car, family and luggage across the Irish Sea.
Choose Pembroke to Rosslare if Pembroke is easier for you to reach than Fishguard, or if Irish Ferries has a better price or sailing time for your travel dates. For many travellers, Fishguard and Pembroke are worth comparing side by side, because both serve Rosslare but may differ in departure times, fares and availability.
Cairnryan to Belfast: Best for Scotland to Northern Ireland
If you are travelling from Scotland to Northern Ireland, the Cairnryan to Belfast ferry with Stena Line is one of the most convenient routes. Stena Line describes the crossing as taking around 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it one of the fastest ferry links between Great Britain and the island of Ireland.
This route works especially well for travellers from Glasgow, Edinburgh, western Scotland and northern England who want to reach Belfast or continue into Northern Ireland. It is also useful if your final destination is the north coast, Derry/Londonderry, Donegal or the Antrim Coast.
Cairnryan to Larne: Best for Northern Ireland’s East Coast
P&O Ferries operates the Cairnryan to Larne route, with the operator promoting crossings of around two hours and multiple daily sailings. Larne is located north of Belfast and can be convenient if you are heading to the Causeway Coast, Antrim, Ballymena or the north-east of Northern Ireland.
When choosing between Cairnryan to Belfast and Cairnryan to Larne, compare your final destination rather than looking only at the ferry price. Belfast may be better for city centre access, while Larne can be useful for onward travel along the coast or into the north-east.
Liverpool to Belfast: Best for North West England
The Liverpool to Belfast ferry with Stena Line is a useful option for travellers from North West England, the Midlands and parts of northern England. It is a longer crossing than the Scottish routes, but it may reduce driving time if Liverpool is much easier for you to reach than Cairnryan or Holyhead.
This route can be especially appealing for travellers with cars, vans, pets or lots of luggage who prefer a longer ferry crossing and less driving. Check whether day or overnight sailings are available for your chosen date, as an overnight crossing can sometimes work like a practical travel-and-rest option.
Important Note About Liverpool to Dublin
Some travellers still search for Liverpool to Dublin ferries, but P&O Ferries states that the Liverpool to Dublin route no longer operates. If you want to travel from England to the Republic of Ireland, the most common alternatives are Holyhead to Dublin or the South Wales routes to Rosslare. If you want to travel from Liverpool to the island of Ireland, Liverpool to Belfast is the key passenger route to check.
Should You Book Direct or Use a Comparison Site?
Booking directly with the ferry operator is usually the clearest option if you already know your preferred route. Use Stena Line for routes including Holyhead to Dublin, Fishguard to Rosslare, Liverpool to Belfast and Cairnryan to Belfast. Use Irish Ferries for routes including Holyhead to Dublin and Pembroke to Rosslare. Use P&O Ferries for Cairnryan to Larne.
If you are flexible on route or price, comparison sites can be helpful. Direct Ferries lets travellers compare ferry routes to Ireland, while Ferryhopper provides route information and booking options for Ireland ferry crossings. These platforms are useful if you want to compare prices, sailing times and operators in one place.
How to Choose the Right Ferry Provider
Do not choose by price alone. A cheaper crossing may be less convenient if it adds a long drive, leaves at an awkward time or arrives at the wrong port for your itinerary. Compare the total journey: driving time to the departure port, check-in time, ferry duration, arrival port and onward drive.
Also consider what you need onboard. If you are travelling with children, check restaurants, lounges, play areas and cabin options. If you are taking a pet, read the pet travel rules carefully. If you are travelling overnight or on a longer crossing, check whether cabins or reserved seating are available. If you are travelling as a foot passenger, confirm that your chosen route accepts foot passengers and that public transport connections work at both ends.
Best Route by Traveller Type
For Dublin, choose Holyhead to Dublin with Stena Line or Irish Ferries. For south-east Ireland, compare Fishguard to Rosslare with Stena Line and Pembroke to Rosslare with Irish Ferries. For Belfast from Scotland, choose Cairnryan to Belfast with Stena Line. For Larne and the north-east of Northern Ireland, choose Cairnryan to Larne with P&O Ferries. For Belfast from North West England, choose Liverpool to Belfast with Stena Line.
For families and road trips, choose the route that gives the easiest driving day. For budget travellers, compare several routes before booking. For foot passengers, check availability and port transport carefully. For travellers with pets, book early and confirm the operator’s pet facilities before paying.
Final Booking Checklist
- Confirm whether you need Dublin, Rosslare, Belfast or Larne.
- Compare total journey time, not just ferry time.
- Check whether your route accepts cars, pets, bikes or foot passengers.
- Compare Stena Line, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries where relevant.
- Use comparison sites if you are flexible on route or price.
- Check check-in times, cancellation terms and luggage rules.
- Book early for school holidays, Christmas, Easter and summer travel.
- Save your booking confirmation and port directions offline.
Bottom line: the best ferry between the United Kingdom and Ireland is the one that matches your route, vehicle, budget and final destination. For Dublin, start with Holyhead. For Rosslare, compare Fishguard and Pembroke. For Belfast, compare Cairnryan and Liverpool. For Larne, check P&O from Cairnryan. Book the route that makes the whole journey easier, not just the crossing cheaper.