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Personal experience: I tried in August 2011 to hitch a ride onto the P&O ferry to Dover, and I had no problem getting a ride. I checked the US Dept. of State webpage beforehand to see what was required for entry into the UK, and it says only a valid passport. However, the Home Office agents denied me (a US citizen with a valid passport) because I didn't have set travel plans with addresses/reservations where I would be staying (including for that very night), a ticket out of the country, proof of employment, or bank statements. I'm not sure what of that would have sufficed, but having none of it and being a hitchhiker definitely did me in.
=== South towards Paris ===
If you're coming from the ferries and you don't manage to get a ride to [[Paris]], then get ANY ride from the boat and get off at the first service station to change there.
The first service station after Calais is 60km (!) away. Some cars stop there (not too many) and it seems more people are going to the direction of [[Reims]] than towards [[Paris]]. There is another service station some 20km further down the same highway (20km before [[Arras]]), but it is much smaller and much more quiet. (Lots of trucks there, but the truckers are all sleeping). Be advised that employees at such small places will most likely speak no English.
If your driver is extremely kind, or if you find someone living in Arras who might be willing to make the extra effort, there is another service station at ''Wancourt'', some 10km away from Arras on the A1 highway in the direction of Paris. (There is a bridge so that cars can change direction if your driver is not actually going towards Paris, although your driver will have to drop you off some 300m before the station in order to be able to turn around, otherwise there's no turning point closer to the station.)
Mostly trucks stop here, almost all of them to sleep, but there should be a few cars and it is highly likely that any cars stopping here are on their way to Paris. There is a place to get some food and a toilet, but other than that it's not a massive service station.
=== South, East towards everywhere ===