Dunkerque

Dunkerque is a major port town at the Channel with ferries to Dover (norfolklines – crossings every 2 hours).

Hitching Out

To England

It is less busy and more laid-back/friendly than the Calais-Dover route. Both the Calais-Dover boats and the Dunkerque-Dover boats do not charge for extra passengers in vehicles. While Calais-Dover ferries allow foot passengers (cost about £15/20Euros), it is not possible from Dunkerque, so you have no other choice than to get a lift.

Crossing takes about 1h50.

How to get to the port

Ferries leave from Port Ouest.

To get there from Dunkerque, take a bus A (i.e. from the city center/railway station), going towards Loon Plage (various terminus possible). Get off at Maison Blanche (about 12km, 30min), walk up to the big roundabout in front of you and follow signs "Car Ferry"/"Port Ouest" (second road on the right on roundabout). From there you have 3km left - I recommend walking, but if you have time, you can always try to hitch.

If on the A16 highway (Calais <-> Dunkerque) take the Exit 24.

Trucks

Before the port there is big parking place for trucks and lorries (about 1km square). It is very easy to get a ride over there. Many vehicles on Polish, Romanian, Turkish and Slovak numbers. But you can find some English, Irish or German ones as well.

Cars

A bit further, there is a car park, just in front of a ticket office. You can probably try to get a lift asking drivers there. Usually you have to explain that they pay for car and not for amount of people, but correct number of passengers must be on their ticket. Changing booking is free of charge and takes less than a minute. Always have your documents ready to show to drivers, so they know you are not an illegal immigrant.

Once on the ferry

Once you are on the ferry, it is an excellent idea to ask around for a lift. It is far easier to do this, than to hitchhike when you land. The best tactic is to approach individuals directly and say something like "Excuse me, sorry to bother you. I am trying to hitchhike to [destination]. I don't suppose you could give me a lift in that direction?" Most people on the boat will speak English. Do not try to get a lift by standing at the stairs from the car deck with a sign. It does not work well.

Important for Non-EU Nationals (including US citizens)

If you are an American or other non-EU national and want to hitch into the UK it is probably best NOT to actually hitch across the Channel. Hitchhiking raises lots of red flags for the border officials and you will certainly be subject to further questioning and likely denied entry into the UK. It works sometimes but you will be flagged and may have problems on later crossings. A round-trip ferry ticket is 30 Euros in Calais. Irritating to pay but well worth avoiding the hassle of being interrogated and possibly denied entry.

Buy a return ticket or have other evidence you are leaving the UK in a short period of time. A plane ticket out of the UK should be fine as well.

Have enough money to support yourself while there. Or say you do and have some cash, credit cards or bank statements to back that up.

Have a reason to be there and an address. The address of a friend is fine if everything else is in order but they prefer a booking at a hostel or hotel.

Dress the part of a tourist. Being dirty, unshaven, wearing rags etc while crossing any frontier is just ignorant. Pay special attention to your shoes.