Ferries

Milton Keynes is not well placed for ferry fans. Even so, if you are prepared for a long day out, then trips involving ferries are certainly feasible. A few possibilities involving rail and sea are described below.

Stena Explorer - Fast Ferry on Holyhead to Dublin Crossing

Calais

There are day return fares available from London Charing Cross to Calais. Network Card holders can buy these combined rail/sea tickets at Charing Cross ticket office for only £20.20 adult /£7.35 child (or without a railcard: £25.00 adult /£12.50 child). Advance booking is not required. Simply buy a ticket and get on the train. A One Day Travelcard will be required for the journey from Milton Keynes to London (check the routes and fares page for Travelcard prices).

Notes: 

• Passports are required.
   
• Non-landing trips are allowed on P&O ferries - ok if you simply want to experience the ferry crossing and use the duty free shop. Tell the P&O booking clerk when checking in at Dover.
   
• The journey is best made on a Saturday when there are no early morning time restrictions. Weekday time restrictions on the London to Calais ticket are waived (even for railcards) but this does not help the Milton Keynes passenger who needs to travel to London first.

P&O Pride of Dover 

Isle of Wight

Through tickets to Ryde on the Isle of Wight are available from Milton Keynes. The rail journey is to Portsmouth Harbour. The Wightlink ferry terminal at Portsmouth adjoins the railway station and frequent seacats are used for the short crossing.

On arrival at Ryde, the ferry docks at the end of a long pier. The Isle of Wight train runs from the pier head along the pier into Ryde. The trains are refurbished London Underground trains. A through ticket from Milton Keynes to Ryde includes the train journey from the pier head into Ryde.

There is no need to book in advance and railcard discounts are available. See the rail routes and fares page for prices and alternative routes.

Isle of Wight Train at Ryde Pier Head

Liverpool

The famous Mersey ferries are now more of a tourist attraction than a serious method of transport.

The cheapest rail trips to Liverpool require the use of Virgin's book-ahead tickets - more details here. 

On arrival in Liverpool a Saveaway ticket can be purchased from Liverpool station for £4.30. This gives unlimited off-peak travel on Liverpool's ferries, buses and trains (all day on Saturday). A supplement is payable on the ferries if you make a round trip without getting off the ferry. However, if you leave the ferry on the other side of the river and pick up a later sailing then no supplement is payable.

Mersey Ferry

London

London has an extensive network of boat services operating along the river Thames. Transport for London publishes a comprehensive guide to these services including times and fares. Details of the Woolwich free ferry which is, of course, free, are also given. Download a copy of the guide from the Transport for London site. Note that Travelcard holders receive a one third discount on most London river services.