Channel Tunnel
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The Channel Tunnel (French: Tunnel sous la Manche) is an undersea railway tunnel connecting the United Kingdom to France. It crosses the English Channel at its narrowest point - the Strait of Dover - which is the world's busiest shipping lane.
A shuttle service carrying vehicles - called Eurotunnel - operates between Folkestone in Kent, England and Calais, Hauts-de-France, allowing travellers and their vehicles to get from one side of the Channel to the other in 35 minutes, almost an hour quicker than the fastest car ferry. Passenger high-speed trains - the Eurostar - also use the tunnel to connect London with cities on the near continent much faster than air travel allows.
This article will explain everything you need to know before heading under the sea; how to prepare, what to do, where to go. It will also highlight interesting aspects of the tunnel's design, its history, and unusual things you might spot in order to make the most of your journey. Bon voyage !
Understand
Specs and stats
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All the names
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The Channel Tunnel is the only fixed-linked transport connection between the European mainland and the island of Great Britain. An estimated 440 million people, and 2 million cats and dogs, have travelled through since it opened. On an average day, 60,000 passengers pass through the tunnel, along with 4,600 trucks, 140 coaches and 7,300 cars. On top of that, the tunnel handles roughly a quarter of all the goods traded between the UK and continental Europe.
The tunnel runs from Cheriton, a village on the outskirts of Folkestone, in the English county of Kent, to Coquelles, a village on the outskirts of Calais, in the French department of Pas-de-Calais. It consists of two parallel railway tunnels (one for each direction) between which runs a road service tunnel for maintenance and emergencies. The three tunnels were bored through the bedrock under the sea; at their lowest point, they are 75 m (246 ft) below the seabed and 115 m (377 ft) below sea level. The total length of the tunnel between the two mouths is 50.5 km (31.4 mi), making it the longest undersea tunnel in the world. During a typical crossing, a train is in the tunnel for about 30 minutes.
Very close to the tunnel mouths are extensive freight yards and the two terminals allowing road vehicles to load and unload from trains; both terminals are positioned next to major highways. The line from the "inbound" tunnel on either side splits into two railways after emerging from the tunnel: one loops back on itself to go back into the "outbound" tunnel via the terminal and rail yards, while the other connects to the British or French national rail network.
History
Great Britain wasn't always an island: during the last ice age there was a land bridge (named "Doggerland" by imaginative archaeologists) connecting what would become East Anglia and the Low Countries. Although much of this would have been boggy, it was solid enough for land animals including humans to cross on foot and may have been how the first people arrived in Britain. But about 8,000 years ago, when the climate started to warm, millions of tonnes of ice thawed, causing sea levels to rise. Doggerland was lost to the waves, and Britain was isolated from the rest of Europe.
The first proposal for a tunnel under the English Channel to reconnect the two landmasses was made as early as 1802 by a French mining engineer. It was to be for road traffic, i.e. horse-drawn carriages, and the way would be lit by oil lamps. Napoléon Bonaparte was reportedly an enthusiastic supporter... which is probably why the British were less keen. As Anglo-French relations thawed over the course of the 19th century, the idea began to gather more support on both sides, and a joint protocol was established in 1876. This led to some exploratory tunnelling - 1,700 m from Sangatte, and almost 2 km from under the White Cliffs of Dover. But Britain's fortress mindset reared its head again, and pressure from the media and politicians forced the abandonment of the project. Further proposals for a tunnel were made every 20 years or so by the likes of Georges Méliès (French film maker), David Lloyd George (UK prime minister after World War I) and even Winston Churchill, while he was still a backbencher, but the turbulence of the first half of the 20th century ensured one country's suggestion was always rebutted by the other country.
By the mid-1950s, British fears of invasion by tunnel were quelled for good, if only because supersonic flight and intercontinental missiles were now a thing. Preparation work for a geological survey was carried out in 1958, the survey following a mere six years later, and then a watershed moment - the British and French governments agreed to fund and build a rail tunnel! Together! At the same time! Fast forward 10 years, in 1974, a year after Britain entered the European Common Market, the shovels finally hit the ground with excavation teams on both sides of the Channel and custom-built boring machines ready to go.
And then the Brits pulled the plug.
It was too expensive, the world was in an economic crisis, maybe Britain didn't want to join the European Community after all. No, it was best to leave the idea in science fiction, where it belonged. Also, cancelling at this stage really ticked off the French, which was an unintended bonus.
The 1980s brought a new British government, and a very new type of prime minister. Pro-European in her way, and definitely pro-commerce, Margaret Thatcher was entirely amenable to a connection across the sea, on two conditions: (1) her government wouldn't have to shell out any money; and (2) the tunnel would be built for the private motorist, and not filled with smelly old commie trains. The French government had never gone off the idea, so President François Mitterrand, socialiste extraordinaire, agreed to pursue a new project. Several new proposals were drawn up:
- Eurobridge - a 35 km (22 mi) road suspension bridge;
- Euroroute - coastal bridges leading to two artificial islands (for the private motorist to park up and enjoy the view), between which would be a 21 km (13 mi) tunnel
- Channel Expressway - an undersea dual-carriageway that definitely wouldn't choke the private motorist to death with petrol fumes
- Channel Tunnel - an undersea railway, i.e. the same proposal as in 1974
The bridge ideas were ruled out early because of the disruption they would cause to sea traffic. Although public opinion favoured the Expressway, the Channel Tunnel idea won out in the end due to fears about ventilation and terrorism. With the approval of both countries' parliaments in 1987, funds could be raised and construction could at last begin.
Tunnelling commenced from both ends in 1988, and progressed rapidly. However, the speed of the work came at a price: 10 construction workers lost their lives in the tunnel, and costs ballooned to 140% of the budget. Still, in December 1990, the boring teams were close to meeting in the middle. Two workers - Mr Fagg from Dover and M. Cozette of Calais - were selected to drill through the final inches of rock in front of the world's press. Then, with an almighty cheer from the assembled workers, the two men's hands met. Posing for the cameras, they held aloft a Tricolore and a Union Flag, which flapped in the new draught created by the hole. The Entente had never been so cordiale.
The Channel Tunnel was officially declared open on 6 May 1994 by HM the Queen and President Mitterrand, and the full public service was inaugurated a few months later.
a bit about the Eurostar, HS1 etc?
Train services
Several companies run trains through the tunnel, mainly carrying freight, but only two of these serve the paying public.
- Eurotunnel Le Shuttle carries road traffic between Calais and Folkestone. Vehicles pass through customs and immigration controls, then board the specially-adapted carriages. Separate trains convey private vehicles (cars, buses, campervans, motorcycles etc) and lorries; private motorists travel with their vehicles, while lorry drivers travel in a passenger carriage at the rear of their train. 35 minutes later, vehicles drive off the train and straight onto the road network. The service operates 24 hours a day and up to four times an hour. The following sections will explain the crossings in detail.
- Eurostar is a passenger-only high-speed rail service which links the UK to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. All trains start or end their journey at London's St Pancras International station, from where they zip to and from Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. A number of other stations in each country are served. The service operates in the daytime and evening, but not overnight. London is linked to Paris and Brussels by one or two trains per hour in each direction, with Amsterdam and other destinations served less frequently; see the #Eurostar section below for details.
There have been several proposals for other passenger train companies to use the Chunnel, including a much-publicised plan by Deutsche Bahn to offer high-speed services from Germany to the UK, and a proposal to run 'local' commuter trains between Pas-de-Calais and Kent, which resurfaces every few years or so. However, none of these ideas have yet been made a reality.
Venice-Simplon Orient Express?
Watch
- The Channel Tunnel - Life on the Inside (2019, BBC) - a light-hearted documentary series about Eurotunnel operations, showing passengers, train drivers, tunnel maintenance and control room staff adapting to the challenges posed by Brexit. On BBC IPlayer.
- C'est pas sorcier (episode: "Le tunnel sous la Manche", 2000, France Télévisions) - a popular French science series with two presenters in the "field" and one in the lab. Quite dated, but interesting details on the engineering of the tunnel and good practice for your French. On YouTube and DVD.
- The Tunnel / Le Tunnel (2013 - 2017, Sky / Canal +) - a Franco-British crime drama series and remake of the Dano-Swedish The Bridge. Two mutilated bodies are discovered at the midpoint of the tunnel, and British and French police detectives with very different personalities must work together to solve the case. On Amazon Prime and DVD.
- There are numerous Eurostar commercials on their YouTube channel. They tend to be well-made and funny, but if you find yourself instantly buying tickets, don't come and blame Wikivoyage.
Prepare
Eurotunnel or Eurostar?
So you've decided to cross the Channel, but don't wish to fly. It pays to know your options. Ferry or train? And which train? Both companies use the tunnel, but they are for very different markets.
Use the Eurotunnel if you are taking your vehicle - your car, bike, motorhome etc - between continental Europe and the United Kingdom. It's basically an undersea ferry on wheels, purely to get from A (Folkestone) to B (Calais). Eurotunnel is excellently plumbed in to the road networks on both sides, and within a four-hour drive for at least 90 million Europeans.
What about the ferry? The tunnel's advantage over the ferry is that it is less affected by weather, there are more frequent crossings, and the crossing itself is much quicker (35 min versus 90 min on the quickest Dover to Calais ferry). It's an overall smoother process than taking the ferry, and there are no concerns about sea sickness. You can also take your furry friend, and have them travel in the car with you. On the other hand, you may find the experience a claustrophobic one, and the terminal process can be more stressful - that's why this article is here to help you! That's said, it's certainly not for everyone; many people flat out prefer the slower pace and better views of a sea crossing, especially when travelling for leisure.
Travelling by coach or bus? If you are booked onto a scheduled international bus route that crosses the Channel, you don't get the choice of whether it takes the ferry or goes by tunnel, however in general FlixBus and Ouibus use the tunnel, Sindbad and Transmarian use the ferry, and Eurolines use both, depending on route. Schedules can change day-to-day depending on conditions at sea and fluctuations in ticket prices between the ferry companies and Eurotunnel. You can also catch a domestic bus to any Channel port of your choosing and take the ferry as a foot passenger, but this is not possible with the Eurotunnel.
Use the Eurostar for fast intercity travel between the UK and continental Europe. On its flagship routes, London to Paris, and London to Brussels, Eurostar has utterly decimated the airline market between these cities, and looks set to do the same on the newer London to Amsterdam route. The reasons? It's much quicker than flying - 2 hr 15 min from central London to central Paris - compared to hours of getting to, from and around unpleasantly large and crowded airports, and all the stresses that entails. Paris is now a day trip for Londoners, and vice-versa. The train also offers easily as much comfort as the better airlines, with on-board food and entertainment, the ride is smooth, and the views of the passing countryside will keep you gazing out the window. And of course it's environmentally-friendly: on foot or by bicycle, Eurostar is a wonderful start to a car-free holiday.
That's great! Any downsides? Eurostar is less convenient if you are travelling to a rural spot, as it mainly serves urban areas, or if the start of your journey is a long way from one of their stations. For instance, if you're British and living outside the south east, you may find the time savings cancelled out by the trek into London, though this depends on your London terminus; King's Cross and Euston are more or less next door to the Eurostar departure station, St Pancras, whereas other stations are a Tube journey away. Passengers who live south of London may consider catching the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet or Ashford instead. The train can also be quite costly compared to flying, but there are certainly some great deals out there if you take the time to look.
Travel documents
Eurotunnel and Eurostar both require that all passengers, including children and infants, have in their possession either:
- a valid passport (UK citizens and citizens of all other countries);
- or a valid national identity card (citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland).
Without one of these documents, you will not be allowed to travel. Additionally, you must fulfil the entry requirements of your destination country:
- If you're travelling to France, Belgium, or the Netherlands, see Travelling around the Schengen Area.
- If you're travelling to the UK, see United Kingdom#Get in.
For information on pet passports, please see Travelling with pets below.
Unaccompanied minors
In French and British law, an unaccompanied minor is somebody under the age of 18 who is not travelling with their parent or legal guardian. As Eurotunnel is only accessible to motor vehicles, and the minimum legal driving age in France is 18, all minors have to be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied minors who meet the above travel requirements are allowed to travel on Eurostar, with the following additional restrictions in place:
- Children under 12 must travel with a "responsible person" aged 16 or over;
- Children aged 12 - 15 may travel alone, as long as they have a fully completed Eurostar unaccompanied minor form, which must be signed at the station in the presence of a member of Eurostar staff either by the child's parent or legal guardian or by a responsible adult who has parental or guardian permission. In addition, under-16s can only travel on certain Eurostar routes - see the website for details;
- Children aged 16 or 17 may travel alone on any route without needing an unaccompanied minor form.
Eurotunnel vehicle requirements
Most types of vehicle are allowed on Eurotunnel. Permitted fuel types are petrol, diesel, electric, or hybrid. Vehicles powered by LPG, hydrogen fuel cell, or any other type of flammable gas are not allowed; see details here. Cyclists can travel without a motor vehicle; see the Cycling and Eurotunnel infobox in the next section.
The shuttle carriages have certain load restrictions which your vehicle must comply with. Your vehicle must be a maximum of:
- 18 metres (59 ft) long, including any towed caravans or trailers;
- 4.2 metres (14 ft) high;
- 2.55 metres (8 ft 4 in) wide, not including mirrors;
- 25 tonnes (25 long tons; 28 short tons) in weight for campervans and coaches, and 3.5 tonnes (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) for all other vehicles.
If your caravan or camper is carrying gas containers, these must be declared at the checkpoint in the terminal. They will be checked by staff to ensure they're in a good condition. Gas containers must be switched off while you're travelling. LPG gas containers are not allowed.
If you're planning to take a rented or leased vehicle from the UK to France, you must carry a VE103 certificate, proving you have the owner's permission to take the vehicle abroad. There are no legal requirements for taking a rented or leased vehicle from France to the UK.
Make sure you're familiar with the rules of the road in your destination country before you leave. Consult Wikivoyage's guides to Driving in Europe, Driving in France, and Driving in the United Kingdom.
Tickets
For information about Eurostar tickets, please see the section below - LINK
You can buy Eurotunnel tickets online, by phone (UK: ☏ +44 8443 353 535, France ☏ +33 810 63 03 04, both premium lines), on in person on the day of travel. You are strongly advised not to go for the latter option if you can avoid it, as it will always cost more, and there may not be any availability for immediate travel.
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Cycling and Eurotunnel
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Otherwise, there are a number of different ticket types, with a slightly mad fare structure:
- Standard single - one way travel - from £85 / €119
- Day Trip & Overnight - for same day or next day return - from £62 / €86
- Short Stay Saver - return within five days - from £134 / €188
- Standard return - for return after a period longer than five days - from £170 / €238
- Frequent Traveller - minimum purchase of 10 single tickets - from £48 / €67 one way
- (April 2020)
Quoted prices are for cars; different fares apply to other vehicles, though the same plans are available. Fares are higher at more popular times of the day and year, and lower fares can be bagged by booking well in advance of travel (you can normally book up to 11 months in advance). All fares include one vehicle and up to nine passengers. If you can do so, pay in pounds, as the euro prices do not match the exchange rate from sterling and actually cost more in real terms.
The booking process starts with a few questions about your vehicle. If it is registered in the UK or France, you can input your registration number, otherwise put in the make and model number. You will then be asked about any extra items your vehicle will be carrying or towing that will make it larger than normal, such as a roof rack or a trailer. After that, you are invited to book the date and time of your departure and return - you must stick to these, or you run the risk of having to buy another ticket. Having done this, you will need to supply some personal details about yourself and every member of your travelling party.
Once the transaction is concluded, you'll receive a booking reference number; you'll need this to redeem your ticket at check-in on the day of travel. You can change the details of your booking any time until midnight on the booked day of travel, either online or by phone (same numbers as above) quoting your reference number.
Flexiplus
If flexibility is what you need, then Eurotunnel are happy to oblige - for a price. Flexiplus is Le Shuttle's version of first class. The major selling point is absolute freedom over travel time; you can just turn up and go any time, without having to worry about missing your train. The terminal experience is a bit smoother too as you get your own queue-busting lanes at check-in and boarding, and also get to enjoy the Flexiplus Lounge with complimentary food and drink. During the summer peak, when the lines are long and the terminal building humming, Flexiplus will definitely feel like a luxury; at other times, when everyone is gliding through smoothly and boarding early trains, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. The price tag:
- Flexiplus (standard) - return any time within a year of departure - from £458 / €640
- Short Stay Flexiplus - return any time within five days of departure - from £348 / €488
- Frequent Traveller Flexiplus - minimum purchase of 10 single tickets - from £152 / €213 one way
- (April 2020)
Group travel
If you're planning to travel in a group of 15 or more vehicles, regardless of the type of vehicle, Eurotunnel can help make your journey together smoother. When you arrange a group booking, you can take advantage of a flat rate for the whole group so that everyone in your party pays the same. They can also provide a meeting place for your group at the terminal, and arrange to keep you together during the check-in and boarding process; it is even possible for especially large groups to requisition a private train. In order to nip any avoidable delays in the bud, you can ask them to inform British and French border controls of your group's journey. Prices are negotiable, and often include a discount over booking individually, but this is not guaranteed.
As an optional extra, you can save a bit of money on the catering by taking advantage of group meal offers to use at food outlets in the terminals. Though to be honest with you, the savings aren't massive and there are so many hoops to jump through (make your reservation with at least two weeks' notice, phone them upon your arrival at check-in) that unless you're counting pennies, it's probably not worth it.
Travelling with animals
- See also: Travelling with pets
All dogs, cats, and ferrets need a pet passport to travel around Europe. They must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and dogs travelling from France to the UK must also have undergone tape worm treatment by a vet at least 24 hours and no more than five days before departure (and yes, this includes British dogs returning home from France). Although these documents may be checked both ways as part of the normal check-in procedure, the regime when entering the UK is stricter.
The only non-human animals allowed on Eurostar are registered guide and assistance dogs, who travel for free. You just need to let Eurostar know that you're bringing your dog when you book your ticket.
When travelling by Eurotunnel, you can take along a whole menagerie of friends that bark, crawl, swim, or hiss. There's a flat fare of £20 / €27 per dog, cat, or ferret, one way. Registered guide and assistance dogs travel for free. Numerous other animals, with the exception of horses (see below), can also travel for free: rabbits, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, birds, tropical fish, insects, and spiders. For the full list including exceptions, please see the Eurotunnel website. You can take up to five animals per vehicle without having to make special arrangements; if you wish to travel with six or more animals, contact Eurotunnel directly before making your reservation. When travelling from France to the UK, you are required to pay a visit to the dedicated pet reception area at the Calais terminal.
Equids
Horses, donkeys, and mules can all be transported on the passenger shuttle. They have to travel in a horse transporter that meets European regulation and standards set by Eurotunnel: the ventilation system must distribute air evenly throughout the transporter with a minimum airflow of 60 m³/h/KN. The ventilator must be able to operate independently of the vehicle engine for at least four hours. The transporter must also have a valid Road Vehicle & Container Certificate.
For travel tickets, you have to book through one of several approved third-party companies; see the list of companies here.
United Kingdom to France
Explainer? It's basically a multistep process that can only be completed in one order, with no turning back: enter - check-in - terminal - UK border - France border - queue - board train - tunnel - leave train - exit
Local taxi company that'll take passengers through tunnel: [1]
Get in
Wikivoyage has a guide to Driving in the United Kingdom
The 1 Victor Hugo Eurotunnel Terminal is just outside Folkestone, Kent, in the extreme southeast of England.
You should aim to arrive between 45 minutes and 2 hours before your departure time in order to check in correctly. If you arrive late, you risk having to buy new tickets. If you arrive at the tunnel early on your day of departure, you may be offered a place on an earlier train if space allows, but this is not guaranteed and you may have to spend longer waiting at the terminal. Therefore, if you're approaching the tunnel well ahead of time, consider pulling off the motorway early. In the article below, you'll find sections suggesting things to see and do, and places to eat, sleep and fill up your car near the terminal on the British side. NEED LINKS
Before leaving home, make sure your passport, Eurotunnel reference number and the card you paid with are to hand, as you'll need them to check in.
By car
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Note: When there are major delays to cross-Channel ferry and train services, caused by exceptional circumstances such as bad weather or industrial action, the police instigate Operation Stack. The M20 is used as a queuing/waiting area for delayed lorries, meaning it is closed to through-traffic. In this event, you will be diverted onto the M2 or A20. Check before you travel with Kent Police. |
On the motorway network the tunnel is signed from the M25, while in London, it's signed from the Old Kent Road (A2). The postcode for sat-navs is CT18 8XX. Inputting any destination other than this postcode or Eurotunnel Le Shuttle UK Passenger Check-in can cause navigational issues; some GPS systems (including Google Maps, as of April 2020) want to direct you to Terminal Service Rd, which is not publicly-accessible, while others try to get you to drive to the terminal in France, via a ferry from Dover!
Use the M20 motorway, which runs from London to Dover. The terminal has its own dedicated exit from the motorway, 1 junction 11a. This is only accessible to eastbound traffic, in other words traffic coming from the direction of London. The exit slip road leads to check in.
If you're on the westbound carriageway, i.e. coming from the direction of Dover, you should exit the motorway at 2 junction 12, and take the A20 (2nd exit on the roundabout, signposted to Newington & Channel Tunnel). After ½ mile (800 m), there will be a right turn signed Channel Tunnel Service Traffic. This is the aforementioned service road that some sat-navs think is the entrance; it isn't, so ignore any instruction to turn and keep going, passing under a series of bridges. After another ½ mile, you reach a roundabout; go straight on (2nd exit, A20) then bear left almost immediately onto a sharply curving road signed Channel Tunnel which will take you onto the road to check in.
| City | Driving distance | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 68 miles (109 km) |  →  → 
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Follow the Channel Tunnel signs almost from Central London |
| Birmingham | 193 miles (311 km) |  →  →  →
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M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Cardiff | 217 miles (349 km) |  → →  →
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M25 anticlockwise |
| Edinburgh | 461 miles (742 km) |  / .svg){kind=small} →  →  → →
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M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Glasgow | 463 miles (745 km) |  → →  → / → → → →
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M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Leeds | 261 miles (420 km) |  → / → → → →
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M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Manchester | 273 miles (439 km) |  → → → →
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M6 includes toll
M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Norwich | 160 miles (260 km) |  → →  → →
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M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
| Plymouth | 276 miles (444 km) |  →  →  →  →  → → →
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M25 anticlockwise
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| Dublin | 2-3 hr ferry crossing;
375 miles (604 km) from Holyhead |
 →  → → → → →
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Dublin (Irish Ferries) or Dun Laoghaire (Stena Line) to Holyhead, up to 10 crossings per day.
M6 includes toll M25 clockwise, via Dartford Crossing (toll) |
By bus
No special arrangements, as the driver will do it all for you. But don't click away! The border control process is different for you. Check out the section below - LINK
By bicycle
Cyclists without a motor vehicle are welcome to travel with Eurotunnel, but there's no direct access to the terminal for cyclists. Instead, Eurotunnel lay on a minibus, which takes you through the check-in and border, and serves as your transport on-board the shuttle train. The rendezvous point for the minibus is the 3 Holiday Inn Express car park on Cheriton High Street, Folkestone, CT18 8AN. This is a 1½ mile (2.4 km) cycle ride from 4 Folkestone West railway station, which is served by frequent high-speed trains from London St Pancras, Ashford and Dover and slower trains from London Charing Cross. Folkestone is also on the National Cycle Network - Route 2 runs along the seafront. Pickup times at the hotel are daily at 08:00 and 15:30. In France, the minibus drops you off in Coquelles, outside the Channel Outlet shopping centre (see location below - LINK).
Check in
By car
Driving on the slip road from the M20 / A20, keep right, contrary to intuition. The freight check-in booths come first on the left, and it is all too easy to end up entangled between lorries by accident if you're too far over. Once you've passed the freight check-in, the 5 passenger check-in booths are ahead of you. Time to get in lane: left for a manned check-in booth, middle for self check-in, right for Flexiplus.
Self check-in is for people who have already bought tickets. Insert your credit or debit card into the slot provided; this is for identification purposes and will not be used to extract payment from you. You may then be prompted to key in your reservation number on the keypad. If you reserved a place for your pet, you'll be asked to confirm it's travelling with you. You may be offered an earlier departure than the one you originally picked; you can accept or decline. After that, a paper tag with a large letter on it is printed; this is your ticket.
If you need to purchase a ticket, or if you just prefer to deal with a person, the manned check-in booths are for you. The procedure is pretty much the same, only verbal.
Once you have your ticket, take note of the big letter as this corresponds to your departure time. You should be able to suspend your ticket as a hanger from your rear-view mirror above your dashboard, with the letter facing frontwards, so members of staff can see it. You must keep this visible until you exit the tunnel complex in France. Once the barrier opens, turn left (ten o'clock) following possibly the largest road sign in Europe: All vehicles.
Passing under an archway with an advertising hoarding, you're now on the road to the terminal building. At busier times, if your train is departing shortly, a member of staff may direct you to turn right here. If so, advance to Go. Otherwise, carry straight on to the terminal parking area, which you have to enter even if you're not intending to visit the terminal building. There are separate areas to park depending on your vehicle: cars and motorbikes should turn right, while larger vehicles (vans, campers, cars towing a trailer) carry straight on.
The Flexiplus check-in procedure is the same, except your ticket gives you access to any train you like. When the barrier opens, you're in a separate lane that conveys you straight to passport control LINK. The Flexiplus lounge awaits you on the other side.
By bus
Your driver will handle check-in. The bus will then drive to an office adjoining the terminal building; this is the 6 coach and bus exit check area. You must disembark from the bus with all the travel documents you need, enter the office and pass through British exit checks on foot. Exit into "no man's land", i.e. the terminal building. Whether you have time to take advantage of the shops and eateries is at the discretion of your driver - he or she should have told you how long you have before going to the shuttle, but if in doubt go straight back to your bus as the return journey can be surprisingly twisty. Next up, the French entry controls!
By bicycle
Having met up with your ride at the hotel car park, you and your bike should both now be on the minibus driving to the terminal. Follow the exact same procedure as By bus above.
Wait
While waiting for your train, keep an eye on the departure boards, which are prominently displayed inside the terminal and out in the car park. They show the letters of all upcoming trains, their status and the estimated departure time. Look for your train's letter, and only drive to passport control when the status changes to "Please proceed". Don't worry about delays crossing the border causing you to miss your train, as these are taken into account by Eurotunnel's scheduling, so if for instance the border checks are taking longer than usual, you'll be called for your train earlier than normal.
Mostly, you won't be hanging around the terminal building for long (minutes rather than hours), which is just as well because it's pretty much a glorified motorway service station. Still, there should be enough distractions to pass the time.
See
- 1 Eurotunnel History Exhibition (inside the entrance closest to the bus park). 24 hours daily. A small and interesting museum that opened in 2019 to mark the 25th anniversary of the tunnel's opening. Includes some models of the tunnel infrastructure, a wall timeline and memorabilia from the 1990s. Free.
There are more curiosities to spot once you get back in your car to drive to the shuttle.
If needed, can double up on coordinate markers by using "counter" parameter
- Example.
Do
- 1 Pet exercise area (on the far side of the access road from the terminal building). 24 hours daily. Time for walkies? International car travel is hard on human and canine alike, and this cute little dog park is just the ticket. Some fun toys and play equipment provide stimulation for your pal, while the use of Astroturf instead of grass makes it easier for you to avoid stepping in shit. Fenced and secure from traffic. Free.
- 2 Indoor play area (next to Travelex). A fenced area with giant floor games that will entertain your kids for all of five minutes. Free.
- 3 Family Lounge (inside the entrance closest to the dog park). 24 hours daily. If the play area is too much fun, you can get your enfants terribles speaking French with bilingual games. There are also interactive screens and a toddler tunnel. Free.
Buy
There are number of ATMs scattered around the terminal building, offering free cash withdrawals in euros and pounds.
Opening hours are longer than listed during busy periods.
- 1 AA Shop (Automobile Association), ☏ +44 1303 272 275, shop@theAA.com. M-Th 05:00-21:00, F Sa 05:00-22:00, Su 05:00-21:00. Great for picking up any last minute kit for driving in France, including beam converters, breathalysers, and road atlases. They also offer advice for driving on the "wrong side of the road", which may or may not involve flogging their European breakdown insurance.
- 2 Travelex (currency exchange), ☏ +44 845 872 7627 (premium). Daily 05:00-22:00. Convert your pounds or other world currency into euros or Swiss francs. Caveat emptor: as with all airport or border exchanges, buying on the day will ensure you get ripped off. To get a more favourable rate, purchase your currency online before you travel and pick it up at the terminal.
- 3 WHSmith, ☏ +44 1303 273 623. M-Th 05:00-21:00, F Sa 05:00-22:00, Su 05:00-21:00. Newsagent and bookseller for your last fix of British news rags reminding you to be afraid of all the foreigners waiting in Calais. Also sells sanitary products including nappies, and 'fun-sized' toiletries to fit snugly in your travel washbag. Meal deal available for sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks.
- 4 World Duty Free, ☏ +44 1303 273 314. M-W 05:00-22:00, Th 05:00-Sa 22:00, Su 05:00-22:00. Does it need repeating? There's no such thing as duty free for travel between the UK and EU! That said, there are some decent deals. Here, you can purchase a wide range of French cosmetics and perfumes, tobacco, English gin and Scottish whisky, confectionery with Her Maj's face on it, and as many Union Jack-emblazoned trinkets as you can carry.
Shopaholic? You'll want to head to Cité Europe - the largest shopping mall in northern France - when you disembark in Coquelles.LINK
Eat and drink
- 1 Picnic area (Next to the pet exercise area). A few outdoor tables tucked away from the terminal building.
The food court is the centrepiece of the terminal. Opening hours are longer than listed during busy periods. Everywhere offers takeaway so you can eat in your car or outside, but there are also plenty of tables inside.
- 2 Burger King, ☏ +44 1303 282 034. M-Th 10:00-22:00, F Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 10:00-22:00. Typical BK UK menu, except dearer. They seem to have forgotten the meaning of "fast food", which means that when the terminal is even moderately busy, the queues grow and grow.
- 3 La Gare Café and Bistro. Daily 05:00-18:00. Full English or breakfast baps in the morning. Cooked meals (beef bourguignon, chicken curry etc), paninis and cold sandwiches for the rest of the day. Fully-stocked bar with British and continental beers, wines, and spirits.
- 4 Leon, ☏ +44 1303 282 034. Daily 05:00-20:00. Probably the most "gastro" place in the tunnel. Healthy fast food: burgers, chilli and curry. (American) "English" muffins and porridge for breakfast. Good for veggies and vegans. Small play area for customers' kids.
- 1 La Gare Café Rapide. Open during busier periods. Grey vintage Citroën H-Type van serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, pastries.
- 2 Starbucks. 24 hours daily. Standard Starbucks experience with a slight premium due to the captive market. Another one which always gets queues as busy times - if you're not fussy, coffee is served at pretty much every other outlet in the terminal.
Bottle warmers for babies are available at customer services.
It may no longer be true that French food is always better than English food, but it's certainly true that there are better restaurants waiting for you on the other side of the tunnel than this miserable selection.LINK
Cope
- 1 Customer services. 24 hours daily. Information and help. A selection of brochures for attractions in northern France is available just outside the office.
- 2 Victor Hugo Lounge (opposite customer services). A quiet seating area away from the food hall, with charging points for your device. There are interesting photos of the tunnel construction and a mural dedicated to the terminal's namesake, the novelist and author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. If anyone in your party has special needs and requires an even quieter private space, ask in customer services.
- 3 Toilets. Spend a penny in the terminal's fully-accessible toilet facilities. Changing rooms are available if you need them; ask for the key at customer services. Don't wait until you're on the train, because they're cramped cubicles and not always available.
- 4 Electric vehicle charging points (in the terminal car park, between the two entrances; red machine for Tesla, blue for all others). 24 hours daily. Charge your electric, hybrid, or Tesla vehicle. No charge cards required, just pull up and connect. Free.
Fossil fuel dinosaurs, there's a petrol/diesel station just after you disembark the train at Coquelles.
- Smoke your last ciggy before France. There are covered smoking areas outside both entrances to the terminal building.
Go
Boarding
Your train is boarding; it's time to go unda da sea!
By private vehicle
If you haven't got your passport or ID card ready with the picture page open, plus having any other travel documents you need to hand, then now is the time to get them out, as there's no more stopping before the border controls. Ready? Let's go!
You can't leave the terminal car park the same way you came in. Instead, you have to follow the blue signs to FRANCE, which guide you in a zig-zag through the parking lot until you're back on the road. At the end of the road, bear left, still following those FRANCE signs.
After a gently-curving left bend, you reach the 7 UK border post. Use any lane, they all move the same speed. Stop at the booth and roll down your windows so the Border Force officer can see the faces of everyone in the vehicle. After a quick check of your documents, you're free to advance a whole 5 metres to another small cabin and an officer in a fluorescent jacket. If you have any firearms, you must declare them here. The officer in the jacket randomly selects vehicles to undergo further examination; if you're selected or you've declared firearms you'll be directed to pull over left ten o'clock. These extra searches are relatively brief and unintrusive, and are quickest if you're calm and polite with the officer.
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Un petit morceau de France en Angleterre Eagle-eyed passengers crossing the French border may notice the infrastructure takes on a decidedly gallic flavour. How many can you spot?
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However, in most cases, you'll be directed to move forward without further inspection. Keep those windows down and documents handy, because about 100 m in front of you is the 8 French border post. Here there are four lanes - two specifically for EU/EEA/Swiss passports and two for all passports. If you have a British passport, you can use the EU lane until 31 December 2020; new arrangements will come into force on 1 January 2021. Once at the booth, it's the exact same process - the Police aux frontières officer will check your documents, peer at your faces, and either wave you on or direct you to pull over left ten o'clock. And that's the border stuff done! For all intents and purposes, you're now in France.
Another lane division is just ahead of you. Motorcycles, buses, campervans and all vehicles taller than 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) go left, while cars that can fit under the height restrictor bar go right. These lanes determine which type of train carriage you'll board; "lefties" will be loaded onto tall single-deck trains, while "righties" will board a double-decker.
Flexiplus vehicles have a dedicated lane in between the two, which leads to the 1 Flexiplus lounge. Whether to visit the lounge and partake of free coffee and a spread of pastries, or ignore it and go straight to boarding, is the privileged choice you've paid for.
Whichever lane you entered, you'll now be on a twisty feeder road flanked by forgettable landscaping and the occasional sign barking instructions at you in two languages. After a couple of minutes of this, you approach yet another fluorescent jacket-wearing man-in-a-cabin. However, this one doesn't speak; instead, he holds up what looks like a scoring paddle with a number on it. This number allocates your boarding lane, and is decided based on the letter tag hanging in your car. The 9 boarding lanes, numbered 1 to 15 from left to right, are immediately after this. Drive into your allocated lane until you reach either a red light and barrier, or the back end of a queue of cars in front.
If you're driving a motorhome or caravan, your gas bottles will be inspected by staff here while you wait. Got LPG? You'll be refused boarding and will have to return to the M20 - good luck getting a refund. There are no amenities in this waiting area apart from a mock-up locomotive towards the front, which contains toilets. If you're planning to use a sat-nav for your journey on the other side of the Channel, now might be a good time to set it while you still have a satellite signal.
Once boarding commences in your lane, follow the green arrows; these will guide you to the correct train. From the waiting queue, the road bends right then climbs onto a bridge over the tracks. Left turns lead to ramps down to the platform. All but one of these will be marked with a red cross; you should turn at the one marked with a green arrow. The ramps are shorter and steeper than ramps leading onto a motorway - take your time, there's no rush.
At the bottom of the ramp, switch off your headlights. Drive past the locomotive, then turn where directed by staff and enter the train. The floors are level, but the corners quite sharp, so again take your time and drive smoothly. If you're assigned to the top deck, the ramp will be immediately ahead as you board. Inside, a one-way road runs the length of the train. The carriages are linked by doorways which progressively shut from front to back as the train fills up. Keep driving through until directed to stop by a member of staff; either a closed door or another vehicle will be in front and behind. The staff member will instruct you on where and how to park. Turn your engine off, put the handbrake on and roll your windows down halfway.
By bus and by bicycle
When your bus departs the terminal, it will drive through the UK checkpoint without stopping. It will then park up at the French control so that you can disembark with your travel documents and walk through the 10 coach and bus entry check area. Take all travel documents, but leave luggage on the coach. Once back on your bus, you can sit back and enjoy the crossing. Upon arrival in France, your bus will continue its journey uninterrupted.
On the train
Once your vehicle is parked and the train is moving, you're free to get out and explore. Eurotunnel recommends you stay with your vehicle, and in any case there's nowhere to go apart from the toilet, but there's nothing physically stopping you from pacing the length of the train and back should you wish to say you've walked from England to France. If you need to use the loo, it's best to go as early as possible in the journey, as it may be five carriages away. The WC is a rather narrow cubicle, and not suitable for disabled passengers or parents with children.
There are windows all along the carriage, though for the most part no view for obvious reasons. During the short beginning part of the journey before you enter the tunnel, look out the windows left for a view of the Folkestone White Horse: the chalk outline of a horse etched on a hillside overlooking the tunnel entrance. Unlike other, ancient, chalk figures in England, this one only dates from 2003, and was specifically designed to be seen by tunnel users. Soon after, you go underground and the windows go dark for 30 minutes.
This is the perfect time to set your car clock and any other timepieces you have forward one hour (e.g. if it's 12 noon UK time, it's 1PM French time) and, if necessary, change your speedometer and GPS from mph to km/h.
Stay safe
The shuttle is a very safe way to travel, but there are some actions to take to ensure the safety of everyone in your party:
- Keep all windows down halfway for ventilation and open your sunroof. This allows you to hear all announcements and is also a fire safety measure - the automatic fire-extinguishing agent needs to spread freely throughout the carriage in order to work effectively.
- Smoking and flash-photography are strictly forbidden as either could set off the fire alarm.
- Don't walk or stand between vehicles. If you need to get to the other side of the carriage, for example to access the loo, you have to walk to the doors and cross there.
- Keep you handbrake on and engine off until unloading begins at Calais.
- If you need help from a member of staff, there are call points on the wall.
In the event of an emergency, there'll be an alarm - seven loud beeps - followed by an announcement instructing you either to move to the next carriage or to evacuate the train. All on-board announcements are given in English and French. In either case, staff will be on hand to assist. In the extremely unlikely event that you have to evacuate the train mid-crossing, don't panic. The service tunnel which runs between the two rail tunnels was built for this very purpose, and is a safe - albeit stuffy - place to wait until the emergency services come to your rescue.
Disembark
By private vehicle
35 minutes after departing Folkestone, the shuttle train arrives in Coquelles, on the outskirts of Calais. Unloading proceeds in the same order as boarding, from front to back. Once the door at the front of your carriage starts to open, you can restart your engine and drive forward when it's clear. Another pair of sharp corners await you on the way out of the train. Remember to give the train crew a wave as you leave!
The layout of the French loading area is exactly the same as the British; platforms are linked to the service bridge by ramps. Drive up the ramp, and once on the bridge turn right, following signs to Sortie / Exit. Clearing the bridge, the road bends right. Several signs remind you to drive on the right, and you should be aware of traffic merging from both sides.
You're now on the two-lane, one-way 11 Avenue de France, which takes you out of the terminal and leads to the A16 autoroute / European route E402. Non-motorway traffic should take the exit right signposted Calais-centre, Coquelles, Cité Europe. Just before the motorway, there is a small service station on the left. Here, you will find a 5 Total filling station (open daily 24 hours) and, because it's France, a café serving cheap sandwiches and pastries called 5 La Croissanterie (open daily 06:00-22:00). Staff at both speak good English and are used to dealing with "just off the boat car-train" foreigners.
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All roads lead to Paris?
Tolls for each way cost roughly €22 (car) / €14 (motorbike). (May 2020) |
Past the service station, and - guess what ? - it's time to get in lane!:
- Keep right for the A16 eastbound towards Paris (via A26 & A1), Calais, Lille, Reims, and Brussels. Traffic for eastern and southeastern France should also take this route.
- Keep left for the A16 southbound towards Boulogne-sur-Mer, Rouen, and Paris (via A16 & D301). Traffic for western and southwestern France should also take this route.
for driving instructions and distances see table in 'Get in' section for France > UK
And that's it, you're on the autoroute. The speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph) in normal conditions and 110 km/h (68 mph) in poor visibility. The section around Calais as far as the Belgian border is free, but most other parts of the French network are tolled. For more details, see Driving in France. Bonne route !
By bicycle
When the shuttle arrives in Calais, rejoin your minibus for unloading. You will then be driven for approximately five minutes to the 12 cyclist drop-off point at a Eurotunnel office on Boulevard de l'Europe, Coquelles.
It is unfortunate that Coquelles is a very car-oriented and not an especially cycle-friendly place, with a lot of wide, fast roads and little cycling infrastructure, so the immediate onward journey is a little difficult.
Calais is a focal point for several long-distance cycle routes, including the EuroVelo route 4, known as La Vélomaritime, which covers almost the entire north coast of France and Belgium, before heading inland to Central Europe. To get to Calais, if you don't fancy navigating the roads by bike, local bus route 1 departs from 13 Médecine du Travail bus stop (on Boulevard du Parc, 40 m from drop-off point) for Théâtre bus station in Calais city centre. Service frequency is M-Sa every 20 min 07:00-21:00, Su roughly every hour 10:00-20:00.
If you're taking the train to elsewhere in France, the Théâtre bus station is 1 km (⅔ mile) from 14 Calais-Ville Station. From here, you can catch high-speed trains (TGV inOui) to Lille, Arras and Paris, and local trains (TER Hauts-de-France, TERGV) towards Amiens, Arras, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkirk, Le Touquet and Lille. Alternatively, 15 Calais-Fréthun Station, which has pretty much the same variety of services, is an indirect 5-km (3-mile) ride along mainly rural roads from the drop-off point in Coquelles.
For more help planning your onward journey, see Cycling in France and Cycling in Europe.
The gent who writes this blog may be able to provide better tips.
France to United Kingdom
Get in
A16
- driving times from major cities in France / nearby countries?
Local roads
- public transport access?
Pet check-in before human check-in - [2], [3], [4] - also "Please check in your pet at least 1 hour, and no more than 2 hours before your booked departure."
Go
By private vehicle
Full journey from A16 to M20
Another pet exercise area at petrol station before exit.
=By bus
(basically just different passport controls, and following a tighter schedule)
See and do
- Cité de l'Europe has leisure park, cinema etc
- Not sure there's anything to do in terminal
Buy
- Cité de l'Europe et al
- In terminal
Eat and drink
At terminal, and after disembarking
Fill up
Fuel: last couple in France, in terminal, first one in UK
Stop 24 has laundrette. Euros accepted in outlets.
Stay safe
Eurostar
- Stations served + journey times
- At the station
- On-board - classes of travel, entertainment, food etc
Venice-Simplon Orient Express?
See / In the vicinity
England
Time to kill on your way to or from the tunnel? The following sites of interest are all within a 10-km (6-mile) drive of the Folkestone terminal. In England, as in France, brown road signs denote tourist attractions, and they're very easy to follow. Full listings can be found by clicking the links:
- Battle of Britain Memorial (8 km (5.0 mi) from tunnel. If arriving from France, follow signs for Dover. On Dover-bound A20, take the first exit after road tunnel for Canterbury, Capel-le-Ferne, then follow the brown signs for the museum.) - A sobering reminder of a time when Europe was at war is this very touching memorial and museum dedicated to the men who fought and died in Britain's most desperate hour.
- Brockhill Country Park (6 km (3.7 mi) from tunnel. Leave the M20 at junction 11, turning left twice onto the A20. Then, follow brown signs.) - During any long-distance drive, it's important to rest, and this park is the perfect place for a walk, for a meal, or just for a breather in nature away from the wheel. An altogether superior picnic spot than the terminal's offering.
- Elham Valley Line Trust (1.8 km (1.1 mi) from tunnel. Departing the terminal, follow Non-motorway traffic, then All routes, turn right on the roundabout onto the A20, then picking up brown signs.) - A volunteer-run museum which preserves the memory of the long-vanished Elham Valley Railway and also has some unique artifacts from the early days of the Channel Tunnel.
- Port Lympne Reserve (8.5 km (5.3 mi) from tunnel. Exit the M20 at J11, where you pick up brown signs) - A conservation-led animal park in the grounds of a stately home which showcases some of the most iconic large mammals on planet Earth.
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (9 km (5.6 mi) from tunnel. Hythe station is the closest to Eurotunnel. Exit M20 at J11, and follow the signs into Hythe.) - This 15-inch (ultra-narrow-gauge) steam railway wends its way for 13 3⁄4 miles (22.1 km) along the coast past Romney Marsh's grazing sheep and Napoleonic defences to Dungeness, a shingly headland unlike any other British landscape.
- Viewpoint overlooking the terminal and Folkestone (5 km (3.1 mi) from tunnel. On hills to the north of terminal. Arriving from France, follow Non-motorway traffic, then All routes, turn right on the roundabout onto the A20, then picking up signs for Newington. From M20, exit at J12 for A20 and follow Newington signs. Go through village, then road twists and climbs.) - Get a bird's eye view over the trains entering and leaving the tunnel and follow the progress of loading cars and lorries. On clear days, you also have a fine view over the English Channel and nearby parts of the French coast.
Further afield
Three different attractions that are slightly further from the tunnel; think of them as day-trips to start or end your time in the UK.
- Ashford Designer Outlet (20 km (12 mi) from tunnel. Exit M20 motorway at junction 10 and follow the signs) - An indoor shopping mall with 85 designer brands, mostly clothing and accessories, running the gamut from Armani to Zwilling. The very cheap parking gives you more licence to splash out on shoes.
- Dover Castle (18 km (11 mi) from tunnel. From Eurotunnel, follow the M20/A20 eastbound to Dover. Upon entering the town, you pick up brown signs) - A fortress which commands brilliant views over the harbour and strait it has guarded for over 2000 years. It was begun by the Romans, augmented by the Saxons and Normans, and even played an important role in the Second World War. Truly one of England's great castles.
- Samphire Hoe (17.5 km (10.9 mi) from tunnel. Off the A20 westbound. From the direction of Eurotunnel, follow signs to Dover; you'll need to do a U-turn at the first roundabout on the outskirts of that town, then take the first left which is signposted.) - A beautiful seaside nature reserve under the White Cliffs of Dover, created by the spoil heaps deposited while excavating the tunnel. Walking trails and fishing on-site.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g190749-Activities-Folkestone_Kent_England.html
None of these tickle your pickle? Check out the Folkestone and Kent articles for more ideas, or take a coup d'œil at the section below.
France
the drill in Coquelles, Cap Gris-Nez with views of GB, musées de la Côte d'Opale
art installation at tunnel mouth - visible / accessible to public?
Sleep
Hotels near the terminals - integrate with journey?
Fill up
Fuel: last couple in UK, in terminal, first ones in France. Mention the free eV charging at the terminal.
See also
- Crossing borders - general advice on passing through passport, customs and immigration controls.