London to Dublin for £51.10 Manchester or Leeds to Dublin £46.50 Train & ferry all on one ticket. You can buy a SailRail ticket to Dublin from any station in Britain. Short notice or busy dates +£6.40  Fast ferry +£6.40 Kids under 5 free, under 16s half price.

London to Dublin from £51.10

Fed up with flying?  Discover a well-kept secret:  You can buy a cheap SailRail ticket between any rail station in Britain & Dublin, train & ferry on one ticket.  Swap a stressful flight for a relaxed train ride along the beautiful Welsh coast, then by cruise ferry across the Irish Sea.  See the journey in pictures below & watch the video.  It reduces your CO2 emission by up to 73%.

All-weather reliability:   Flights can be cancelled due to fog, snow & other bad weather, but Irish Ferries say their rock-steady 50,000 ton ship Ulysses has seldom missed a sailing due to weather.

  Which route to choose?

  Useful country information

  Recommended departure from London to Dublin

  Recommended departure from Dublin to London

  What's the journey like? 

  Video guide

  London-Dublin complete timetable

  How much does it cost?

  How to buy tickets

  Luggage, bikes, pets, stopovers...

  First class from London to Dublin from £188

  London, Bristol & Cardiff to Ireland via Fishguard

  Short breaks to Ireland without flying

  Hotels in Dublin & Ireland

Train travel in Ireland

  Train travel in Ireland, a beginner's guide

  Dublin to Belfast by train

  Belfast to the Giant's Causeway by train

  Day tours from Dublin to the Blarney Stone, Ring of Kerry, Giant's Causeway

Which route to choose?

The route via Holyhead is the traditional route from London to Dublin & most of Ireland including Cork, Limerick, Galway & Sligo.  The Fishguard-Rosslare route is good for London to Wexford & Waterford, and also for Bristol or Cardiff to Dublin.  However, Rosslare is not well linked to Cork or Limerick so these are best reached via Holyhead & Dublin.  You can travel between Scotland & Dublin either via Cairnryan & Belfast, or via Holyhead, it's usually cheaper & easier via Holyhead.  For London to Belfast you can go via either Holyhead, Liverpool or Cairnryan, see the Northern Ireland page.

If you use the journey planner at trainsplit.com it'll work out the most logical route for your journey. 

Click here for a detailed map of the UK train network & ferry routes.

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London to Dublin, recommended departure

Let's keep it simple.  Here's the service I'd recommend for travel between London or Southeast England and Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo & most other Irish destinations.  It's the cheapest option, with all-weather rock-steady reliability and it's a classic journey with lots to see on the way, see the journey in pictures & video below.  It's not the only option, far from it - see the complete London-Dublin timetable here.

London ► Dublin

• Step 1, travel from London to Holyhead by train in 3h40

  Leave London's Euston station at 09:02 Mondays-Saturdays by 125 mph Avanti West Coast train to Holyhead arriving 12:50.  On Sundays leave London at 08:15, change at Crewe and arrive Holyhead 12:43.

  It's a lovely journey through rural England and along the North Wales coast onto Anglesey, see the journey in photos below.  For the best views sit on the right-hand side of the train, ignoring your reserved seats if they're on the wrong side.  An on board shop sells drinks and snacks.  Map of London showing Euston station.

  At Holyhead, the ferry terminal right next to the station at the end of platform 2.  Walk off the train into the ferry terminal and check in for the ferry.  30 minute minimum check-in for Irish Ferries, 40 minutes for Stena Line.  After getting your boarding pass there's a brief and painless X-ray security check, you then check in your bags so you don't have to carry them round with you on the ferry.  Both Stena Line & Irish Ferries ships berth a little way from the terminal building at Holyhead, passengers are shuttled to the ferry by courtesy bus.

• Step 2, sail across the Irish Sea from Holyhead to Dublin in 3h15

  If you book to Dublin Port Irish Ferries or Dublin Ferryport, you sail from Holyhead at 14:10 on Irish Ferries' Ulysses, arriving Dublin port at 17:25.

  If you book to Dublin Port Stena, you sail from Holyhead at 14:45 on Stena Line's Stena Adventurer arriving Dublin port at 18:00.

  Both ships are excellent, both sail every day, but in my opinion the superb, rock-steady 50,000 ton Ulysses is the most glamorous ship.  Both ferries have free WiFi, bars, cafes, lounges, a restaurant, cinema, children's play area, fast food outlets, shop & open-air deck.  You can pay for a private cabin if you like, with toilet, shower & satellite TV, just ask at the ferry's reception desk.  Take a virtual tour of the Ulysses.

  Tip:  Upgrade to Club Class on the ferry!  For £18 or €21 paid on board at the lounge entrance, you can use the Ulysses' Martello Club Lounge on deck 11 above the bridge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee, smoked salmon, cheese and biscuits.  The lounge gives a superb forward view of the coast of Ireland and the Bay of Dublin approaching.  There's a similar lounge on Stena Line called Stena Plus which also gives a great forward view.  For privacy, a nap or shower, you can pay for a private day cabin with shower & toilet, just ask at the reception desk.

• Step 3, transfer 2 miles to Dublin city centre by bus or taxi, see map of Dublin showing ferry terminals, stations & city centre,

  If you arrive on Irish Ferries' Ulysses at 17:25, you'll find a double-decker Nolan's bus waiting outside the terminal to take you to the city centre just 2 miles away.  It leaves when the foot passengers have left the ship at around 18:00, arriving at Connolly station (for trains to Belfast, Wicklow, Sligo) in central Dublin around 18:15.  Hop on the LUAS tram from Connolly station to Dublin Heuston station if you want trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Tralee.  The bus fare is €3, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free.  You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted.  Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/ferry-link, you can pay online there too.

  If you arrive on the Stena Adventurer at 18:00, a double-deck Nolan's bus will be waiting outside the terminal, leaving at 18:40 and arriving at Connolly station in the city centre (for trains to Belfast, Sligo, Wicklow) at 18:55 and Dublin Heuston station (for trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway) at 19:15.  The fare is €3, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free.  You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted.  Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/ferry-link, you can pay online there too.

  A taxi costs around €20 from the ferry terminal to Connolly Station or any central Dublin hotel or €17 to Dublin's Heuston station, journey time 25 minutes.  You'll usually find taxis waiting outside the ferry terminal.

  A painless and scenic trip from central London, three countries in one day, England, Wales & Ireland!

• Step 4, if you're heading for Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo or Belfast...

  Use the transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport to Dublin Connolly station and (if necessary) the LUAS tram to Dublin Heuston station.  Then take an Irish Rail train, you can check times with Irish Railways at www.irishrail.ie.  You'll need a separate ticket for this bit.

  For Belfast, leave Dublin Connolly at 18:50 arriving at Belfast Grand Central Station at 20:58.

  For Sligo, leave Dublin Connolly at 19:05 arriving Sligo 22:05.

  For Cork, leave Dublin Heuston at 19:00 arriving Cork 21:58.

  For Limerick, leave Dublin Heuston at 19:00 Mondays-Saturdays, change at Limerick Junction, arriving Limerick 21:28.  On Sundays, leave Heuston at 19:05, change Limerick Junction arriving Limerick 21:23.

  For Galway, leave Dublin Heuston station at 19:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Galway 21:50, or at 18:45 Sundays, arriving Galway 21:25.

  For any other destination in Ireland, check times at www.irishrail.ie.  Make sure you allow enough time to transfer in Dublin.  If it's not possible to complete your journey the same day (for example, the last train to Tralee leaves Dublin before you get there).  .

Dublin ► London  

• Step 0 if you're starting your journey in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo or anywhere else in Ireland

  Travel up to Dublin by any evening train and stay the night.  You'll need a separate ticket for this bit.  Find hostel or hotel in Dublin.  If your train arrives at Heuston station, take the LUAS tram to Connolly station, this runs every 5-10 minutes and takes 15 minutes, fare €1.70 (not included in through tickets).  The tram leaves from outside the front of the station.  Map of Dublin showing city centre, railway stations & ferry terminals.

• Step 1, transfer from Dublin city centre to Dublin Ferryport by bus or taxi

  To connect with the 08:05 Irish Ferries ship Ulysses, a bus leaves Dublin Heuston (Parkgate Street, bus stop 10996) at 06:40, Bachelors Walk (bus stop 102111) at 06:50 and Custom House Quay (bus stop 135271) at 06:55, arriving Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 at 07:20.

  To connect with the 08:15 Stena Line ship Stena Adventurer, a bus leaves Dublin Heuston (Parkgate Street, bus stop 10996) at 06:40, Bachelors Walk (bus stop 102111) at 06:50 and Custom House Quay (bus stop 135271) at 06:55, arriving Dublin Ferryport Terminal 2 at 07:15.

  The bus fare is €3 adult, child 4-15 half price.  You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted.  Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/ferry-link, you can pay online there too.

  A taxi from central Dublin to Dublin Ferryport costs around €20 & takes about 25 minutes.  Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals & city centre.

• Step 2, sail from Dublin to Holyhead by ferry

  Irish Ferries' superferry Ulysses sails from Dublin port terminal 1 at 08:05 every day and arrives at Holyhead at 11:30.

  Until relatively recently the Ulysses was the world's largest car ferry, with excellent on board accommodation including bars, restaurant, cinema, children's play area, free WiFi and private cabins.  At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the ferry terminal at the station.

  Stena Line's competing Stena Adventurer sails from Dublin port terminal 2 at 08:15, arriving in Holyhead at 11:50.

  The Stena Adventurer also has excellent on board accommodation with bars, restaurant, cinema, children's play area, free WiFi and private cabins.  At Holyhead, a courtesy bus drives you off the ferry to the ferry passenger terminal at the station.

• Step 3, travel from Holyhead to London by train.

  On Mondays to Fridays, leave Holyhead at 12:46 by direct Avanti West Coast train to London Euston arriving 16:35.

  On Saturdays, leave Holyhead at 12:32, change in Chester (arrive 14:10, depart 14:32) and arrive London Euston 16:35 or there's a direct train leaving Holyhead at 13:53 arriving London Euston 17:35.

  On Sundays you leave Holyhead at 12:53 on a direct train to London, arriving London Euston 16:36, but times may vary.

How much does it cost?

• London to Dublin costs £51.10 Advance or £57.50 Single.

  Advance = limited availability, must be booked before 18:00 the day before travel.

  Single = this fare applies when Advance tickets have sold out.

  You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to Dublin.  No break of journey is allowed on SailRail tickets, and no further discount with railcards.  See full details of SailRail fares between any British station & any Irish station here.  See first class fares here.

  Children under 16 travel for half price, under 5's go free, no ticket required just bring them along.

• Dublin to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee or Killarney starts at €13.99 each way if booked in advance, the price varies. 

How to buy tickets

• Option 1, buy SailRail tickets at Tfw.wales

  Collect tickets from most stations in Britain (but not in Ireland)

  You can buy one-way or return tickets in either direction, but must collect from a station in Britain, tickets cannot be collected in Ireland.

  For Dublin, type station code DFP (Dublin Ferryport) to travel on the Ulysses, or DPS (Dublin Port - Stena) to travel with Stena Line.

  Tfw.wales is the Transport for Wales website, TfW manage SailRail fares on behalf of all National Rail operators.  There's no booking fee.

  You can book days, weeks, even a month or two ahead.  You can't book months & months ahead and don't need to.  More info.

  You collect tickets from the ticket machines at most British stations, or they can be sent to UK addresses including Northern Ireland for a fee.

  You don't have to start in London:  You can use tfw.wales to buy SailRail tickets from any railway station in Britain to or from Dublin Ferryport with Irish Ferries or Dublin Port - Stena with Stena Line.  Full details of fares & how to buy tickets.

  Other websites that can sell SailRail tickets:  You can also buy tickets at trainsplit.com, international credit cards no problem, no booking fee, it'll let you choose your seat from a seat map on Avanti West Coast trains.  You collect tickets from any main station in Britain.  Or use www.thetrainline.com.

  Tip:  In summer it can be difficult to book the 08:05 Ulysses departure from Dublin using train company websites, because it's overtaken by the faster 08:30 Swift and the system ignores the 08:05 ship.  Either book from Dublin Port - Stena to London via the alternative Stena Line ship instead, or book the 08:05 Dublin to London service at www.irishferries.com using the FERRY & RAIL tab as this lets you select the 08:05 Ulysses and gives you an open ticket for the train, tickets collected at the Irish Ferries desk in Dublin.  You can take the 08:30 Swift if you like, but the Ulysses is cheaper and offers all-weather reliability.  The Swift is faster but cancelled when wave height exceeds 1 metre.

• Option 2, buy SailRail tickets at www.irishferries.com

  Collect tickets at Dublin Port or have them sent to an Irish address.

  Click FERRY & RAIL, select Ireland to Britain, then click FERRY & RAIL again.

  Select Dublin Port to London (all stations) or choose another British station as your destination, with an 08:00 departure time. 

  As long as you click FERRY & RAIL you'll get a SailRail ticket to your chosen British destination with a reservation on the ferry.  The Irish Ferries website shows ferry times, but not train times.  You'll get an open ticket for the train(s) which can be used on any suitable train, you sit where you like.  Use the train tomes on this page or look up trains from Holyhead to your destination station at www.nationalrail.co.uk, looking for a train that leaves Holyhead about 40 minutes after your ferry arrives.

  Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport or sent to any address in Ireland or worldwide by normal post at your own risk.  You can add access to the Martello Lounge or a private day cabin to your booking this way, too.  Full details of prices & how to buy tickets starting in Ireland.

  Of course, if you can collect tickets from a station in Britain before you go to Ireland, you can book with tfw.wales as shown above and it'll give you train times and train reservations too.  But if that's not possible, buy from www.irishferries.com as shown here.

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What's the journey like?

The journey begins at London Euston.  See location map.

London to Holyhead with Avanti West Coast.  From December all direct London-Holyhead trains will be operated with new 125 mph Evero trains like this, with a cafe-counter, power sockets & tables at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard class has a mix of face-to-face and face-to-back seating.

Above left, the cafe counter.  Above right, large bags go on these luggage racks at each end of each car.  Small & medium bags go on the rack above your seat.

A green & pleasant land.  The train leaves the London suburbs behind and is soon racing through the countryside of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire at 125 mph.  Look out for glimpses of narrow boats on the Grand Union Canal alongside the railway on the right.

Above left:  After calling at Crewe, Britain's archetypal railway junction, you pass the Crewe Heritage Centre on the right with preserved prototype APT.

Above right:  At Chester, look out for the historic sign, London 179 miles - Holyhead 85 miles.

Soon after Chester, the train crosses the border into Wales and starts running along the scenic North Wales coast.

Above left:  Look out for the 1956 turbine-steamer Duke of Lancaster on the right, originally a floating nightclub, now rusting gently. Her hull is now black.

Above right:  The pretty town of Conwy is visible briefly on the right.

At Conwy the train crosses Stephenson's unique tubular bridge of 1848, designed to blend with the castle.

Immediately after the tubular bridge the train passes the imposing battlements of Conwy Castle, right hand side.  Have your camera ready!

If you watch the video, you can hear my 6 year old daughter saying "Wowwww..." as we emerge from the tubular bridge right under Conwy Castle walls.  Welsh flags fly proudly from the turrets.

As the train approaches Bangor you can make out the mountains of Snowdonia in the distance to your left.

The train now crosses the Menai Strait onto the Isle of Anglesey, over Robert Stephenson's celebrated Britannia Bridge, built in 1850.  Originally rail-only and originally boxed-in, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1970 and you can now see out of the sides.  Only the piers are original and it now carries a road above the railway.  As you cross the Britannia Bridge you'll see Telford's beautiful suspension bridge built in 1822-1826 (pictured above) a little way along the Menai Strait to your right.

Blink and you miss it.  The train passes non-stop through  Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the station with the longest name in Britain and now a visitor attraction in its own right.  Soon afterwards the train arrives in Holyhead, just 3h40 from central London.

Welcome to Holyhead, where trains meet ferries.  The ferry check-in is inside the station at the end of platform 2.

Check in at the relevant ferry operator's desk.  You check in your bags, then a courtesy bus shuttles you to the ship.

Holyhead to Dublin with Irish Ferries

The Ulysses is one of my favourite ships, and a crossing on her is a real treat.  At 50,000 tons, the Ulysses was the biggest ferry serving the British Isles until Stena Line's 63,000 ton Stena Hollandica & Stena Britannica entered service on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland route.  She's rock steady under most conditions, and in ten years of service she has hardly ever missed a sailing due to weather - more than can be said for the planes!  You check in your bags at Holyhead so you don't have to carry them round on the ferry.  She has free WiFi, too.

Holyhead to Dublin with Stena Line

Stena Line's Stena Adventurer is also a great ship, also with free WiFi and with its own premium lounge called Stena Plus.  As with Irish Ferries, you check in your bags at Holyhead so you don't have to carry them around on the ferry.

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Video guide:  London to Dublin

This shows how easy the London to Dublin journey is, and what there is to see on the way.  As you enter Euston Station, pay your respects to the statue of Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), the engineer who built the railway to Holyhead including the Britannia Bridge, it's been the civilised way to Dublin since 1850.

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Which ferry to choose?

Take a train to Holyhead, then two different ferry operators sail from Holyhead to Dublin, Irish Ferries & Stena Line.

Stena Line or Irish Ferries?  Both are great companies, fares are similar, book to Dublin Port Stena for Stena Line or to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) for Irish Ferries.  I consider the 50,000 ton Ulysses the more glamorous ship, she's a favourite of mine, but I like the Stena Adventurer too.  Why not go out with one, back with the other?

Ship or fast ferry?  The ships have more extensive facilities and all-weather reliability, and they're rock-steady.  The lightweight Swift is an hour faster but bumps about a bit and is cancelled when wave height exceeds 1m, with passengers transferred onto the Ulysses.  Bear this in mind when travelling with an appointment to keep.

Timetable westbound

Timetable eastbound

About SailRail fares

• What do SailRail fares cover?

  SailRail fares cover the train to Holyhead and the ferry to Ireland, all on one ticket for one inclusive price.  You can check all these SailRail fares at www.brfares.com.

• Making a return journey?

  All fares are one-way, a return journey = two one-ways.  If you're not sure when you want to return, buy the outward ticket, then buy the inward ticket later using www.irishferries.com, collecting the ticket at Dublin Port.

• Children

  Children under 5 travel free (but need a reservation on the ferry), children under 16 half price.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Unaccompanied children 16-17 years old must have written authority to travel from their parent or guardian.

• Does the price vary?  Can tickets sell out?

  Booking usually opens 9 or so weeks in advance, sometimes less.  The SailRail Single fare is always available even on the day of travel (assuming the quota of ferry places placed on the rail industry reservation system hasn't run out), the SailRail Advance fare is often available if you book in advance, sometimes sold out or unavailable.  The rail industry reservation system is loaded with a finite quota of ferry places which can sell out at busy times such as July/August, Christmas or Easter, even at the SailRail Single fare, so book ahead if you can.

• Railcards

  There are no railcard discounts on SailRail fares.

• Stopovers

  Stopovers are not allowed with SailRail tickets other than to make connections.  If you want to stop off, buy separate tickets.

• Buses to Dublin city centre

  The transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport costs €3 to George's Quay in central Dublin, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free.  You simply pay on board the bus, with debit or credit card, not cash.

• First class

  There are no first class SailRail fares, if you want first class comfort on your journey to Ireland simply buy an advance-purchase 1st class ticket between London & Holyhead and separate ferry ticket to Dublin, see the London to Dublin first class section.

Luggage, bikes, pets...

• Are there baggage limits or baggage fees?  Do I check my bags in?

  There are no baggage weight limits or baggage fees to worry about, as long as you don't take the Mickey.  You simply take your bags with you on the train, placing them on the luggage racks above your head or at the end of the coach.  You check bags in at the ferry terminal so you're free to use the ferry's facilities without being encumbered with luggage, then you collect your bags again from the carousel at the ferry terminal on the other side of the water.  There are left luggage lockers at London Euston (see here for details) and at Dublin Heuston station, but not at Dublin Connolly.  There used to be a private left luggage office at Holyhead, but this has reportedly closed.

• Is the ferry affected by bad weather?  Can it get rough?

  I have always found the huge 50,000 ton Ulysses to be rock steady under most conditions, even in the depths of winter.  And in ten years of service she has seldom missed a sailing due to weather - or for that matter, volcanic ash, which is more than can be said for the planes.  The Ulysses almost always gets through!  If you use the smaller, faster Swift SeaCat, this can be cancelled if the weather is poor, especially in winter, when perhaps 5% of sailings are cancelled.  If it's cancelled you'll simply be transferred to the next sailing of the Ulysses (if you turn up early for the 08:30 Swift, then if you find it's cancelled, you may get onto the 08:05 sailing of the all-weather Ulysses).

• Can I take my bike?

  Yes.  Bicycles go for £10 each way on Irish Ferries, £10 on Stena Line.  Pre-booking is recommended for Irish Ferries, email them at info@irishferries.com for details.  Bikes are carried free on trains to Holyhead, but a bike reservation is compulsory on Avanti West Coast as there's a 3-bike limit and recommended for tfw.wales who have a 2-bike limit.

• Can I take my dog or cat?

  Dogs go free on British & Irish trains.  For the ferry part of the journey, Stena Line & Irish Ferries allow foot passengers to take small dogs or cats if they're in a container which you can carry onto the ferry.  The dogs or cats must travel in their container on the car deck or in the kennel area, see www.irishferries.com or www.stenaline.co.uk/faqs for details.  On Stena Line, you can also bring a larger dog not in a container, placing your dog in a kennel on the car deck - this is free on the Holyhead-Dublin route, but best to call Stena to check there's a kennel free first.  Guide dogs can be taken into the passengers areas, other dogs cannot.

  How to buy tickets in Britain

London Euston station If you buy SailRail tickets online at tfw.wales you can collect them from the ticket machines installed at all main British stations.  These are the machines at London Euston station.  The original credit card is needed to collect your ticket.

• Buy SailRail tickets at tfw.wales.

  Transport for Wales (tfw.wales) manages SailRail fares on behalf of all British train operators.  Their website sells SailRail tickets to Dublin from any station in Britain, one-way or round trip.

  If you have any problems using tfw.wales, buy SailRail tickets at trainsplit.com (also no booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (small fee, but international credit cards no problem).

• Ticket collection at stations in Britain

  You collect tickets from the self-service ticket machines installed at most British stations, including London Euston.  You cannot collect tickets in Ireland.

  tfw.wales can send tickets to any UK address by 1st class post for £0.95 or by tracked next day delivery for £8.88.

• You can buy tickets starting in Dublin, but tickets cannot be collected in Ireland

  Either collect them at a station in Britain beforehand or pay to have them sent by post to any UK address including Northern Ireland.  If you can't do that, book with Irish Ferries with ticket collection in Dublin as shown in the How to buy tickets in Ireland section.

• You don't need to book months in advance

  SailRail tickets are usually available even at short notice.  The SailRail Advance fares can sell out, but SailRail Single fares are often available even on the day of travel.

  But don't leave it until the last minute.  A finite number of passenger places on each ferry are allocated to the rail industry ticketing system, usually enough for everyone, but places can run out on busy dates in July & August and at Easter & Christmas.

• Select Dublin Ferryport for journeys via Irish Ferries or Dublin Port - Stena for journeys via a Stena Line.

  Or type station code DFP for Dublin Ferryport or DPS for Dublin Port Stena.

• Going beyond Dublin to Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Galway & other Irish stations?

  Buy your Irish train tickets at www.irishrail.ie, for example Dublin to Galway or Cork.

  Make sure you allow plenty of time for the ferry-station transfer in Dublin.

  SailRail fares in fact exist to any Irish station, but TfW currently isn't loading Irish train times into the British ticketing system so no journeys are found, so no tickets can be sold.

• You can also buy SailRail tickets to Dublin at www.stenaline.co.uk

  However, (a) Stena can only send tickets to UK addresses, they can't be collected at stations or sent to Ireland, and (b) Stena Line can only sell tickets from major cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool to Dublin, not from any station in Britain.

• Buy SailRail tickets by phone

  You can buy tickets by phone from TfW's SailRail booking line, 03333 211 202 (UK callers only).  Lines are open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays. Remember to ask for tickets routed either Stena Line or Irish Ferries depending on which service you want in which direction.  You can also buy tickets from Stena Line, 03443 350 027.

• Buy SailRail tickets in person

  You can buy these train+ferry SailRail tickets at most main British railway stations, even on the day of travel.  This includes London Euston.  But allow plenty of time to buy your ticket, and be aware that small stations (ones without the capability to do seat reservations) may not sell these tickets.  It's better to buy tickets a day or two before if you can.

  How to buy tickets in Ireland

Dublin Port Buy online at www.irishferries.com:  Tickets can be collected at Dublin port from the Irish Ferries desk at the ferry terminal, pictured below.

• Buy SailRail tickets at www.irishferries.com.

  For one-way or round trip SailRail tickets starting in Ireland, use www.irishferries.com.

  Click FERRY & RAIL, select Ireland to Britain, and click FERRY & RAIL again.

• Ticket collection at Dublin Port or posted

  Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Port.

  Or sent by registered post to Irish addresses.

  Or sent to any address worldwide by normal post at your own risk.

  Anyone from any country can use www.irishferries.com, international credit cards accepted.

• Tips for using irishferries.com:

  For travel to London, select London (all stations).  The departure & arrival times it gives you are for the Dublin-Holyhead ferry, not for the whole journey, the system is only programmed with ferry times not train times.  Simply look at the Dublin-London timetable on this page or look up British trains at www.nationalrail.co.uk.  But YES, SailRail tickets do include the UK train, tickets are valid on any suitable connecting train without restriction, you sit anywhere you like.

  Remember to allow at least 40 minutes check-in for the ferry at Dublin port outward and at Holyhead on the return, plus plenty of time for transfers between Dublin port and Dublin's Connolly or Heuston stations.  Obviously, this will only book Irish Ferries, not Stena Line.

  Tip:  It's well worth the extra to upgrade to the Club Class lounge, with complimentary tea, coffee, red & white wine and canapés!  You can do this when you book or pay the extra on board the ferry.

• Buy SailRail tickets by phone:  Call Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-16:00 Saturdays, if calling from Northern Ireland or anywhere outside the Republic of Ireland, dial +353 818 300 400) or call Stena Line on 01 907 5388.

• Buy ticket by e-mail to Irish Ferries at sailrail@irishferries.com.

• Cost of SailRail tickets bought in Ireland:  Bought at least one day before travel, Dublin to London costs €60, Dublin to Birmingham or Leeds costs €54, Dublin to Liverpool or Manchester costs €53.  Cork, Limerick or Galway to London costs €80.

  Fares in euros for tickets bought in Ireland can be found using the journey planner at www.irishferries.com.  Note that tickets bought in Ireland are all of the walk up type, a reservation is needed (and included) on the ferry, but no seat reservation is required on British trains, you can take any suitable connecting train you like once in Britain, although no stopovers are allowed.

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London to Dublin first class: Ryanair eat my shorts

There are no 1st class SailRail tickets, but you can easily book a first class journey from London to Dublin using separate train and ferry tickets bought direct from Avanti West Coast and Irish ferries.  London to Dublin starts at around £188 one-way in first class comfort, with a complimentary cooked breakfast served at your seat on the morning Avanti West Coast train to Holyhead and a seat in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses with complimentary red or white wine and canapés, with great views of the coast or Ireland slowly approaching. 

London ► Dublin first class  

• Step 1, travel from London to Holyhead by Avanti West Coast, leaving London Euston at 09:02 Monday-Saturday, arriving Holyhead 12:50.

  In first class you can select a table for two with two armchairs facing each other across a table.  Or a solo seat or table for four.  It's quiet, civilised and relaxed.  Whenever I've travelled, the first class on this train has been virtually empty, you may have it to yourselves!

  A steward takes food & drink orders from a complimentary first class menu and serves you at your seat.  The menu includes a cooked breakfast, typically egg, bacon and sausage or scrambled egg and smoked salmon.  There's cereal or even porridge, tea, coffee and toast.

• Step 2, sail from Holyhead to Dublin by luxury superferry, leaving Holyhead at 14:10 daily on Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses across the Irish Sea, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.

  The ferry's quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge is located over the ship's bridge, giving a fantastic forward view of the coast of Ireland approaching while you enjoy complimentary red or white wine, tea, coffee, juice, and canapés of smoked salmon or cheese and biscuits.  There's free WiFi.  Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet.

• Transfer from Dublin Ferryport to your Dublin hotel by taxi, this costs around €20.

Dublin ► London first class

• Transfer from your hotel to Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 by taxi, this costs around €20.  Remember to allow for the check-in for the ferry.

• Step 1, sail from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead on Irish Ferries luxurious superferry Ulysses, leaving Dublin Ferryport terminal 1 daily at 08:05 and arriving Holyhead at 11:30.  The Ulysses is the world's largest car ferry.

  In the quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge over the top of the ship's bridge, you get a fantastic forward view of the Welsh coast approaching, while you enjoy the complimentary tea, coffee, juice, and canapés of smoked salmon or cheese & biscuits.  There's free WiFi.  Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet.  At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the passenger terminal and station.

• Step 2, travel from Holyhead to London by train.

  On Mondays to Fridays, a direct train leaves Holyhead at 12:46 arriving London Euston 16:35.

  On Saturdays, a direct train leaves Holyhead at 13:53 arriving London Euston 17:35.

  On Sundays a direct train leaves Holyhead at 12:53, arriving London Euston 16:36, times may vary.

In first class you can select a table for two with two armchairs facing each other across a table.  Or a solo seat or table for four.  It's quiet, civilised and relaxed.  Whenever I've travelled, the first class on this train has been virtually empty, you may have it to yourselves!

A steward takes food & drink orders from a complimentary first class menu and serves you at your seat.  The menu includes light dishes, red & white wine, tea & coffee, soft drinks.

How much does it cost?

• London to Holyhead first class in theory starts at just £58 if you book in advance.  However, in reality the cheapest first class Advance fare I have yet found for the 09:02 departure connecting with the ferry is £134, so in fairness I'm taking that as my 'from' price.  At weekends it's often cheaper to buy a standard class off-peak ticket from London to Holyhead for £85 at trainsplit.com, then upgrade to first class for £15, paid to the staff on board.

• Holyhead to Dublin by Irish Ferries ship Ulysses costs around £36 plus £18 supplement for access to the Martello Club lounge.

How to buy tickets

• Book the 09:02 Mondays-Saturdays Avanti West Coast train from London Euston to Holyhead at trainsplit.com (no booking fee, and recommended because it let's you select an exact seat from a plan) or www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk (same price, also no booking fee, but ironically won't let you choose your seat), looking for a first class Advance fare.

  Booking normally opens 12 weeks ahead, book early for the best fares.  If you only see the £230+ Anytime full-price fare, it's possible that reservations haven't opened yet (as the Anytime fare isn't tied to a reservation, but Advance fares are).

• Then book the daily 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and/or the 08:05 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead at www.irishferries.com.  Make sure you add a seat in the Martello Club lounge or indeed a private cabin to your booking when prompted.

• Feedback if you travel this way is always appreciated!

Going first class

London to Holyhead by train in first class.  In the first class carriage a steward serves complimentary food & drink from a menu, including a cooked breakfast in the morning, light dishes and wine in the afternoon and evening.

Holyhead to Dublin in the club lounge on Irish Ferries m/v Ulysses, with complimentary wine & canapés, tea & coffee.

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London, Bristol & South Wales to Ireland via Fishguard-Rosslare

There is a regular integrated train & ferry service from London, Bristol & Cardiff to Rosslare in southern Ireland via Fishguard.  Rosslare is handy for Wexford & Waterford.  Combined train & ferry SailRail tickets are sold from any British railway station to Rosslare Europort via this route, just use the journey planner at tfw.wales to buy a ticket to Rosslare Europort.  If you're heading for Cork, Limerick and so on, you're better off travelling via Holyhead & Dublin, see here.  London-Dublin journeys are best made via Holyhead, see here.

Important:  Trains between London & Fishguard are not direct, you need to change once at either Newport, Cardiff, Swansea or Carmarthen - the booking system at tfw.wales will tell you where, as it varies.

No service on 25 & 26 December.  Always check UK train times for your date of travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or tfw.wales as engineering work can affect train times especially at weekends.

Rosslare Europort is linked by train to Wexford, Wicklow & Dublin.  They've rather stupidly moved the platform away from the ferry terminal, and it's now a 5 minute walk from the terminal building.  Check Irish train times at www.irishrail.ie.  Rosslare to Wexford & Dublin buses are operated by Bus Éireann, check times & fares at www.buseireann.ie.

The Waterford connection:  Sadly, the Rosslare-Waterford railway was closed in September 2010, and is now the missing link in the Irish rail network.  You unfortunately now need to travel by bus.  Please check bus times between Rosslare Europort and Waterford at www.buseireann.ie.

Check the fare from any British station to Rosslare Europort using tfw.wales.

Advance fare =  Sail Rail Advance = the fare you would normally want to buy, unless it has sold out and only the Single fare is offered.  Tickets must be booked by 18:00 the day before you travel.  The fares shown above are not 'starting at...' prices, but are fixed prices that are almost always available at the price shown, even the day before departure, though they sometimes sell out.  The ticket includes a reservation on the ferry and on any British trains on which seat reservation is possible.  You can only travel on the specific train or trains which have been reserved for you, not on alternative trains or routes, unless a delayed ferry means you miss a scheduled connection.  No stopovers allowed.  On trains on which seat reservation is not possible, meaning local or suburban trains, you can take any suitable train.  Tickets are non-refundable, but changes to date or time can be made for a fee (about £10) in person at British railway stations but not in Ireland or by phone.

Single fare = Sail Rail Single (also known as Standby) = the fare you pay if you buy a ticket on the day of travel or if the Advance fares have sold out.  A reservation is required on the ferry, but seat reservation on trains is optional and you can use any train and any permitted rail route to and from the ferry port.  However, no stopovers are allowed except as necessary to make connections.  You can buy a Single fare in advance if you like, but the only reason you'd want one is if you wanted the flexibility to take alternative trains or routes on the way to or from the ferry port from those that the system offers you.  Refunds allowed less a £10 admin fee.

About these SailRail fares

• The fare includes the train to Fishguard and the ferry to Rosslare, all on one ticket for one inclusive price.

• If you book through to Wexford or Dublin or any other Irish station, it also includes the Irish train.  SailRail tickets do not cover buses, so if you want to use a bus, for example the Rosslare-Waterford bus, book a SailRail ticket as far as Rosslare and buy a separate ticket for the bus when you get to Rosslare.

• The fares are fixed price, it's the same price whether you buy 90 days in advance or just one day ahead, summer or winter, mid-week or Fridays.  These fares are not a limited availability offer, they are always available.  However, the Single fare now applies if you buy a ticket on the day of travel.  Just remember that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, so advance booking is a good idea.

• Return journey = two one-way fares.

• Stopovers are not allowed.

• Railcard holders:  There's no further discount for railcard holders, as they're so cheap anyway.

• Children 5 to 15 travel at 50% off these fares, under 5s free.

• Travelling beyond Rosslare?  SailRail tickets to Irish stations beyond Rosslare were stopped, but were reinstated in 2013.  So you can now book through from any British station via Rosslare to any Irish station.  However, check your connection by train is possible, for example there's no train service between Rosslare and Waterford, only buses, and SailRail tickets aren't valid on buses.

• Taking a bicycle?  Bikes go for £10 each way on Stena Line, no reservation required.  Bikes are carried free on trains to Fishguard, but reservations are recommended as there's a 2 bike limit on Arriva Trains Wales and a 6 bike limit on First Great Western.  Call First Great Western to book your bike on the train.

How to buy tickets

• In Britain, buy online at tfw.wales.  This sells combined train & ferry tickets from any other station in Britain to Rosslare harbour. 

  By phone, call the SailRail booking line 03333 211 202 (UK callers only).  Lines open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays.  Or call Stena Line on 03443 350 027, lines open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays & 09:00-17:00 on Sundays.

  In person at staffed British railway stations.

  Onward tickets from Rosslare to Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow or Dublin by bus or train can be bought when you arrive at Rosslare.  Rosslare station has no ticket office, but has a ticket machine.

• In Ireland, buy by phone calling (01) 703 1884, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Or buy in person at major Irish Rail stations.  You can also buy from www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, although you can't collect tickets in Ireland they'll send overseas by post for a fee.

What's the journey like?

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Short breaks to Ireland by train & ferry

All short breaks from the UK to Ireland involve flights, don't they?  No they don't!  Back in 2008 Railtours Ireland started running short breaks to Ireland using eco-friendly train & ferry to Dublin, with the option to add one-day tours to kiss the Blarney Stone, the Ring of Kerry, or visiting the Giant's causeway out of your Dublin base.  No airport hassles, no ugly motorways.  They've now been joined by train holiday specialists Railbookers and Tailor Made Rail who also now offer short breaks to Dublin by train & ferry.  All three companies come highly recommended.

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. 

  They offer a flight-free breaks & holidays from places all over Britain to Dublin & Ireland, with train & ferry travel and hotels booked for you as a package.  Go to Byway.travel, click Destinations and then Ireland.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

  Or they can build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

  Byway includes package protection, 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and WhatsApp support while you're away.

• Railbookers (www.railbookers.co.uk) can tailor-make a 2-night or 3-night short break from anywhere in Britain to Dublin for you, starting on virtually any day or date you like, with train and ferry travel from anywhere in Britain to Dublin then 2 or 3 nights in the 4-star Ashling Hotel in Dublin.  See www.railbookers.co.uk or call 0207 864 4600.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Dublin & Ireland by train & ferry, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/ireland.

• Railtours Ireland (railtoursireland.com) run a tour leave London every weekday from March to October, using the morning Avanti West Coast departure direct from London Euston station to Holyhead via the scenic North Wales coastline. At Holyhead you board the Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses and sail across the Irish Sea to Dublin Ferryport, just as I recommend above.  It's the scenic & painless way to reach Ireland!  See the account of this journey & photos.

  The break combines London-Dublin return train+ferry travel plus 2 nights three-star hotel accommodation in Dublin, with the option of extra nights.  You can then mix-&-match the London-Dublin tour with one or more 1-day tours (or longer) from Dublin, see the day trips section above.

  To book from the UK, call Railtours Ireland free on 0800 328 2899.  To book from outside the UK, call +353 1 856 0045.

Or make your own short break to Dublin

• Book a SailRail ticket to Dublin as shown above. 

• Add a hotel in Dublin using the hotel search system below.

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To get the most from your visit, you should take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both series are excellent.  Lonely Planet Dublin - Lonely Planet Ireland - Rough Guide Ireland.  Also consider Ecoescapes Ireland, which lists eco-friendly places to stay.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

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Hotels in Dublin & Ireland

A Dublin favourite:  The Gresham Hotel

Perfectly located on Upper O'Connell Street in the heart of central Dublin, 10 minutes walk from Connolly Station, The Gresham is an iconic hotel, a Dublin landmark since 1817.  The impressive facade is matched by a marble-floored foyer and bar, and comfortable carpeted lounges.  Yet you can find rates from £90 for a double room, 4-star comfort at a remarkably good price.  Check room rates & book.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com

If you're on a tight budget, don't forget the hostels.  For a dorm bed or an ultra-cheap private room in backpacker hostels in most European cities use www.hostelworld.com.

Rent a cottage

If renting a house or cottage for a week or two is what you need, I can recommend www.sykescottages.co.uk.

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or buy from Amazon.com.

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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