Train from London to Dublin

Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin

Train & ferry ticket from London to DublinLondon to Dublin for £51.10

Manchester or Leeds to Dublin £46.50

Train & ferry all on one ticket.

You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to any station in Ireland.

Short notice or busy dates +£6.40  Fast ferry +£6.40

Kids under 5 free, under 16s half price.

Buy train tickets

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 & any rail station in Ireland, 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 videoIt 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.

small bullet point  Which route to choose?

small bullet point  Useful country information

small bullet point  Recommended departure from London to Dublin

small bullet point  Recommended departure from Dublin to London

small bullet point  What's the journey like? 

small bullet point  Video guide

small bullet point  London-Dublin complete timetable

small bullet point  How much does it cost?

small bullet point  How to buy tickets

small bullet point  Luggage, bikes, pets, stopovers...

small bullet point  First class from London to Dublin from £188

small bullet point  London, Bristol & Cardiff to Ireland via Fishguard

small bullet point  Short breaks to Ireland without flying

small bullet point  Hotels in Dublin & Ireland

Train travel in Ireland

small bullet point  Train travel in Ireland, a beginner's guide

small bullet point  Dublin to Belfast by train

small bullet point  Belfast to the Giant's Causeway by train

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

Which route to choose?

If you look at the map below it should be self-explanatory.  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 and it'll work out the most logical route for your journey. 

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

Britain to Ireland train & ferry route map


Useful country information

Train operator in Ireland:

IR (Iarnrod Eireann), www.irishrail.ie for Irish train times, fares, online tickets.

Train+ferry

Britain to Ireland:

To buy SailRail tickets in Britain use tfw.wales or call 03333 211 202.

Train+ferry

Ireland to Britain

To buy SailRail tickets in Ireland, book online as shown here or call 0818 366222.

British train times & fares:

www.nationalrail.co.uk (will also give train+ferry times & fares to Dublin)

Ferry operators:

www.irishferries.com  www.stenaline.co.uk  www.fastnetline.co.uk

Time zone:

GMT (GMT+1 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October).

Dialling code:

+353

Currency:

£1 = approx 1.15 euros  Check current exchange rates

Tourist information:

www.ireland.com.  Irish tourist board in UK: 020 7518 0800

Hotels in Ireland:

Recommended hotels in Dublin

Page last updated:

4 March 2024.          Map of Dublin                Recommended guidebooks


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

Dublin ► London  

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

Back to top

What's the journey like?

Statue of Robert Stephenson, London Euston   Euston station concourse

Statue of Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), the engineer who built the line, at London Euston.

 

The concourse at London Euston, waiting to board the train to Holyhead for Dublin.  See location map.

On board the Virgin Voyager train to Holyhead   Voyager train about to leave London

2nd class seats on the Avanti West Coast Voyager.

 

Ready to leave London with the Irish Mail.

English countryside seen from the train to Holyhead

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.

Crewe Heritage Centre   Chester station

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

 

At Chester, look out for the historic sign, "London 179 miles - Holyhead 85 miles"

The north Wales coastline seen from the train

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

The old ferry Duke of Lancaster, seen from the train   Conwy

Look out for the 1956 steam turbine-powered ferry Duke of Lancaster on the right, originally moored as a floating nightclub and now rusting gently.

 

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

Approaching the tubular bridge, Conwy   Conwy Castle

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!

Conwy Castle, seen from the train to Dublin

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.

Countryside in north Wales

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

Crossing the Menai Strait

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.

Llanfair PG   The train arrives at Holyhead

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.

Holyhead station   Check-in for the ferry to Dublin

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.

Irish Ferries ferry Ulysses at Holyhead

The Ulysses about to leave Holyhead.  This photo was taken from the deck of the departing Stena Adventurer.

On board the ferry   Martello Club lounge on the Ulysses

On board the luxurious Ulysses there are lounges, bars, restaurants, cinemas, kids' play areas & a shop.

 

Tip:  Pay a bit extra for the Martello Club Lounge, with complimentary wine & canapιs.

View from the deck of the Ulysses as she approaches the Irish coast...

Ireland ahoy!  Holyhead and the rocky Welsh coastline disappear astern.  A couple of hours later you sail into the Bay of Dublin with the church spires and yacht-filled harbour of Dun Laoghaire to your left and the dark purple Wicklow Mountains in the distance behind it, the town of Howth on your right.  This is the way to arrive in Ireland, not on a cramped flight...

The ferry arrives in Dublin   The Ulysses at Dublin

The Ulysses arrives at her terminal in Dublin.  This photo was taken from the deck of the Stena Adventurer, just arrived at her terminal next door.

 

Passengers walk off the Ulysses via the passenger gangway.  Although she arrives 20 minutes after the Stena Adventurer, disembarkation is much quicker.

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.

Stena Line's ferry Stena Adventurer

The Stena Adventurer sails first, 20 minutes before the Ulysses.  This photo was taken from the deck of the Ulysses.

Stena Plus lounge on the Stena Adventurer

The Stena Adventurer also has a club lounge, called Stena Plus.  For a few extra pounds you get a quiet environment with great forward view, complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks.  Highly recommended.

Lounge on the ferry   A private cabin

The Stena Adventurer also has lounges, bars, restaurant, cinema, kids' play area & shop.

 

On both the Stena Adventurer & Ulysses you can pay for a private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.

Sparkling water as we approach the coast of Ireland

Get some sea air!  Approaching the Irish coast at a steady 20 knots, the sea sparkling even though clouds are sombre.

Stena Line courtesy bus from ferry to terminal   Collecting your luggage

A courtesy bus drives foot passengers off the ferry's car deck the 200m to the passenger terminal.

 

At the terminal you collect the bags that you checked in at Holyhead.

Transfer buses to Dublin city centre   Welcome to Dublin!  O'Connell street.

It's just 2 miles into the city by Stena Line bus or by taxi.

 

Welcome to Dublin, the civilised way, no airports, no flights.

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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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London to Dublin complete timetable & fares

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, and fares are virtually the same, simply book to Dublin Port Stena for Stena Line or to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) for Irish Ferries.  Through tickets to Galway, Cork, Limerick & so on are usually routed via Stena Line by default, but you can change this when using www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk by clicking More options and entering Dublin Ferryport as a via stationI think the huge 50,000 ton Ulysses is the more glamorous ship, indeed she's a personal favourite of mine, but I like the Stena Adventurer too.  Why not go out with one and back with the other?

Ship or fast ferry?  Remember that the ships have much 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 1 metre, with passengers transferred onto the next sailing of the Ulysses.  Bear this in mind when travelling in winter, or with an appointment to keep.

Irish Ferries ship 'Ulysses' from Holyhead to Dublin.  Photo courtesy of Irish Ferries

OR

Irish Ferries 'Dublin Swift' from Holyhead to Dublin.  Photo courtesy of Irish Ferries

OR

Stena Line's 'HSS' from Holyhead to Ireland

1. Irish Ferries ship Ulysses.  A luxurious cruise ferry from Holyhead to Dublin port.

Crossing time 3h15.

Reliable all year, all weathers.

Free WiFi, bars, restaurants, cinema, optional private cabins.

Access to the club lounge costs an extra £18 or €21.

Take a virtual tour

 

2. Irish Ferries fast ferry Swift.  A fast SeaCat from Holyhead to Dublin with reclining seats, club class seats & cafe.

Crossing time 2h00.

Only operates March-September

Cancelled when wave height >1 metre with passengers transferred to the Ulysses.

Tickets cost £6.40 more via the Swift.

Take a virtual tour

 

3. Stena Line ship. The Stena Adventurer, Stena Superfast X or brand-new Stena Estrid are large and comfortable ferries.

Crossing time 3h15.

Reliable all year, all weathers.

Free WiFi, bar, restaurant, cinema, shop, optional private cabins.

Stena Plus Lounge = extra £25, paid on board.

Timetable westbound

 London ► Dublin  via Irish Ferries

 

Mondays-Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

1. Train          Change trains at:

-

direct

Chester

direct

-

direct

Chester

direct

-

Crewe

Crewe

Crewe

 London Euston depart by train: 

-

09:02

12:10

19:02

-

09:02

12:10

18:02

-

08:15

11:15

19:19

 Holyhead arrive by train:

-

12:50

16:14

22:57

-

12:50

16:14

21:55

-

12:40

15:55

00:51

2.  Ferry                Ferry type:

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

 Holyhead depart by ferry:

10:40

14:10

16:45

02:40

11:10

14:10

17:15

02:40

11:10

14:10

17:15

02:40

 Dublin Port (terminal 1) arrive:

12:55

17:25

19:00

05:55

13:25

17:25

19:30

05:55

13:25

17:25

19:30

05:55

 London ► Dublin  via Stena Line

 

Mondays-Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

1.  Train                     Change trains at:

direct

Chester

direct

direct

direct

direct

Crewe

Crewe

Crewe

 London Euston depart by train:

09:02

15:10

19:02

09:02

16:10

18:02

08:15

15:37

19:19

 Holyhead  arrive by train:

12:50

19:17

22:57

12:50

19:52

21:55

12:43

19:54

00:51

2. Ferry                           Ferry type:

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

 Holyhead depart by ferry:

14:45

20:30

02:15

14:45

20:30

02:15

14:45

20:30

02:15

 Dublin Port (terminal 2) arrive by ferry:

18:00

23:45

05:30

18:00

23:45

05:30

18:00

23:45

05:30

Timetable eastbound

 Dublin ► London  via Irish Ferries

 

Mondays-Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

1.  Ferry                   Ferry type: 

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

Swift*

Ulysses

 Dublin Port (terminal 1) depart: 

07:30

08:05

13:50

20:55

08:00

08:05

14:20

20:55

08:00

08:05

14:20

20:55

 Holyhead arrive by ferry:

09:45

11:30

16:05

00:20

10:15

11:30

16:25

00:20

10:15

11:30

16:25

00:20

2.  Train         Change trains at:

Chester

direct

Chester

direct

Chester

Chester

Chester & Crewe

Crewe

direct

direct

Crewe

direct

 Holyhead depart by train:

10:40

12:46

17:30

 04:48**

12:32

12:32

17:21

07:16(Sun)

10:55

12:53

17:30

04:48(Mon)

 London Euston arrive by train:

14:35

16:35

21:43

 08:34**

16:35

16:35

22:43

12:05(Sun)

14:41

16:36

22:27

08:34(Mon)

 Dublin ► London  via Stena Line

 

Mondays-Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

1. Ferry                            Ferry type:

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

Ship

 Dublin Port (Terminal 2) depart by ferry: 

02:15

08:15

14:45

20:30

02:15

08:15

20:30

02:15

08:15

20:30

 Holyhead arrive by ferry:

05:45

11:50

18:20

00:01

05:45

11:50

00:01

05:45

11:50

00:01

2. Train                  Change trains at:

direct

direct

Ch, Wolv

direct

direct

Chester

Crewe

Crewe

direct

direct

 Holyhead depart by train:

06:55

12:46

19:22

 04:48**

06:52

12:32

07:16 (Sun)

08:45

12:53

04:48 (Mon)

 London Euston arrive by train:

10:39

16:35

01:13

 08:34**

10:39

16:35

12:05 (Sun)

13:13

16:36

08:34 (Mon)

Notes for timetable

* = The Swift fast ferry only operates from early March until late October.  It does not operate in winter.

** = On Saturday mornings leave Holyhead 04:25, change Chester, arrive London 09:29.  Or take the direct train leaving Holyhead 06:52, London 10:38.

Always check times at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, especially at weekends as times can vary due to engineering work.

You can check ferry times at www.stenaline.co.uk or www.irishferries.com.

Direct = This train is a direct 125mph Avanti West Coast Voyager or Pendolino train between London & Holyhead.

Crewe = You must change trains at Crewe.    Birmingham = You must change trains at Birmingham New Street.

-   = there is no train connection available for this ferry.

At Holyhead the ferry terminal for both Stena Line & Irish Ferries is right next to the station at the end of platform 2.  After checking in, passengers for the Ulysses and Stena Adventurer are transferred by courtesy bus across the port to the ferry as the ships berth a little way from the terminal.  There's a 30 minute check-in for Irish Ferries, 40 minutes for Stena Line, your bags are checked in for the crossing.  Holyhead town centre is 5 minutes walk across a footbridge if you have time for a wander.

Dublin Ferryport is 2 miles from Dublin city centre.  Transfer buses meet Irish Ferries arrivals and take passengers to central Dublin.  The bus costs €3, children half price, pay the driver on the bus with debit or credit card, cash not accepted.  Buses also operate from Dublin City centre to meet Irish Ferries departures, bus times are at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus.  Buses also connect with Stena Line arrivals and departures with similar prices.  A taxi from Dublin port to central Dublin will cost €20 to most central area hotels or Dublin Connolly station, about €17 to Dublin Heuston station, journey time about 25 minutes.  Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus.

Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals, railway stations & city centreMap of London showing Euston station.

How to find times from any British station

Use the journey planner on tfw.wales or trainsplit.com to check train times & buy SailRail tickets from any British station to Dublin.

Enter any British station you like in the From box, enter DFP (Dublin Ferryport) or  DPS (Dublin Port - Stena) in the To box depending whether you want to travel with Irish Ferries or Stena Line.  Enter your dates of travel and search.

When the results appear, it doesn't distinguish between the Ulysses ship and the Swift fast ferry to Dublin Ferryport, it just says 'ferry'.  With 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)' selected, if the ferry takes 3 hours or more than it's the Ulysses, if it takes 2 hours or less it's the Swift.  With Dublin Port (Stena) selected, it will be the Stena Line ship.  Click 'fares' to see the fare for that journey.

SailRail fares Any station in Britain to any station in Ireland

You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to any station in Ireland via Holyhead, via either Stena Line or Irish Ferries.  This covers both the train and the ferry and any onward Irish train all on one ticket for one inclusive price.  All fares are one way, a returns = two one-ways.  To check fares from any specific station in Britain to Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland, look up which UK zone that station falls into using the zone table, then use the fares tables below.  You can check these prices using the fares database at www.brfares.com.

 Fares via Irish Ferries

  One-way fares

 ...to Dublin

...to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee

Advance fare

Ulysses ship

Advance fare

Swift fast ferry

Single fare

Ulysses ship

Single fare

Swift fast ferry

Advance fare

Ulysses ship

Advance fare

Swift fast ferry

Single fare

Ulysses ship

Single fare

Swift fast ferry

 From London:

£51.10

£57.50

£57.50

£63.80

£77.20

£83.50

£83.50

£89.70

 Any rail station in Zone A

£43.70

£50.00

£50.00

£56.30

£69.50

£73.70

£76.00

£79.50

 Any rail station in Zone B

£46.50

£52.30

£52.30

£58.70

£71.90

£78.20

£78.20

£85.20

 Any rail station in Zone C 

£46.50

£52.30

£52.30

£58.70

£71.90

£78.20

£78.20

£85.20

 Any rail station in Zone D

£48.90

£54.70

£54.70

£61.00

£74.70

£80.50

£80.50

£87.40

 Any rail station in Zone E

£51.10

£57.50

£57.50

£63.80

£77.20

£83.50

£83.50

£89.70

 Fares via Stena Line

  One-way fares

...to Dublin

...to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee

Advance fare

Stena ship

Single fare

Stena ship

Advance fare

Stena ship

Single fare

Stena ship

 From London:

£51.10

£57.50

£78.20

£85.20

 Any rail station in Zone A

£43.70

£50.00

£70.80

£77.20

 Any rail station in Zone B

£46.50

£52.30

£73.70

£79.50

 Any rail station in Zone C

£46.50

£52.30

£73.70

£79.50

 Any rail station in Zone D

£48.90

£54.70

£76.00

£81.70

 Any rail station in Zone E

£51.10

£57.50

£78.20

£85.20

Advance fareSailRail Advance, must be booked before 18:00 on the day before travel, limited availability, when it sells out the Single fare applies.  Advance fares include a reservation on the ferry and on those trains on the British part of your journey on which seat reservation is possible.  You can only travel on the specific trains which have been reserved for you, unless a delay means a missed connection.  No stopovers allowed.  On local or suburban trains where seat reservation isn't possible you can use 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 = SailRail Single, also known as Standby  This what you pay when the SailRail Advance fare has sold out or if you buy on the day.  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.  Refunds are allowed, less a £10 admin fee.

 Which British station is in which zone?

 Zone A   

Gwynedd North, Clwyd

 Zone B 

Greater Manchester, Liverpool & Merseyside, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire

 Zone C 

Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Hereford & Worcester, Gloucestershire, Powys, Gwynedd South.

 Zone D 

Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Avon, Gwent, South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, West Glamorgan, Dyfed, Somerset.

 Zone E 

London, anywhere in Scotland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, Cleveland, Northumberland, Greater London, Surrey, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall.

About SailRail fares

Luggage, bikes, pets...

UK flag  How to buy tickets in Britain

 

London Euston station

London's Euston station

Ticket collection machines

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.

  How to buy tickets in Ireland

 

Dublin Connolly station

Dublin to London SailRail tickets can be bought online or at Connolly station.

Buying RailSail tickets from Dublin to London at Dublin Connolly station

You can buy train & ferry tickets to London or anywhere in Britain in person from the ticket office at Dublin Connolly station indicated by the arrow in the picture above, open for SailRail tickets 09:45-12:30 & 14:30-16:30 Mon-Sat, 11:30-15:30 Sundays & holidays.

Irish Ferries desk at Dublin port

Or buy online at www.irishferries.com:  Tickets can be collected at Dublin port from the Irish Ferries desk at the ferry terminal, pictured above.

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London to Dublin first class: "Ryanair eat my shorts"

  First class table for two on a Virgin Train to Holyhead

A first class table for two on a Pendolino.  Book a first class ticket to Holyhead on the 09:02 at trainsplit.com.

First class full english breakfast on a Virgin Trains pendolino

A cooked breakfast is served at your seat on weekdays, included in the fare.

  Club Class Martello Lounge on the ferry to Dublin

Complimentary wine & canapιs, tea & coffee in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses as the coast of Ireland approaches.

Book the 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with Club lounge included at www.irishferries.com.

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 canapιs, with great views of the coast or Ireland slowly approaching. 

London ► Dublin first class  

Dublin ► London first class

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

A few tips

First class in pictures

A first class table for two on a Virgin Trains Pendolino to Holyhead

A first class table for two on a Pendolino.  Book a first class ticket to Holyhead on the 09:02 at trainsplit.com.

First class full english breakfast on a Virgin Trains pendolino

A cooked breakfast is served at your seat on weekdays, included in the fare.

Club Class Martello Lounge on the ferry to Dublin

Complimentary wine & canapιs, tea & coffee in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses as the coast of Ireland approaches.

Book the 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with Club lounge included at www.irishferries.com.

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London to Ireland via Fishguard

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.

Timetable westbound

 London, Bristol, Cardiff, Fishguard ► Rosslare & Wexford  

 By train

Monday-Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 London Paddington depart

07:48

15:48

07:48

15:48

07:48

17:18

-

17:46

 Reading depart

08:11

16:11

08:11

16:11

08:11

17:41

-

18:09

 Swindon depart

08:38

16:38

08:38

16:38

08:38

18:12

-

18:36

 Bristol Parkway depart

09:02

17:02

09:02

17:02

09:03

18:36

-

19:00

 Newport depart

09:23

17:22

09:23

17:22

09:24

19:00

-

19:21

 Cardiff depart

09:38

17:37

09:38

17:37

09:39

19:14

09:45

19:35

 Swansea depart

10:58

19:34

10:58

19:34

10:58

20:12

10:43

20:58

 Fishguard arrive by train

12:26

21:59

12:26

21:59

12:26

22:08

12:23

22:49

 By Stena Line ferry across the Irish Sea

 Fishguard depart by ferry

14:00

01:30

14:00

01:30

14:00

01:30

14:00

01:30

 Rosslare Europort arrive

17:30

05:30

17:30

05:30

17:30

05:30

17:30

05:30

 By train

 Rosslare Europort depart

-

07:20

-

07:20

17:55

09:40

18:05

07:20

 Wexford arrive

-

07:45

-

07:42

18:19

10:05

18:31

07:45

 Wicklow arrive

-

09:05

-

09:15

19:45

11:30

19:55

09:05

 Dublin Connolly arrive

-

10:18

-

10:19

20:50

12:32

20:51

10:18

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 Ιireann, 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.

Timetable eastbound

 Wexford & Rosslare ► Fishguard, Cardiff, Bristol, London

 By train

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 Dublin Connolly depart

-

13:33

-

13:36

-

13:45

 Wicklow depart

 -

14:47

 -

14:47

 -

14:52

 Wexford depart

 -

16:09

 -

16:09

 -

16:18

 Rosslare Europort arrive

 -

16:33

 -

16:34

 -

16:43

 By Stena Line ferry across the Irish Sea

 Rosslare Europort depart

08:15

19:30

08:15

19:30

08:15

19:30

 Fishguard arrive by ferry

11:45

23:00

11:45

23:00

11:45

23:00

 By train

 Fishguard depart by train

12:50

-

12:41

-

12:40

-

 Swansea arrive 

14:43

 -

14:46

 -

15:07

 -

 Cardiff arrive 

15:26

 -

15:17

 -

16:14

 -

 Newport arrive 

16:06

 -

15:30

 -

16:27

 -

 Bristol Parkway arrive 

16:26

-

15:53

-

16:55

-

 Swindon arrive 

16:50

 -

16:19

 -

17:17

 -

 Reading arrive 

17:17

 -

16:46

 -

17:44

 -

 London Paddington arrive

17:44

 -

17:14

 -

18:10

 -

How much does it cost?

 SailRail train & ferry fares

Advance

Single

 London or any South East or East Anglia rail station to Rosslare

£51.10

£59.70

 Bristol, Bath, Cardiff or Swansea to Rosslare

£44.70

£53.40

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

How to buy tickets

What's the journey like?

A high-speed train at London Paddington    Inside a GWR train from London to Cardiff

Take a 125mph high-speed train from London Paddington to Cardiff.  You'll pass the Uffington White Horse and travel through the Severn Railway Tunnel into South Wales.

 

This is standard class on GWR's new high-speed trains.  In Cardiff, transfer to a local train for the last leg to Fishguard Harbour.

At Fishguard Harbour, you walk off the train and onto the Stena Line ferry 'Stena Europe'.   Relaxing in the StenaPlus lounge on board the ferry 'Stena Europe' from Fishguard to Rosslare

At Fishguard, the little 2-car train arrives right alongside the Stena Line ferry Stena Europe for Rosslare.  It couldn't be simpler.  The ferry has bars, restaurants, lounges & family areas, also private cabins.

 

Top tip:  For £25 extra paid on board, relax in the Stena Plus VIP lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee, snacks, free newspapers & WiFi.

See the video:  Crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare

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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.

Or make your own short break to Dublin

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Guidebooks

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.Amazon logo

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Lonely Planet Ireland - click to buy online at Amazon   Rough Guide to Ireland - click to buy online at Amazon   Lonely Planet Dublin - click to buy online at Amazon   Ecoescapes Ireland

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Hotels in Dublin & Ireland

A perfectly-located 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.  To check room rates & availability click here.

Gresham Hotel, Dublin   Superior room at the Gresham Hotel, Dublin

Find hotels at Booking.comMy favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

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.

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Travel insurance & VPN

 

Staysure travel insurance

 

Columbus Direct logo

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.

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

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

US flag  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

 

Maya.net logo

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.

 

Curve card

Curve card

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.

 

Express VPN

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 explainedExpressVPN 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.

 

Anker Powerrbank

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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