Best UK Ferry Trips — Our Top 4

1.From Portsmouth: Isle of Wight Day Tour by Bus and Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 36 reviews · 9 hours · from $106Our pick

Meet Discovery Tours outside Portsmouth Harbour station for a nine-hour Isle of Wight outing by executive coach and Wightlink ferry. Guides such as Andrew, Charlie, and Jerry lead the day through Godshill and Alum Bay, with time for the Needles, beach views, and optional chairlift rides. Food and chairlift tickets cost extra.

“Hi I thought that it will be nice Idea to start early, stop at Donkey sanctuary and to have more time to visit Alum Bay. Two hours is short time.”

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2.Isle of Wight – Day Tour from Portsmouth including Ferry Crossing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $108

Travel by executive coach and Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. Visit thatched Godshill, Alum Bay, and the Needles, with guides such as Andrew and Jerry adding local detail. You get about eight to nine hours on the move, but optional rides, food, and the Model Village cost extra.

“Incredible experience. The weather was wonderful on the day which was great! Our tour guide (Jerry) was great too - friendly & knowledgeable. It would've been helpful for me to know about all the optional extra charges before booking - e.g., to visit the model village or to get a closer look at the needles by boat, etc., just so I'd have been better prepared. Regardless, I really enjoyed the trip, thank you!”

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3.Orkney Day Trip: Meets the Scrabster – Stromness Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · from $160Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at Stromness Ferry Terminal for a 5.5-hour tour of Orkney’s ancient sites and coastal views. Visit Skara Brae, Skaill House, the Ring of Brodgar, Stenness, Yesnaby, Scapa Flow, and Unstan Tomb, with time in Kirkwall. The van holds no more than eight people.

“The arrangements were excellent. Ferry delayed due to windy weather but the tour guide waited and greeted us all. Douugie was excellent, the information kept on coming all through the journey from site to site. His knowledge of Orkney was impressive covering Orkney’s rise from the ocean, flora and fauna, economy, work and business. When we arrived at each site his guided tour was excellent with the information, he helped members of the group with their photos etc. the coach bus was very easy to get in and out, there were 8 in our group and we all got on very well. We had an hour in Kirkwall with helpful…”

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4.London to Dublin by Ferry and Rail

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 15 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $1,141

Railtours Ireland First Class takes you from London Euston to Dublin by train and the Irish Ferries Ulysses. You get three hotel nights, breakfasts, port transfers, and a 48-hour Hop-On-Hop-Off Dublin ticket. A Railtours host meets you at both ends, while your time in Dublin remains your own.

“Excellent support by staff assisting us. Met at the station, picked up from the ferry and brought back to the ferry. The free tickets for the hop-on hop-off bus were great. Really enjoyed the tour of Dublin. Hotel was excellent. Nice room and friendly staff. Only complaint was that the seats on the train weren't reserved for us and the train was quite booked. ended up in the last carriage.”

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