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Taking your bicycle to France through the Channel Tunnel
Planning a cycling trip to Europe? There are three ways to get your bike across: LeShuttle's dedicated cycle service for £50, bringing bikes on your car, or a cycle-friendly ferry. Here is how each one works.
You cannot cycle onto the main shuttle train yourself, but there are three good ways to get a bike from England to France through or around the Channel Tunnel. The dedicated LeShuttle cycle service carries you and your bike by minibus for £50 each way. If you have a car, bikes travel on the normal crossing on a rack or inside the vehicle, which is the most flexible option. And several ferries take cyclists too. This guide covers all three.
Bringing bikes on your car? Book your crossing
If you are travelling with a car, bikes come along on the standard LeShuttle crossing with no separate booking. Use the price checker below to compare live Eurotunnel and ferry fares from Folkestone to Calais for your car.
The LeShuttle cycle service: how to take your bike to France
If you are travelling without a car, LeShuttle runs a dedicated cycle service. You cannot pedal onto the main shuttle, so instead a specially adapted, spacious minibus carries cyclists and their bikes terminal to terminal, from the Holiday Inn Express in Folkestone to the CIFFCO building in Coquelles, in about 35 minutes. It is a service designed just for cyclists.
| Traveller | Fare (each way) |
|---|---|
| Adult or child with cycle | £50 |
| Child on a child seat (with parent) | Free |
| Tandem | Charged by number of seats |
| Trailer | Depends on size |
How to book the cycle service
The cycle service is not booked through the normal online module. You request it directly from LeShuttle, and there are a few conditions to know.
- Book directly with LeShuttle, not online, and give at least 10 working days' notice.
- Tickets are non-refundable, but amendments are allowed up to 3 working days before departure.
- There are no telephone or same-day bookings.
Pick-up and drop-off points and times
UK: Folkestone
- Pick-up
- Holiday Inn Express, Folkestone
- Departures
- 08:00 and 14:00 (local time)
- Getting there
- Directions are provided from Folkestone West railway station
France: Coquelles
- Pick-up
- CIFFCO, Boulevard de l'Europe, Coquelles
- Departures
- 12:00 and 18:00 (local time)
- On the day
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early
Taking your bike on the car: the easy way
If you have a car, this is by far the easiest and most flexible way to take bikes to Europe. Your bikes travel on the normal LeShuttle car crossing, on a roof or rear-mounted rack or inside the vehicle, with no separate booking and no minimum notice. It is ideal for families and groups.
How to take bikes on your car, step by step
- Book your car as normal through the booking module above.
- Fit your bikes to a roof or rear rack, or load them inside.
- Measure your total height if you use a roof rack: vehicles over 1.85m must be booked in the right category.
- Drive through check-in as usual.
- Stay with your vehicle for the 35-minute crossing, then drive off in Calais.
Which ferries take bicycles?
Several ferry operators carry cyclists too, which can suit longer trips or routes deeper into France and the Netherlands. Policies vary, so confirm when you book.
- Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk (DFDS and P&O Ferries).
- Newhaven to Dieppe (DFDS).
- Portsmouth and Poole to France (Brittany Ferries), useful for Normandy and Brittany.
- Harwich to Hook of Holland (Stena Line), for the Netherlands and northern Europe.
For a full comparison of the crossings and live fares, see our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
Which is best for cyclists?
It depends on your trip. The tunnel cycle service is quick at 35 minutes and takes you across without a car, but it needs 10 working days' notice and runs at set times. Taking bikes on a car is the most flexible if you have one, with no separate booking. And a ferry gives frequent sailings and routes deeper into France or the Netherlands, though the crossing is longer. For a car-free quick hop, use the cycle service; for flexibility, the car; for reach and frequency, a ferry.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a bicycle through the Channel Tunnel?
Yes, on the LeShuttle cycle service, an adapted minibus that carries you and your bike terminal to terminal in about 35 minutes for £50 each way. Alternatively, bikes travel with a car on the standard crossing.
How much does it cost to take a bike to France on LeShuttle?
£50 per bicycle each way for adults and children with cycles. A child on a child seat is free, tandems are charged by the number of seats, and trailers are priced by size.
How do I book the cycle service?
Request it directly from LeShuttle, not online, with at least 10 working days' notice. There are no telephone or same-day bookings, and tickets are non-refundable but amendable up to 3 working days before.
Can I just bring my bike in or on the car?
Yes, with no separate booking. Fit a roof or rear rack or load bikes inside. Measure your height if you use a roof rack, as vehicles over 1.85m need the right booking category.
Which ferries take bicycles to France?
DFDS and P&O on Dover to Calais and Dunkirk, DFDS on Newhaven to Dieppe, Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth and Poole, and Stena Line on Harwich to Hook of Holland. Policies vary, so check when booking.
Where does the cycle service leave from?
In the UK from the Holiday Inn Express in Folkestone (departures 08:00 and 14:00), and in France from CIFFCO in Coquelles (12:00 and 18:00). Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Taking your bicycle to France through the Channel Tunnel comes down to three options: the dedicated LeShuttle cycle service by minibus for £50 each way (book 10 working days ahead), bikes on your car on the normal crossing (the most flexible if you drive), or a cycle-friendly ferry for longer routes. Pick the one that fits your trip, and use the price checker above if you are bringing a car.