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Cruise port · London

Dover cruise port to London: train, coach, taxi

Dover is about 115 km from London, and the cruise terminals sit in the Western Docks, a taxi ride from the station. The usual route is a short taxi to Dover Priory, then a Southeastern high-speed train to St Pancras in about an hour. Slower trains to Victoria and Charing Cross cost less, the coach is cheap but infrequent, and a private car makes sense for a group with cruise cases.

Cheapest
£8National Express coach to Victoria · 3 h 10 min
Fastest
1 h 40 minTaxi to Dover Priory, then high-speed train to St Pancras · £48.60
Taxi
£150–£230Taxi to central London · 2 h 5 min
Dover cruise terminals (London cruises)

Dover port to central London

People2
Bags2
Verdict for your case

National Express coach to Victoria is the best value: £16 for the group, about 3 h 10 min.

Bus

National Express coach to Victoria

Our pickCheapest
3 h 10 min
For the group£16estimate

National Express route 007 · Dover Pencester Road to Victoria Coach Station

Per person
£8
Door to door
3 h 10 min
Runs
04:35–16:50
Frequency
4 a day
Board at
Pencester Road bus station in Dover, a taxi ride from the terminals
Suitcases
Awkward
Train

Taxi to Dover Priory, then high-speed train to St Pancras

Fastest
1 h 40 min
For the group£97.20

Southeastern high-speed · Anytime single, cheaper tickets in advance

Per person
£48.60
Door to door
1 h 40 min
Runs
05:45–22:48
Frequency
about every hour
Board at
Taxi rank at your terminal, then Dover Priory station
Suitcases
Awkward
Train

Taxi to Dover Priory, then slower train to Victoria or Charing Cross

2 h 30 min
For the group£57.80

Southeastern · slower and cheaper than high-speed

Per person
£28.90
Door to door
2 h 30 min
Runs
04:50–21:28
Frequency
about every hour
Board at
Taxi rank at your terminal, then Dover Priory station
Suitcases
Awkward
Private car

Pre-booked private car

2 h 5 min
For the group£150estimate

Fixed price, meeting your ship's disembarkation

Per person
£150 per vehicle
Door to door
2 h 5 min
Runs
24 hours
Frequency
Pre-booked
Board at
Meeting point at your terminal
Suitcases
Carried for you
Taxi

Taxi to central London

2 h 5 min
For the group£150–£230estimate

Local taxi, price agreed or metered

Per person
£150–£230 per vehicle
Door to door
2 h 5 min
Runs
24 hours
Frequency
Rank at both cruise terminals
Board at
Taxi rank at your terminal
Suitcases
Carried for you
Sources: official operators, airport and port authorities, city taxi regulations.Checked on October 4, 2026How we compare: method and sources

Every option in detail

Train

Taxi to Dover Priory, then high-speed train to St Pancras

  • £48.60
  • 1 h 40 min
  • 05:45–22:48
  • → London St Pancras International

The Anytime Day Single is 48.60 pounds on the Southeastern page. Off-Peak and advance tickets are cheaper, but we could not confirm a fixed amount, so check the date you travel. The train takes about 1 hour 7 minutes, with the fastest around 1 hour 3 minutes. Dover Priory is about 2.5 km from the terminals, a 30 to 40 minute walk and a short taxi ride. Taxis can be scarce on a busy disembarkation morning. On weekdays the first train from Dover Priory is about 05:45 and the last about 22:48, with fewer services on Sundays. Trains call at Folkestone, Ashford International and Ebbsfleet.

Source: Southeastern ↗
Train

Taxi to Dover Priory, then slower train to Victoria or Charing Cross

  • £28.90
  • 2 h 30 min
  • 04:50–21:28
  • → London Victoria or Charing Cross

Direct trains to Victoria take about 2 hours 10 minutes and trains to Charing Cross about 1 hour 55 minutes. Southeastern lists fares to Charing Cross from 28.90 pounds, which is well under the high-speed single. Weekday first trains are about 04:50 to Victoria and 05:27 to Charing Cross, and the last are about 21:18 and 21:28. Choose this if your hotel is near Victoria or the Strand, or if the price matters more than an hour of travel.

Source: Southeastern ↗
Bus

National Express coach to Victoria

  • £8 (estimate)
  • 3 h 10 min
  • 04:35–16:50
  • → London Victoria Coach Station

There are only four coaches a day, with the first leaving Dover at 04:35 and the last at 16:50 on Mondays and Fridays and at the weekend, or 17:50 Tuesday to Thursday. The coach calls at Folkestone, Canterbury and south-east London before Victoria. The journey is roughly 2 hours 40 minutes to over 3 hours. Advance fares start at about 8 pounds one way, a figure from a third-party listing, as National Express shows fares only in its booking tool. It suits one or two travellers with one case and a flexible schedule.

Source: National Express ↗
Taxi

Taxi to central London

  • £150–£230 per vehicle (estimate)
  • 2 h 5 min
  • 24 hours
  • → Door to door in central London

The port says taxis wait at the ranks outside both cruise terminals, but there is no official fare to London. Expect roughly 150 to 230 pounds for around 115 km, which is our estimate. Agree a price before you get in, as taxis at the port often prefer local jobs. Allow about 2 hours, longer on Fridays and at weekends. Booking a car in advance is usually safer.

Source: Port of Dover ↗
Private car

Pre-booked private car

  • £150 per vehicle (estimate)
  • 2 h 5 min
  • 24 hours
  • → Door to door in central London

A standard saloon for up to three passengers is around 150 pounds on the listings we checked, though prices vary a lot by supplier. The fare is fixed when you book and the driver adjusts to the time you leave the ship. Allow around 2 hours, more in traffic on the M20 and M25. It is the sensible choice for a group or heavy cruise luggage.

The same trip in a different situation

Arrival around 00:30

Arriving late at night

Ships normally dock early and passengers leave between about 07:00 and 10:00, so a late-night transfer is unusual. The last high-speed train from Dover Priory leaves around 22:48 on weekdays and the slower trains stop around 21:18 to 21:28. The last National Express coach leaves Dover at 16:50 or 17:50 depending on the day. For a later return from London on embarkation day, the last Southeastern train from St Pancras to Dover Priory is 23:37 Monday to Saturday and 22:37 on Sunday, and you still need a taxi to the terminal. A taxi or pre-booked car is the only option after those times.

See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcases

Travelling as a group of four

Four people on the high-speed train pay 194.40 pounds for the Anytime fare, plus a taxi from the terminal to Dover Priory. Four slower-train tickets from 28.90 each come to about 115.60. A pre-booked car at around 150 pounds carries up to three, with a larger car for four or five costing more, so for a group of three the car is the cheapest, fastest option with luggage. A taxi at about 150 to 230 pounds is level with four Anytime train tickets at the low end and takes you to the hotel. Couples with one case can take the train.

See the comparison →

Practical tips

Questions travellers ask

How do I get from Dover cruise port to London?

Take a taxi to Dover Priory station, then a Southeastern high-speed train to St Pancras in about 1 hour 7 minutes. The Anytime single is 48.60 pounds. Slower trains go to Victoria and Charing Cross.

How far is Dover cruise port from the train station?

About 2.5 km. Dover Priory is a 30 to 40 minute walk from the cruise terminals, so most cruise passengers take a taxi or a shuttle.

Is there a coach from Dover to London?

Yes, National Express route 007 runs four times a day to Victoria Coach Station from about 8 pounds. The first leaves Dover at 04:35 and the last at 16:50 or 17:50.

How much is a taxi from Dover cruise terminal to London?

Roughly 150 to 230 pounds, which is our estimate as there is no official fare. A pre-booked private car for up to three starts at around 150 pounds.

What time should I leave London on embarkation day?

The train takes about 1 hour 7 minutes, plus a taxi from Dover Priory to the terminal. Check your boarding slot, then take a train that arrives at Dover well before it.

Other arrival points in London