Dover Train & National Express Coach Stations
Details Of Links Between Train / Bus Stations & Cruise / Ferry Terminals
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| Dover Priory Railway Station |
The two ways of coming to Dover from London by public transport is the railway from London's Victoria, London Bridge, St Pancras or Charing Cross Stations or the cheaper, slower National Express coaches from London Victoria.
We have dedicated pages detailing Dover train services and Dover coach services between Dover and London and its airports.
If you travel by rail there is more than one Dover station, the railway station you require is called Dover Priory pictured right. There is a bus service between here and the ferry terminals, for the cruise terminals you need a Dover taxi.
The National Express coaches stop in the town centre and the ferry terminal. As the train station, cruise passengers require a taxi to the cruise terminals.
Dover Priory Railway Station
Dover Priory is a medium size rail station with several platforms. There are basic facilities, washrooms, cafe and waiting rooms.
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There are three main train services between London and Dover.
The two services to Charing Cross and Victoria follow the same track for most of the way to London and are similarly priced and take similar lengths of time to complete the railway journey.
The London St Pancras to Dover service is much faster as the trains utilise the high speed tracks built for the Eurostar express trains between England and France.
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| Dover Priory Railway Station |
A manned ticket office is open most of the day and there also self service ticket machines.
There is no left luggage facility.
Only one platform is accessible without climbing stairs or taking a lift up to cross a bridge which enables access to the other platforms. (See picture right).
The taxi rank is immediately outside the ticket office building. Cruise passengers need to take a 5 minute taxi ride to the cruise terminals.
A special bus ply's regularly between Dover ferry terminal and Dover Priory Station for which there is a charge. There is no bus to the cruise terminals, you need to take a taxi.
The town centre is a 5/10 minute walk.
Full Details Of Rail Services Between Dover and London, Including Airports.
Dover Station To Dover Ferry Port Bus.
A regular bus (pictured right) shuttles between Dover Priory Station and Dover Ferry Terminal. Note this bus doesn't go to the cruise terminals.
The bus runs about every 20-30 minutes between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The bus is not complementary, a small fare is charged.
The timetable is not scheduled to connect with any particular train or ferry.
As you exit the front entrance of the station the bus stop is about 50 yards to your left beyond the taxi rank. At the ferry terminal the bus stop is well signed from within the terminal and is again next to the taxi rank.
Its perfectly possible to walk the distance, the walk would probably take about 20 minutes to cover the mile distance.
Dover Bus Station For National Express London Bus Services
At Dover, National Express buses visit the ferry terminal, but do not visit the cruise terminal. The distance between cruise terminal and ferry terminal is over a mile - too far to walk. All buses stop in the town centre at Pencester Road.
On the National Express ticketing system, Dover cruise terminal is shown as a stop but you will be very, very lucky if any bus is scheduled on a day you require, let alone at a convenient time.
It has been reported that some drivers have in the past diverted into the cruise terminal on the bus down from London if there is a lot of people on-board going on a cruise. If this happens treat it as an unexpected bonus, but plan on the basis you will be dropped off in the town bus station or ferry terminal.
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| Dover Pencester Road Bus Station |
For cruise passengers the Dover Pencester Road bus stop in the town centre may look attractive at first glance. However, it is a rather scruffy area on the edge of the shopping area, (see right).
Taxi's are far more plentiful at the ferry terminal to transport you onto the cruise terminal.
Similarly on departing Dover, the waiting facilities at the ferry terminal are far superior to that at Pencester Road.
Taxi fares between Dover Cruise Terminals and the town centre and ferry terminal bus stops should be very similar.
Full Details Of National Express Bus Services Between Dover and London, Including Airports.
| Dover - Central London Public Transport (Indicative Adult price per person) | ||||
| Transport | Journey Time | One Way | Return |  |
| National Express Bus - Victoria | 165 mins | £6.50/£14.50* | £13.00/£24.40~ | |
| Dover - St Pancras Train | 70 mins | £36.20/£38.10* | £37.10/£75.40* | |
| Dover - Victoria Train | 120 mins | £31.20/£38.10* | £37.10/£65.60* | |
| Dover - Charing Cross Train | 110 mins | £31.20/£38.10* | £37.10/£65.60* | |
| * Train fares - cheapest price is off peak, second price is anytime fare ~ Bus fares - cheapest price is advance purchase 'funtime' fare, second is normal non-flexible fare Charing Cross - Dover trains operates via London Bridge Taxi required between Dover bus/rail station and cruise port - approx £7 per taxi |
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We have detailed pages discussing your choice of transfers between:
Taxi Cabs at Dover Between Rail / Bus Stations & Cruise Terminals
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| Typical Dover Taxi Cab |
Taxi cabs at Dover come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, the image left is fairly typical. If you have two cases per person and more than 2 people you may end up with multiple taxi cabs.
Its just a 5 minute drive between the cruise terminals at Dover to/from the railway and bus stations and ferry terminal.
Dover Castle is up a steep hill out of town, a matter of taxi there, walk back perhaps.
Travel options between Dover & London and its airports:
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Taxi Fares From Dover Cruise Terminal 2012 |
Taxi Cab Fares at Dover
All fares within Dover should be on a meter. Indicative fares to and from the cruise terminal are shown right.
For longer journeys outside Dover never leap into a taxi without agreeing the price before hand. Better still arrange your private car in advance, (see links above).
Although drivers may offer to accept your Euro or Dollar currency it will almost certainly be at a very, very poor exchange rate. Only do so as a last resort.
Cabs do not normally accept credit cards.
The Eastern Docks is where the ferry terminal is. The Ferry Terminal is a much busier place than the cruise terminal. If you are taking the National Express Bus to London its much nicer to get the bus from the ferry terminal than from the town centre.
The ferry terminal has toilets, coffee shops etc and is a relatively comfortable place to wait for the bus.
The town centre bus stop is in a run-down area at the back of the shopping area, taxi cabs are not normally looking for fares here.
The taxi rank at the cruise terminal is well marshaled. Porters from the ship will normally take your luggage as far as the taxi rank immediately outside the front doors of the cruise terminal.
It is customary to leave a small tip with cab drivers, (assuming they provide a good service).
Dover Rail, Bus Station, Hotel & Cruise Terminal Map
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