How to Get Into England With a Dog and Without a Car

Traveling to England with a dog is possible from the United States, Canada, the European Union, and other low rabies countries, but the logistics can be tricky. Read more in this post for all the other information besides transportation.

Unlike much of Europe where dogs can travel in cabin or excess baggage on flights, England requires pets to arrive as cargo if they fly and supported by a pet import company. For many owners that feels stressful and expensive, or even unsafe.

We faced this challenge ourselves recently when we came from France with our small terrier, Denver, to spend two months in England.

Without a car, our options were limited, and we decided to use a shuttle through the Eurotunnel. I will describe our full experience later in this post, but first here are all the options for getting into England with your dog when you do not have a car.

Ways to Enter England WITH a PET and WITHOUT a CAR

Transportation Methods from the EU

If you are already in the EU – specifically France or the Netherlands, here are some options for you. If you are international, you can fly into Paris and then use one of the methods below.

Eurotunnel with a Shuttle

One of the most common ways to enter England with a dog and no car is by booking a pet shuttle service. These companies operate vans specifically for travelers with animals. You meet the driver at the terminal in France, load in with your dog, and ride together through the Channel Tunnel.

• Pro Your dog stays with you the entire time and you can see each other
• Con Costs more than driving your own vehicle and schedules can be limited

We chose this option when traveling from France with Denver and I will share our full experience later in this post.

Eurotunnel with a Taxi

Another choice is to hire a pet-friendly taxi to take you through the Eurotunnel. Unlike a shuttle, which you share with other travelers, a taxi gives you a private transfer arranged around your schedule.

• Pro Flexible timing and more personal service; for additional fees, they will even pick you up and drop off in London and Paris, so no need for multiple transportation changes
• Con Higher cost than a shared shuttle

This can be a good option if you want privacy or if shuttle schedules do not align with your travel plans.

Top Tip: Shop around! I called a few of the well known companies and was quoted 700-900 Euros depending on the specifics. But there was a guy at the train station with us and he paid 350 Euros

Ferry with a Taxi

Pet taxi companies can also board ferries with dogs, which opens up ferry routes for travelers without cars. Instead of driving your own vehicle onboard, you and your dog ride with the driver as they handle the logistics.

• Pro Allows non-drivers to use ferry crossings that would normally require a car
• Con More expensive than taking your own vehicle and less widely available and more expensive than Eurotunnel services. Travel time is longer even from Calais to Dover and significantly longer on other routes

This can be a practical choice if you prefer the ferry experience or if it better fits your travel route.

Transportation Methods for those coming from the US and Canada

Ireland Route Workaround

Another option is to fly with your dog in cabin to Ireland since their rules allow it. From there you can continue into England by ferry or by driving from Northern Ireland.

• Pro Avoids cargo completely and gives you more flexibility if Ireland is part of your travel plans or you are flying in from the East Coast of the US or Canada where flights can be direct and affordable.
• Con Adds extra travel time and logistics.

This can work well for travelers who already plan to visit Ireland but is less practical if your only goal is to reach England.

Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 is the only passenger ship that accepts pets. Dogs travel in onboard kennels that are cared for by staff and owners can visit during the voyage. This route is used mainly by travelers crossing the Atlantic from North America.

• Pro Avoids air travel completely; May be the only option for snub nose breed or breeds with other flying limitations
• Con Very limited space for kennels and bookings fill up quickly often a year or more in advance; takes about a week journey; not particularly cheap
  
  Please note: dogs are not allowed inside your cabins.

Cargo Flight

Dogs can still enter England on a direct flight, but they must travel as cargo. This option is always available but is the least appealing for many owners.

• Pro The most direct method and offered on many international routes. You can land in a major airport near where you are going and be on your way
• Con Expensive and requires hiring expert support; Can be stressful for pets who haven’t been desensitized, and some breeds are restricted

Most travelers looking for alternatives are trying to avoid cargo, but it is worth mentioning since it remains the standard option.

Top Tip: You cannot fly into England with a dog in cabin but you can fly out that way. Many travelers use one of these no car options to enter the country and then book an in cabin flight when it is time to leave.

Our Experience Taking Our Dog in a Shuttle Through the Eurotunnel

Booking

I first heard about Le Pet Express through another traveler on Instagram. After getting high quotes from well-known pet taxis in the 700 to 900 euro range, I decided to check their website. Prices were more reasonable, reservations were simple to make online, and they answered my questions quickly by email. At time of booking, I paid 175 pounds for 1 person, 1 pet and 1 suitcase. You can pay additional fees for additional pets and people. Check their site for current pricing.

I booked about two months in advance because we were traveling in August at the peak of summer travel. That probably isn’t necessary most of the year, but I wanted to be sure we had a spot. Their website shows availability on a color-coded calendar so it’s easy to see how full each day is before committing.

There are other pet shuttle companies. I saw one called Pet’s Zen Travel at passport control with us. However, when I checked it looks like they only go a few times per week. I don’t know anyone who has been with their service.

Meeting Point

We reached the shuttle by taking the train from Lille to Calais Fréthun. This detail matters because there are two stations in Calais, and this one is small and remote. When we stepped outside, it felt like the middle of nowhere. If it hadn’t been for the other pet travelers waiting there, I might have thought we were in the wrong place.

We arrived with a group of fellow travelers with pets, all clearly there for the same reason. We ended up waiting together for about an hour before the shuttle arrived. The company is very clear that they will not wait if your train is delayed, so most people come early to avoid missing it.

Check-In and Paperwork

Le Pet Express offers a free document check when you book. I emailed Denver’s paperwork to them right away, and they confirmed everything looked good.

They also reminded me about the tapeworm requirement, which must be provided and stamped by a vet 24–120 hours before entry. We cut it close with an appointment just 25 hours before travel. The office assured me it counted but also said I shouldn’t have cut it so close.

Once at Calais, the driver checked all the paperwork again. Then we drove to the official Eurotunnel Pet Document Control where the staff inspected the documents one final time. This included Denver’s EU Pet Passport with proof of rabies and the tapeworm treatment.

The Crossing Itself

The shuttle was a large van with seats on one side and kennels on the other. Each owner sat opposite their dog’s kennel, so you could see each other but not sit together. Dogs were required to remain in the crates at all times. The driver made this point repeatedly, it was posted inside the van, and the crates were even zip-tied closed. Clearly this had been an issue in the past.

If your dog isn’t crate trained, this could be very stressful. My advice is to practice at home and bring a familiar blanket or bed to make the ride more comfortable.

The tunnel ride itself was only about 30–40 minutes, but the whole process for us from Lille to London was about 7 hours. It involved a lot of transitions: waiting at Calais, loading into the van, unloading at pet control, reloading, waiting again at the Eurotunnel holding zone, going through passport control, and then finally boarding the tunnel train.

Passport control was strict and asked detailed questions including proof of onward travel. This was stressful because the area had little to no internet service. After struggling to load documents on my phone, the Le Pet Express driver told us we had two minutes to produce them or he would leave us behind.
Top Tip: Have all important documents printed or downloaded to a PDF before arrival

Arrival in England

The shuttle dropped us at Ashford International station. This is important to know because Eurostar trains do not stop there. If you are traveling with a partner who takes the Eurostar, they will either need to backtrack to meet you or you will need to arrange to meet them in London.

We decided to pay extra for both of us to take Le Pet Express together to avoid the complication. One of our fellow travelers split up — their spouse took the Eurostar for the bigger luggage allowance, while they rode the shuttle with their dog.

Trains and Timing

On the French side, we took a train from Lille to Calais Fréthun. On the UK side, we needed to buy tickets from Ashford to London. Because the timing of arrival is unpredictable, I didn’t want to risk buying in advance. The tradeoff was that day-of tickets were more expensive than I expected.

At Ashford, the next train to London was leaving in about ten minutes, so we had to rush to buy tickets and get to the platform. If we had missed it, the wait would have been another forty minutes. The whole experience felt like a mix of hurry up and wait — long pauses, then sudden pressure to move quickly.

Overall Impressions

What I liked about taking a pet shuttle

The shuttle worked and got us where we needed to go. I liked that Denver was with me the entire time, and that someone familiar with the Eurotunnel rules was guiding us through each step.

I also liked the camaraderie with the other pet travelers — we watched each other’s animals, swapped stories, and even had a rabbit in the group.

What I didn’t like about taking a pet shuttle

What I didn’t like was the sheer number of transitions, the stress of coordinating with the trains made for a long and tiring day.

I was also not very happy with the attitude of the driver. Threats to leave us behind at passport control and pressure at various points made the experience more stressful than it needed to be.

For a single person with one dog, the shuttle price was reasonable. For two or more people and/or pets, I would recommend calling around to get a variety of quotes into a private taxi, which may end up being a better value.

Ways to Enter England With a Dog AND a Car

If you are traveling with your own car the process of getting into England with a dog is much easier. You have more choices and your dog stays with you the entire way.

Eurotunnel with a Car

The Eurotunnel is the simplest option for car travel. You drive onto the train, stay in the car during the 35-minute crossing, and drive off the other side. Dogs remain with you the whole time.

Ferries with a Car

Ferry routes from France, Spain, and the Netherlands all accept dogs if you are driving. On most crossings dogs either stay in the car or in a designated kennel area depending on the route.

Ferry from Ireland

If you are traveling by car through Ireland you can continue into England on a ferry. This route works well for travelers who are already including Ireland in their plans.

Final Thoughts: Bringing Your Dog to England Without a Car

Getting into England with a dog is possible whether you have a car or not. If you are traveling without a car the Eurotunnel with a shuttle or taxi is the most straightforward choice, though ferries and even the Queen Mary 2 can work in some situations. If you do have a car the process is much easier with both the Eurotunnel and multiple ferry routes available.

For us the shuttle was the right solution. It was not perfect and came with plenty of stressful transitions, but it allowed us to bring Denver safely into England without putting him in cargo. Once you are there the effort is worth it. England is full of countryside walks, welcoming pubs, and a dog culture that makes all the planning worthwhile.

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