(If no form appears, go to www.raileasy.com) (1)  Type 'Lon' and select 'London (mainline stations)' or enter any British station. (2)  Type 'Dub' and select Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) or Dublin Port (Stena) or enter the name of any Irish station including Cork, Limerick, Galway.... (3) Set departure time to (say) 07:00. Tickets can be collected at any main British station including London Euston or sent to any UK address, but not collected in Ireland. If you want to collect tickets in Dublin or have them sent to an Irish address, buy SailRail tickets to Britain at www.irishferries.com instead. You can buy SailRail tickets between any station in Britain and any station in Ireland using this form, one-way or return in either direction, via either Irish Ferries or Stena Line from Holyhead.  It can also book from any station in Britain to or from Rosslare Harbour via Fishguard, and to or from Belfast via either Holyhead or Cairnryan. Overseas visitors welcome!  Overseas credit cards are accepted and you can collect tickets at London Euston or any main British station. You cannot collect tickets in Dublin, how to buy tickets starting in Ireland. Booking fee:  This form links to www.raileasy.com. They charge a £1.00 booking fee plus card fee from 75p, collection at stations is free, tickets by 1st class post £1.50. If you have any problems, you can also buy tickets at www.stenaline.co.uk, but only starting at London Euston & a few other key cities, and only if you have a UK postal address, or try www.virgintrains.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com (to any Irish destination).  For one-way or return tickets starting in Ireland, use www.irishferries.com. Which ferry?  Click the 'i' to see if it's routed you via Irish Ferries or Stena Line.  Irish Ferries Holyhead-Dublin crossings taking 3 hours are the ship Ulysses, those taking 2 hours are the Swift fast ferry.  Fares for the Swift are £5 more than by ship.  I recommend the superb Ulysses which has never missed a crossing, the Swift can be cancelled if wave height is over 1m. How to buy first class tickets Recommended London to Dublin service. Recommended Dublin to London service Buy tickets by phone... In the UK call 08709 000 773 In Ireland call  (01) 703 1884 You collect your tickets from these machines at London Euston or at any main British station (the machine type varies).  Touch 'collect tickets' on the screen then insert your credit card and the tickets will print.  Easy!  You must have the original credit card used for the booking.  Or tickets can be sent to any UK address.

Discover a well-kept secret: Cheap SailRail tickets

between any station in Britain & any station in Ireland...

Fed up with flying?  More volcanic ash on its way?  Swap stressful flights and cramped coaches on eyesore motorways for a relaxed train ride through the English countryside and along the beautiful Welsh coast, then by luxurious superferry across the Irish Sea, see the journey in pictures below.  £38 (€46) buys a train & ferry SailRail ticket from London or any rail station in Britain to Dublin (plus a small fee for online booking).  It's the traditional,  environmentally-friendly alternative to a flight which can reduce your CO2 emission by up to 73%.  You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to any station in Ireland, one-way or return in either direction, at these amazingly cheap prices, covering train travel to the port, ferry to Ireland & onward trains in Ireland, all on one ticket.  Bring a bottle of your favourite wine along (try doing that on Ryanair), sit back with a good book and enjoy the ride...

Information on this page...

  Recommended times from London to Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo

  Recommended times from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo to London

  Complete timetable London-Dublin by train & ferry via Irish Ferries or Stena Line...

  How much does it cost?  SailRail fares between Britain & Ireland explained...

  How to buy tickets online, by phone or in person, in Britain, Ireland or overseas...

  What's the journey like?   A journey from London to Dublin, in pictures...

  Route map - to help choose the most suitable train+ferry route to Ireland.

  First class from London to Dublin - the first class option from £160...

  Useful country information for visiting Ireland.

  London to Cork, Limerick, Galway & other Irish destinations via Holyhead-Dublin.

  London, Bristol, Cardiff to Rosslare, Wexford & Waterford via Fishguard-Rosslare.

  Train travel within Ireland  An introduction to Irish train travel.

  Hotels in Dublin & Ireland    Send your luggage in advance

  Dublin City Tours by Open Top Bus - hop on, hop off.

  Day trips from Dublin to see the Blarney Stone, Ring of Kerry, Giant's Causeway

  Short breaks to Ireland without flying - Ireland Railtours' London to Ireland tour.

  Review of rail+sea travel to Ireland in the Irish Sunday Tribune.

Sponsored links...

London to Ireland, suggested option...

Let's keep it simple.  Here's the most convenient daytime train+ferry service between London & Dublin using the cheapest & most direct route, via an all-weather reliable ship, with easy onward train connections for Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo & Belfast.  If you want to browse other options, see the complete timetable here or use the online booking form.

	London to Dublin in pictures...
	Leave London on Virgin Trains 9.10am Irish Mail to Holyhead (08:50 Saturdays, 08:15 Sundays).
	The modern 125 mph Voyager train is air-conditioned, superior to any plane or coach, with T-Mobile WiFi, power sockets for laptops & mobiles and a buffet car serving drinks & snacks. The journey takes 3h40, time to get some work done or catch up on your reading...
	After glimpsing Conway's pretty fishing harbour, the train snakes around the imposing walls of historic Conway Castle...
	...and along the North Wales coast a stone's throw from the sea. Yes, this was taken from the train!
	...then crosses the Menai Strait to Anglesey on Stephenson's historic Britannia Bridge.  Above, you can see Telford's famous suspension bridge from the train.
	At Holyhead, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.  You check in for your chosen ferry operator, either Stena Line or Irish Ferries.  Compared to flying, it's quick & painless.
	After checking in, a courtesy bus transfers you to the luxurious 50,000 ton Irish Ferries superferry Ulysses for the Irish Sea crossing to Dublin...
	...the Ulysses is perhaps the most luxurious ferry on the Irish Sea.  The sea crossing takes 3hours 15 mins, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.
	With the Welsh hills in the background, Stena Line's Stena Adventurer sails for Dublin 20 minutes ahead of the Ulysses, but I think the Ulysses is by far the more glamorous ship!  Even on this broodingly grey November day, the huge Ulysses is rock steady...
	A big step up from the budget airline experience...  On the Ulysses, you can upgrade to club class in the Martello Lounge on 11 deck for £16 (€18), with complimentary red & white wine, tea & coffee, cheese & crackers, olives, smoked salmon canapés, muffins & fruit juice.  The lounge is above the ship's bridge, giving a superb forward view of the Irish coast approaching...
	Welcome to Dublin!  You've arrived the traditional way, by train & ferry.  No airports, no planes...
	Book online  here   London   to Dublin   £38 or £43   via Holyhead   Any day, any date...

London ► Dublin   

Departs 09:10 Mon-Fri, 08:50 Sat, 08:15 Sun, arrives Dublin 17:25.

• Step 1, travel from London to Holyhead with Virgin Trains, leaving London's Euston station at 09:10 on Mondays-Fridays or 08:50 Saturdays on a air-conditioned 125mph Voyager or Pendolino train direct to Holyhead arriving 12:50.  On Sundays, leave London at 08:15, change trains at Crewe and arrive Holyhead at 12:43.  At Holyhead, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.

• Step 2, sail from Holyhead to Dublin by luxury superferry, leaving Holyhead at 14:10 daily on Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses across the Irish Sea, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.  Alternatively, Stena Line's competing Stena Adventurer sails at 13:50 arriving at Dublin Ferryport at 17:05.  Both line's ships are good, but in my opinion the superb Ulysses is the one to take.

• Step 3, transfer to Dublin city centre, 2 miles from Dublin Ferryport:  A transfer bus will be waiting when the Ulysses arrives.  It leaves the Ferryport 10 minutes after she docks, arriving at the Busaras at 17:50 (Dublin's main bus station, 2 minutes walk from Dublin Connolly station for trains to Belfast, Wicklow & Sligo) and arriving at Dublin Heuston station at 18:10, for trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway.  The fare is €3 to the Busaras or €4 to Heuston, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free, please have the exact fare handy.  If you'd rather take a taxi, a cab from the port to anywhere in central Dublin costs around €15.  Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals & city centre.  A transfer bus also meets the Stena Adventurer for Dublin city centre, Dublin Connolly Station and Dublin Heuston station, fare €2.50 to Connolly, €4 to Heuston, children 4-15 half price.

• How much does it cost?  London to Dublin costs £38 one-way if you book by 18:00 the day before travel or £43 if the cheaper £38 price has sold out or if you buy your ticket on the day.  Children under 16 half price, under 5 free.  SailRail fares covers train & ferry, and the price is fixed so it's usually £38 if you book in advance, always £43 if you buy on the day.  Pre-booking is recommended.  First class fares.  Full details of SailRail fares.

• How to buy tickets:  To buy one-way or return tickets from London or anywhere in Britain to Dublin or anywhere in Ireland, use the online booking form above.  Enter 'London (mainline stations)' in the 'From' box for a ticket starting at London Euston, or enter the name of any station you like.  Leave the destination as 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)' if you want the luxurious Irish Ferries Ulysses.  If you'd prefer Stena Line's Stena Adventurer then change it to 'Dublin Port (Stena)'.  Look for the 09:10 departure from London on weekdays, 08:50 Saturdays or 08:15 Sundays.  Alternatively, if this system doesn't work for you, you can also buy SailRail tickets from London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool to Dublin at www.stenaline.co.uk, but tickets can only be sent to UK addresses, not collected at stations, and of course it'll only book the Stena Line ferry.  You can also buy tickets by phone or in person.

• How to buy tickets starting in Ireland:  If you live in Ireland, or are coming from overseas and starting your journey in Ireland, you can now buy one-way or return tickets from any Irish rail station to London or any British station online at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp (but read the booking tips here first!).  Alternatively, you can buy tickets in Ireland in person or by phone.

• Other journey options:  This is the recommended service, but if it doesn't suit you there are others, including a time-effective overnight option, see the London-Dublin complete timetable.

• From anywhere else in Britain to Dublin:  You don't have to start in London, of course!  Simply use the online booking form above to check times & prices & buy SailRail tickets from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cambridge, in fact any railway station in Britain to or from Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) or Dublin Port (Stena).  The SailRail fare from any station in Britain to Dublin is £38 or less each way via Holyhead.  Yes, really, Inverness to Dublin for £38, or £43 bought on the day of travel!  Children under 16 half price, under 5s free.  Full details of fares from any station in Britain to Ireland & how to buy tickets.  Use the route map above to check the most appropriate ferry route:  For example, Glasgow to Belfast is best via Cairnryan, Cardiff to Wexford is best via Fishguard.  The route via Holyhead is the best route from London, the southeast, south, East Anglia & Midlands to Dublin and most of Ireland including Cork, Galway & Limerick.  You can also check times & fares (but not buy tickets) from anywhere in Britain to Dublin using www.nationalrail.co.uk.  If you live in Scotland, you'll find a Glasgow to Belfast timetable (via Cairnryan) on the Northern Ireland page, simply use www.irishrail.ie to find train times for onward travel to Dublin, allowing at least 1 hour between ferry arrival and train departure in Belfast.

• If you're making a round trip, now see the recommended return journey from Dublin to London

London ► Belfast, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork...

• Travel to Dublin as shown above and use the transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport either to the Busaras (for Dublin Connolly station) or to Heuston station.  Then hop on an Irish inter-city train as follows:

• For Belfast, take the daily 19:00 Enterprise express from Dublin Connolly station arriving at Belfast Central at 21:15.

• For Sligo, take the daily 19:05 train from Dublin Connolly station arriving Sligo at 22:05.

• For Cork, take the daily 19:00 train from Dublin Heuston station arriving Cork at 21:58.

• For Limerick, a train leaves Dublin Heuston station on Mondays-Saturdays at 19:00, change at Limerick Junction, arriving Limerick at 21:28.  On Sundays, leave Heuston at 19:05, change at Limerick Junction and arrive Limerick at 21:23.

• For Galway, leave Dublin Heuston station on Mondays-Saturdays at 19:15 arriving Galway at 21:50.  On Sundays, leave Heuston at 18:45 arriving Galway at 21:25.

• You can check these train times at the Irish Railways website www.irishrail.ie.

• For any other destination in Ireland, use the journey planner at www.irishrail.ie to check train times from Dublin.  Make sure you allow enough time to interchange in Dublin.  If it's not possible to complete your journey the same day (for example, the last train to Tralee leaves Dublin before you get there), SailRail tickets allow you to stay in Dublin overnight and take a train next day.  Map of Dublin showing railway stations & city centre.

• How much does it cost?  London to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee or Killarney costs £55.50 each way if booked by 18:00 the day before travel, £60.50 if bought on the day.  London to Belfast costs £49 each way if booked by 18:00 the day before travel, £54 on the day.  Children under 16 half price, children under 5 free.  You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain for the same or less.

• How to buy tickets:  You can now buy SailRail tickets from anywhere in Britain to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tralee or anywhere in Ireland online at www.thetrainline.com, or you can buy them by phone or at stations.  If you want to stop off to see Dublin, you'll need to buy a London-Dublin ticket (which you can do online using the booking form above), then buy a separate onwards train ticket from Dublin using www.irishrail.ie. If you find the cheapest €10 web fare available from Dublin to Cork, Limerick, Galway and so on, this can actually work out cheaper than a through ticket!  If you live in Ireland, you can buy SailRail tickets online from any station in Ireland to London or any station in Britain at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp.

What's the journey like?

• The train from London to Holyhead:  The train is a modern air-conditioned 125 mph Super Voyager with refreshments available on board (it's now an electric Pendolino on Saturdays).  Virgin Trains have chosen not to use the traditional train names in their timetables, but the 09:10 (08:50 Saturdays) direct train to Holyhead is the famous Irish Mail.  For the best views between London & Holyhead, choose a seat on the right-hand side of the train.  The Voyager train tilts into the curves at high speed, although you won't notice it unless you look closely!  The 09:10 train from London usually consists of two 5-car units, with the rear 5 detached at Chester, so make sure you travel in the front 5 coaches for Holyhead.

• The train sweeps through the Buckinghamshire & Northamptonshire countryside, with frequent glimpses of narrow boats on the Grand Union Canal alongside the railway.  A couple of hours out of London, the train calls at the railway town of Crewe.  Look out for the railway museum on the right just after leaving.  Later it calls at the city of Chester, and you'll see part of Chester's historic city walls on the right just after leaving.

• The train then runs along the scenic north Wales coastline, often just a stone's throw from the sea.  Look out for the old ferry Duke of Lancaster, originally moored as a floating nightclub and now just rusting gently.  After calling at Llandudno Junction, the train enters the pretty town of Conway and passes right under the towering walls of Conway's impressive castle.

• After leaving Bangor, look through the trees on the right and you'll catch a glimpse of Telford's suspension bridge carrying the old London-Holyhead coach road (now the A5) from the mainland onto the Isle of Anglesey, and shortly afterwards your train crosses to Anglesey over the equally historic Britannia Bridge, built by Robert Stephenson in 1850.  Originally just a rail bridge, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1970 and now carries a road above the railway.  As the train crosses the bridge, you'll see Telford's beautiful suspension bridge a little way along the river to your right.

• You're now on Anglesey, and your train swishes non-stop through a little local station with the longest name in Britain, a visitor attraction in its own right.  It's called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, in case you were wondering, but normally features in railway fares manuals as 'Llanfair PG'...  Finally, you'll see the mountains of Snowdonia in the distance to your left before arriving in the port of Holyhead, the traditional embarkation point for Ireland.

• In Holyhead, the ferry terminal for both Stena Line and Irish Ferries is right next to the station at the end of platform 2.  So walk straight off the train and into the terminal to check in for the ferry.  There's a 30 minute check-in for Irish Ferries, 40 minutes for Stena Line, if you've time to spare you can wander across the stainless-steel footbridge into Holyhead's pleasant town centre (5 min walk from the station & ferry terminal).  After getting your boarding pass there's a brief and painless X-ray security check, and you then check in your bags so you don't have to carry them round with you on the ferry.

• Which ferry?  There are two ferry operators between Holyhead and Dublin, Stena Line & Irish Ferries, and each operates both a conventional ship and a fast ferry.  Stena Line's fast ferry (which goes to Dun Laoghaire rather than Dublin Ferryport) berths right next to the terminal building at Holyhead, but after cutbacks in 2009 it only sails once a day at 10:25, too early for train connections from London.  So in the London to Dublin direction, I recommend that you buy a ticket routed to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) and use their conventional ship, the luxurious 50,000 ton Ulysses from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport.  Stena Line also have an afternoon ship to Dublin Ferryport, the Stena Adventurer, with similar timings (in fact, you'll get to Dublin 20 minutes earlier, arguably a better option if you have an onward train to catch in Dublin) but the Ulysses is perhaps the most luxurious ship on the Irish Sea and Irish Ferries have a wider choice of sailings so offer more flexibility.  Both Stena Line & Irish Ferries ships berth a little way from the terminal building at Holyhead, so after check-in passengers are shuttled out to the ferry on a free courtesy bus.

• Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport by Irish Ferries ship Ulysses (or Stena Line's competing ship Stena Adventurer if you prefer, though you'll need to choose the ferry operator when buying a ticket).  The online system above has 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)' pre-selected so it will book you on Irish Ferries Ulysses, but feel free to change this to 'Dublin Port (Stena)' if you'd prefer the Stena Line ship.  The Ulysses leaves Holyhead at 14:10 daily and arrives at Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.  The Stena Adventurer sails from Holyhead daily at 13:50 and arrives Dublin Ferryport at 17:05.  Both ships have free WiFi, bars, cafes, lounges, a restaurant, a cinema, children's play area, fast food outlets & a shop.  Head up on deck for some fresh sea air.  You'll sea the town of Holyhead give way to rocky Welsh coastline which then disappears astern as the ferry heads for Ireland.  A couple of hours later you enter the wide Bay of Dublin with the church spires and yacht-filled harbour of Dun Laoghaire to your left, with the dark purple Wicklow Hills in the distance behind it, and the town of Howth on your right.  This is the best way to see Ireland for the first time, not from inside an airport!  Map of Dublin showing the Ferryport.

• Shuttle bus or taxi into Dublin city centre.  Arriving on the Irish Ferries' Ulysses at 17:25, you'll find a double-decker Dublin bus waiting right outside the terminal building to take you into the city centre.  It leaves when the foot passengers have left the ship, around 17:35, arriving at the Busaras (Dublin's central bus station) in the city centre at 17:50 and Dublin Heuston station at 18:10, traffic permitting.  The fare is €3 to the Busaras or €4 to Heuston station, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free, please have exact fare.  Or take a taxi, which will cost about €15 to Connolly Station or any central Dublin hotel or €17 to Dublin's Heuston station.  Dublin Connolly station (for trains to Belfast, Sligo, Wicklow) is 2 minutes walk round the corner from the Busaras.  Arriving on the Stena Adventurer, a shuttle bus takes you to central Dublin at Connolly Station by 17:30, and Westmoreland Street at by around 17:45.  A painless and scenic trip from central London, three countries in one day, England, Wales & Ireland!

FAQ...

• Does the price vary?  Can these tickets sell out?  There are two price levels, SailRail Advance (London-Dublin £38 by train+ship, £43 by train+fast ferry) and SailRail Walkup (London-Dublin £43 by train+ship, £48 by train+fast ferry).  The Walkup price is always available even on the day of travel, the Advance price is usually available if you book in advance, but is sometimes sold out leaving you with the Walkup price.  Note that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, even at the Walkup fare, so advance booking is a good idea.  Booking normally opens 12 weeks ahead.

• Can I stop off on the way?  No, you cannot stop off with any SailRail ticket, except as necessary to make connections.  If you want to stop off, buy separate tickets for each stage.

• Are there any baggage limits or baggage fees?  Do I check my bags in?  Are there left luggage lockers?  There are no baggage weight limits or baggage fees to worry about, as long as you don't take the Mickey.  You simply take your bags with you on the train, placing them on the luggage racks above your head or at the end of the coach.  You check bags in at the ferry terminal so you're free to use the ferry's facilities without being encumbered with luggage, then you collect your bags again from the carousel at the ferry terminal on the other side of the water.  There are left luggage lockers at London Euston (see here for details), at Holyhead and at Dublin Heuston station, but not at Dublin Connolly.

• Is the ferry affected by bad weather?  Can it get rough?  I have always found the huge 50,000 ton Ulysses to be rock steady under most conditions, even in the depths of winter.  And in ten years of service she hasn't missed a single sailing due to weather - or for that matter, volcanic ash, which is more than can be said for the planes.  The Ulysses always gets through!  If you use the smaller, faster Swift SeaCat this can be cancelled if the weather is poor, especially in winter, when perhaps 5% of sailings are cancelled.

• Can I take my bike?  Yes.  Bicycles go for £9 each way on Irish Ferries, £10 on Stena Line.  Pre-booking is recommended for Irish Ferries, email them at info@irishferries.com for details.  Bikes are carried free on trains to Holyhead, but a bike reservation is compulsory on Virgin Trains as there's a 3-bike limit and recommended for Arriva Trains Wales who have a 2-bike limit.  Bikes can now be taken free of charge on off-peak Dun Laoghaire-Dublin DART trains 10:00-15:30 & after 19:00 Mon-Fri, any time weekends.

• Can I take my dog or cat?  Stena Line & Irish Ferries allow foot passengers to take small dogs or cats if they're in a container which you can carry onto the ferry.  The dogs or cats must travel in their container on the car deck or in the kennel area, see www.irishferries.com/pets or www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/faqs/travelling-with-pets/can-i-take-my-pet-to-ireland-or-britain-with-me for details.  On Stena Line, you can also bring a larger dog not in a container, placing your dog in a kennel on the car deck - this is free on the Holyhead-Dublin route, but best to call Stena to check there's a kennel free first.  Guide dogs can be taken into the passengers areas, other dogs cannot.

Ireland to London, suggested option...

Dublin ► London  

Departs Dublin Port 08:05, arrives London Euston 16:38 Monday-Saturday, 16:44 Sunday.

This service runs daily and has all-weather reliability.

• Step 1, transfer from Dublin city centre to Dublin Ferryport:  An Irish Ferries transfer bus leaves Dublin Heuston station at 07:00 and the Busaras (Dublin's main bus station, near Connolly station) at 07:15, arriving at Dublin Ferryport at 07:30, fare €4 from Heuston or €3 from the Busaras, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free, please have exact fare.  Alternatively, take a taxi from central Dublin to Dublin Ferryport, this costs around €15 from any central Dublin hotel to the ferry port & takes about 25 minutes.  Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals & city centre.

• Step 2, sail from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead on Irish Ferries luxurious superferry Ulysses, leaving Dublin Ferryport terminal 1 daily at 08:05 and arriving Holyhead at 11:30.  The Ulysses is the world's largest car ferry, with excellent on board accommodation including bars, restaurant, cinema, children's play area, free WiFi and even private cabin for an extra charge.  At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the passenger terminal and station.  Alternatively, there's a competing Stena Line ship, the Stena Adventurer, leaving Dublin Ferryport terminal 2 at 08:20, arriving Holyhead at 11:25, you can book this on the form above by entering 'Dublin Port (Stena)' instead of Dublin Port (Irish Ferries).  The Stena ship has a bus connection from Dublin city centre, leaving at 07:15 from the Morton's bus stop (colour red & white) on Westmoreland Street, outside O'Brien's Sandwich Bar opposite the Westin Hotel, fare €2.50 adult, €1.25 child 4-15.

• Step 3, travel by train from Holyhead to London.  On Mondays-Fridays, you leave Holyhead at 12:39, change trains at Chester (arrive 14:15, depart 14:35) and arrive London Euston at 16:38.  If you'd prefer a direct train to London there's a Virgin Voyager at 13:58 on Mondays-Fridays arriving London Euston at 17:38.  On Saturdays, you leave Holyhead at 12:38, change in Chester (arrive 14:14, depart 14:35) and arrive London Euston at 16:38.  On Sundays you leave Holyhead at 12:50 on a direct train to London, arriving London Euston at 16:44.  Always use www.nationalrail.co.uk to check train times for your specific date of travel.

• ...or travel to anywhere else in Britain:  Simply use the online booking form above to find ferry & train times from Dublin Ferryport (Irish ferries), Dublin Ferryport (Stena) or Dun Laoghaire to your chosen British destination via Holyhead.

• How much does it cost?  The fare from Dublin to London is £38 bought in Britain, assuming you buy it before 18:00 the day before travel.  Bought in Ireland, it's €46.  Children under 16 half price, under 5s free.  The fare to anywhere else in Britain is the same or less than this.  Yes, you can even travel from Dublin to Inverness for £38!  First class fares.  Full details of SailRail fares.

• How to buy tickets if you live in Britain:  To buy a one-way ticket from Dublin to London or anywhere in Britain via this service, I recommend buying online in euros at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp, selecting 'Dublin Ferryport' to 'London (all stations)' and an 08:00 departure time.  Tickets can be collected at the Irish ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport (the recommended option) or sent to any address worldwide by normal post at your own risk.  To book a round trip from London to Dublin and back, I recommend booking the outward journey from London to Dublin as a one-way using the Raileasy booking form above, then booking the return leg from Dublin to London as a one-way using www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp.  Why shouldn't you use the Raileasy booking form above to book both ways?  Well, you can if you like.  But the Raileasy system has an unfortunate habit of not showing the 08:05 Ulysses departure from Dublin, only the 08:45 Swift fast ferry, because the Swift overtakes the ship and the system disregards the slower service.  By all means take the 08:45 Swift if you like, but remember that the Ulysses has all-weather reliability and is five pounds cheaper.  The Swift is faster but can be cancelled if the weather is poor, perhaps 5% of occasions in winter.  The Irish Ferries system has no problem offering both the 08:05 Ulysses ship and the 08:45 Swift so you can choose the one you want.  Oh, and for the record, you can't use the Irish Ferries system to book a return ticket starting in London as it only sells tickets starting in Ireland.  Full details of fares & how to buy tickets.

• How to buy tickets if you live in Ireland:  You can book this journey online at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp and collect tickets at Dublin Ferryport, or tickets can be sent to any Irish address.  The Irish Ferries website now sells cheap SailRail tickets from any Irish rail station to any British rail station, although it's a good idea to read these booking tips first.   Alternatively, you can buy tickets in Ireland in person or by phone.  Tickets bought in Ireland are all of the walk up type, a reservation is needed and included on the ferry, but no reservation is required on British trains, you can take any suitable connecting train once in Britain.

• How to buy tickets if you live overseas:  To buy a one-way or round trip ticket from Dublin to London or anywhere in Britain via this service, I recommend buying online at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp, selecting 'Dublin Ferryport' to 'London (all stations)' and an 08:00 departure time.  Tickets can be collected at the Irish ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport (the recommended option) or sent to any address worldwide by normal post at your own risk.  Alternatively, you can buy tickets in Ireland in person or by phone.  To book a round trip from London to Dublin and back, I recommend booking the outward journey from London to Dublin as a one-way using the Raileasy booking form above (tickets can then be collected at any main station in Britain including London Euston), then booking the return leg from Dublin back to London as a one-way using www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp (tickets can then be collected at Dublin Ferryport).

Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee ► London

• Step 1, travel up to Dublin by any evening train and stay the night.  Find hostel or hotel in Dublin.

  If your train arrives at Heuston station, take the LUAS tram to Connolly station, this runs every 5-10 minutes and takes 15 minutes, fare €1.50 (not included in through tickets).  The tram leaves from right outside the front of the station.  Alternatively, take bus 90.  Map of Dublin showing city centre, railway stations & ferry terminals.

• Step 2, travel from Dublin to London by train & ferry as above.

• Alternatively, a morning departure is possible from most of these places, to connect with the 14:30 Swift from Dublin to Holyhead, arriving in London in the evening, simply use the booking form below to find train and ferry times and buy tickets.

 Useful country information

There are plenty of trains to Holyhead, then two different ferry operators from Holyhead to Dublin, Irish Ferries & Stena Line, each operating a conventional ship and a fast ferry.  You can choose a SailRail train & ferry ticket routed via Irish Ferries or via Stena Line, with a slightly higher fare if you choose that operator's fast ferry rather than their conventional ship.

Which ferry should you choose?  The first thing is that the ships are all-weather reliable, but the smaller & lighter fast ferries can be cancelled in poor weather, even though they give a faster crossing when they run.  Of the two competing ships, Irish Ferries' luxurious cruise ferry Ulysses and Stena Line's Stena Adventurer sail to a very similar schedule, and both ships offer great facilities and all-weather reliability.  Stena Line's ship will get you to Dublin 20 minutes earlier than the Ulysses off the same train connection from London and it has free WiFi, but in my opinion the Irish Ferries Ulysses is the far more glamorous ship, with a genuine cruise ship feel.  Until recently she was the largest car ferry in the world at over 50,000 tons.  The Ulysses is therefore my own choice, but by all means take the Stena Adventurer if you prefer.  Irish Ferries' Swift fast ferry offers a very fast crossing, but it can be cancelled if wave height is above 1 metre, affecting perhaps 5% of departures in winter, with passengers transferred to the next available sailing of the reliable all-weather Ulysses.  Stena Line's HSS fast ferry is less affected by the weather than the smaller Swift, but now only runs once a day April-September only, leaving Holyhead too early for any useful train connections.  However, its afternoon departure back from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead is a good choice for an eastbound journey, as it allows same-day train connections from Irish cities west and south of Dublin, and has very easy train/ferry transfers at both Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead.

	OR		OR
1. Irish Ferries Ulysses:  A luxurious cruise ferry Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport.  The crossing takes 3 hours 15 minutes.  Free WiFi, bars, restaurants, cinema, optional private cabins available on board. VIP lounge available for an extra £16. Take a virtual tour.		2. Irish Ferries Swift:  A fast SeaCat from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport, taking 1 hour 49 minutes.  Reclining seats & refreshments available on board.  It can be cancelled if the weather is bad, affecting perhaps 5% of sailings in winter with passengers transferred to the all-weather Ulysses. Take a virtual tour.		3. Stena Line HSS fast ferry, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire in 1 hour 49 minutes, for a DART train to central Dublin. The HSS (High Speed Sea Service) is a giant catamaran. It now only runs March-September. 4. Stena ship to Dublin Ferryport.  The Stena Adventurer sails to a similar schedule as Ulysses...  Take a virtual tour

* = On Saturday mornings, train leaves Holyhead at 04:25, change at Chester, arriving London 09:30.  If you've heavy luggage, a direct train leaves Holyhead at 06:50 arriving London 10:38.

** = The HSS only operates from 22 March to 10 September 2013, not all year round.  No ferry to/from Dun Laoghaire at all in winter.

• Always check train times at www.nationalrail.co.uk or using the online form above, especially at weekends as times can vary due to engineering work.  On www.nationalrail.co.uk, you can enter any station in the UK and 'Dublin Ferryport', as it has ferry times loaded into it.

• You can check ferry times at www.stenaline.co.uk or www.irishferries.com.

• Direct = This train is a direct 125mph Virgin Trains Voyager or Pendolino train between London & Holyhead.

• Crewe = You must change trains at Crewe.    Birmingham = You must change trains at Birmingham New Street.

• ----  = This means there's no train connection available for this ferry.

• At Holyhead the ferry terminal for both Stena Line & Irish Ferries is right next to the station at the end of platform 2.  After checking in, passengers for the Ulysses and Stena Adventurer are transferred by free courtesy bus across the port area to the ferry, as the ships berth a little way from the terminal.  Stena Line's HSS berths next to the terminal and you can simply walk between ferry and train.  There is a 30 minute check-in for Irish Ferries or 40 minutes for Stena Line, and your bags are checked in for the crossing.  A left luggage office is available at Holyhead, and the town centre is just 5 minutes walk across a footbridge if you have time for a wander.

• Dublin Ferryport is 2 miles from Dublin city centre.  Transfer buses meet all Irish Ferries arrivals and take passengers to the Busaras (main bus station) in Dublin city centre and Dublin Heuston station, for trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford (although the bus meeting the evening Swift arrival doesn't go to Heuston, only to the Busaras).  The Busaras is 2 minutes walk from Dublin's Connolly station for trains to Belfast, Wicklow & Sligo.  The transfer bus costs €3 to the Busaras, €4 to Heuston, children half price, you simply pay the driver on the bus, but please have the exact fare.  Buses also operate from Heuston and the Busaras to meet Irish Ferries departures, you'll find the bus times at www.irishferries.com.  There are also buses connecting with Stena Line arrivals and departures, charging similar prices.  A taxi from Dublin port to central Dublin will cost €15 to most central area hotels or Dublin Connolly station, about €17 to Dublin Heuston station, journey time about 25 minutes.

• Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dunn Leary) where Stena Line's HSS arrives, is 11 km (7 miles) south of Dublin.  It's the traditional place to arrive in Ireland.  Leave the ferry terminal main exit and you'll find the railway station just across the road.  DART suburban trains run every 10-15 minutes from Dun Laoghaire to Dublin Connolly station in the city centre, journey time 25 minutes, so you'll be in central Dublin around an hour or so after the ferry arrives.  If you need to reach Dublin Heuston station (the station for trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway & western Ireland) bus 90 links Connolly & Heuston stations (allow 45 minutes) or you can take the new tram, www.luas.ie.  Train+ferry fares from UK stations to Dublin Connolly via Dun Laoghaire include the DART train to Connolly, but it's €2.50 extra each way if your ticket is only to Dun Laoghaire.  Train+ferry fares to Cork, Limerick, Galway etc. include the DART train to Dublin Connolly and a bus (but not the tram) to Dublin Heuston station.

• Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals, Dun Laoghaire ferry terminal, railway stations & city centre.

About these new SailRail fares...

• What do SailRail fares cover?  SailRail fares cover the train to Holyhead and the ferry to Ireland, all on one ticket for one inclusive price.  Tickets to Irish destinations beyond Dublin also cover the Irish train.

• Making a return journey?  There are now no return fares, only one-way fares, so a return journey = two one-way fares.  If you're not sure when you will return, I recommend only buying your outward ticket, then buying a ticket back from Dublin online at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp when you know the date, collecting this ticket at Dublin Ferryport.

• Children:  Children under 5 go free, children under 16 go for half the prices shown above.  No railcard discounts.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Unaccompanied children 16-17 years old must have written authority to travel from their parent or guardian.  Children under 5 go free, but they need a reservation for the ferry.

• Does the price vary?  Can they sell out?  Booking opens around 12 weeks in advance.  There are two price levels, SailRail Advance (London-Dublin £38 by train & ship, £43 by train & fast ferry) and SailRail Walk-up (London-Dublin £43 by train & ship, £48 by train & fast ferry).  The Walk-up price is always available even on the day of travel, the Advance price is usually available if you book in advance, although it's sometimes sold out so only the Walk-up price appears.  Note that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a limited quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, even at the Walk-up fare, so advance booking is a good idea.  Cost of SailRail tickets if bought in euros in Ireland.

• Railcard holders:  As they are so cheap, there's no further discount on SailRail fares for young person's or senior railcard holders.

• Stopovers:  Stopovers at stations in Britain are not allowed using any SailRail ticket, other than to make connections.  If you want to stop off anywhere, you'll need to buy separate tickets.

• Buses to Dublin city centre:  The transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport costs €3 to the Busaras in the City Centre (for Connolly station) or €4 to Heuston station, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free, which you simply pay on board the bus.

• Better value than flying:  When comparing with the cost of a flight, remember that it will cost £14 one-way or £28 return for the train ride from central London to or from Luton, Stansted or Gatwick airports, in addition to the air fare.  And remember the airline baggage fees, check-in fees, and so on...  And these SailRail fares are available at short notice and peak times, too, when flights are expensive!

• First class travel...  There are no first class SailRail fares, but if you want first class comfort on your journey to Ireland see the London to Dublin first class section below.

• Taking a bicycle?  Bicycles go for £9 each way on Irish Ferries, reservation is recommended, email them at info@irishferries.com for details.  Bikes are carried free on trains to Holyhead, but but a bike reservation is compulsory on Virgin Trains as there's a 3-bike limit and recommended for Arriva Trains Wales who have a 2-bike limit.

• Dogs & cats:  On Irish Ferries & Stena Line, small dogs and cats can be carried if they can be put in a container that can be carried onto the ferry and placed on the car deck during the crossing, see www.irishferries.com/pets or www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/faqs/travelling-with-pets/can-i-take-my-pet-to-ireland-or-britain-with-me.  On Stena Line, you can also bring a larger dog not in a container, placing your dog in a kennel on the car deck - this is free on the Holyhead-Dublin route, but best to call Stena to check there's a kennel free first. 

• You can check fares to Dublin & Ireland using the online booking system above or using www.thetrainline.com.

• Other Irish destinations:  Ireland's rail stations are zoned 1-3, with Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo all in zone 3, at the prices shown above.  Fares to (say) Wicklow or Athlone will be more than to Dublin, less than to Cork.

  How to buy SailRail tickets in Britain:  Book online here.

• Buy SailRail tickets online here:  You can buy tickets from London or any station in Britain to Dublin Ferryport or any rail station in Ireland (in either direction) using the online booking form above.

• Which 'Dublin' to use?  Enter 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)' as your destination for journeys to Dublin using Irish Ferries ship Ulysses or their Swift fast ferry.  Enter 'Dublin Port (Stena)' for journeys to Dublin using Stena Line's ship to Dublin Ferryport, or 'Dun Laoghaire' for journeys using Stena Line's HSS fast ferry.  Or enter the name of any Irish rail station as destination, including Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Killarney or Tralee.

• Ticket delivery:  Tickets can be sent to any UK address or collected at any main station in Britain including London Euston.  They cannot be collected in Dublin or sent outside the UK.

• Booking tip:  Neither the online booking form above nor www.thetrainline.com will offer you the 08:05 ferry departure from Dublin back to Britain, only the faster 08:45 Swift.  That's because the 08:45 Swift overtakes the 08:05 ship, even though the all-weather ship is cheaper and more reliable.  To book the 08:05 ship, first book your outward journey to Dublin as a one-way, then book the 08:05 back from Dublin as a one-way journey using www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp and select the option to collect tickets at Dublin Ferryport.

• Alternatively, book online at www.stenaline.co.uk:  If the Raileasy system doesn't suit you, you can also buy SailRail tickets from London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool to Dublin online at the Stena Line website www.stenaline.co.uk.  However, tickets can only be sent to UK addresses, are valid via Stena Line but not Irish Ferries, cannot be collected at stations, and only a few cities are covered, not any station in Britain.

• Buy SailRail tickets by phone:  You can buy tickets by phone from the SailRail booking line, 08709 000 773 (UK callers only).  Lines are open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays. Remember to ask for tickets routed either Stena Line or Irish Ferries depending on which service you want in which direction.  You can also buy tickets via Stena Line from Stena themselves, 08445 762 762.

• Buy SailRail tickets in person:  You can buy these train+ferry SailRail tickets at most main British railway stations, even on the day of travel.  This includes London Euston.  But allow plenty of time to buy your ticket, and be aware that small stations (ones without the capability to do seat reservations) may not sell these tickets.  It's better to buy tickets a day or two before if you can.

  How to buy SailRail tickets in Ireland:  Book online at www.irishferries.com. 

• Buy SailRail tickets online at www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp:  Irish Ferries have launched online booking for one-way or return SailRail tickets starting in Ireland, from any rail station in Ireland to any rail station in Britain via Holyhead (but read the paragraph below first!).  Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport (useful if you're from overseas) or can be sent by registered post to Irish addresses or by normal post (at your own risk) to any address worldwide.

• Tips for using www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp:  The SailRail online booking form is top left.  For travel to London, select 'London (all stations)'.  The departure & arrival times it gives you are for the ferry between Dublin & Holyhead, not for your whole journey, as the system is not programmed with any train times, just the ferry times.  So you'll need to look up train times separately, either by looking at the Dublin-London timetables on this page, or by looking up Irish trains at www.irishrail.ie and British trains at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Tickets are valid on any suitable connecting train without restriction.  Remember to allow at least 40 minutes check-in for the ferry at Dublin Ferryport outward and at Holyhead on the return, plus plenty of time for transfers between Dublin Ferryport and Dublin's Connolly or Heuston stations.  Obviously, this system will only book SailRail via Irish Ferries to Holyhead, not journeys via Stena Line.  Top tip:  It's well worth the extra €18 to upgrade to Club Class with a special lounge, complimentary tea, coffee, red & white wine and canapés!  You can do this online when you book, or pay the extra on board the ferry.

• Buy SailRail tickets in person at Dublin Connolly station at the main ticket window, open all day, 7 days a week (see photo on the right) or at these Irish Rail stations:  Athlone, Ballina, Claremorris, Dublin Connolly, Dundalk, Drogheda, Ennis, Galway, Longford, Mallow, Cork, Tralee, Killarney, Waterford, Limerick, Limerick Junction, Sligo, Thurles, Tullamore, Westport.  They can sell train & ferry SailRail tickets from any Irish station to any British station.  SailRail tickets now cost €6 more if bought on the day of travel.

• Buy SailRail tickets by phone:  Call Irish Railways on 1850  366222 (lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) (from outside Ireland call 00 353 1850 366222) or call Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-16:00 Saturdays, if calling from Northern Ireland or anywhere outside the Republic of Ireland, dial +353 818 300 400) or call Stena Line on (01) 204 7777.

• Buy ticket by e-mail:  to Irish Rail via sailrail@irishrail.ie or to Irish Ferries at sailrail@irishferries.com.

• Cost of SailRail tickets bought in Ireland:  Bought at least one day before travel, Dublin to London costs €46 (ship) or €52 (Swift fast ferry), Dublin to Birmingham or Leeds costs €41 (ship) or €47 (Swift fast ferry), Dublin to Liverpool or Manchester costs €40 (ship) or €46 (Swift fast ferry).  Cork, Limerick or Galway to London costs €66 by ship or €72 by Swift fast ferry.  Tickets bought on the day of travel will cost €6 more.  Fares in euros for tickets bought in Ireland can be found using the journey planner at www.irishferries.com.   Note that tickets bought in Ireland are all of the walk up type, a reservation is needed (and included) on the ferry, but no seat reservation is required on British trains, you can take any suitable connecting train you like once in Britain, although no stopovers are allowed.

       How to buy SailRail tickets if you live overseas...

• If your journey starts in Britain, simply buy a one-way or return ticket from London or any rail station in Britain to Dublin or any rail station in Ireland using the online booking system above.  Overseas credit cards are accepted.  They won't send tickets overseas, so select the option to collect tickets from the self-service ticket machines located at most major British stations, including London Euston, but not in Dublin, which is of course not a British station (do I have to spell it out?!).  The system will book journeys starting in Ireland, but there's no way to collect tickets as there are no British railway ticket machines in Ireland and they'll only send tickets to UK addresses.  If you have any problems buying tickets online, you can simply wait till you get to the UK and buy your ticket at the station.  Remember, SailRail fares are fixed-price so there's no need to book way ahead to get the cheap fare, although there's a finite allocation of ferry places held on the rail industry reservation system which can in theory run out, so it's better to book them in advance, at least a day or two beforehand, not five minutes before the train leaves!

• If your journey starts in Ireland, simply buy tickets online at www.irishferries.com (but it's a good idea to read the booking tips here first!). Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport, or posted (by normal unregistered post, at your own risk) to any address worldwide.  Alternatively, you can wait till you get to Ireland and simply buy a SailRail ticket from Dublin to London at the ticket office at Dublin's Connolly station, see the photo above.  SailRail fares are fixed-price so there's no need to book way ahead to get the best fare, it's the same price even bought on the day of departure.  However, there's a finite allocation of ferry places loaded onto the rail industry reservation system which can in theory run out, so it's better to book tickets in advance, or at least a day or two beforehand, not five minutes before the train leaves!

Introducing Irish Ferries' Ulysses:    Take the virtual tour...

Irish Ferries' huge 50,000 ton Ulysses was once the largest car ferry in the world (a title now with Stena Line's new 63,000 ton Stena Hollandica and Stena Britannica on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland route), and she's perhaps the most luxurious ferry on the Irish Sea.  She's all-weather (and all-volcanic ash!) reliable, as in ten years of service she hasn't missed a single sailing due to weather.  More than can be said for the planes!  She's rock stead under most conditions, and a pleasure to travel on.  Since April 2012 she also features free WiFi...

Irish Ferries' superb cruise ferry Ulysses from Holyhead to Dublin...		A private cabin aboard the Ulysses.		The luxurious 50,000-ton Ulysses is the world's biggest car ferry...

You too could be on board the Ulysses, travelling from Dublin to London by luxurious superferry & inter-city train in a relaxed way, no airports or flights, for just £38 or €46!

London to Dublin in first class...

	A first class table for two on a Virgin Trains Pendolino...  Book a first class ticket to Holyhead on the 09:10 (08:50 Saturdays) at www.virgintrains.co.uk. A cooked breakfast is served at your seat on weekdays, included in the fare...
	Complimentary wine & canapés, tea & coffee in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses as the coast of Ireland approaches...  Book the 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with Club lounge included at www.irishferries.com.

First class from £160...   "Ryanair eat my shorts..."

London to Dublin starts at around £160 one-way in first class comfort, with a complimentary cooked breakfast served at your seat on the morning Virgin Trains departure to Holyhead and a seat in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses with complimentary red or white wine and canapés, with great views of the coast or Ireland slowly approaching.  You can't buy first class SailRail fares, but you can easily book a first class journey from London to Dublin using separate train and ferry tickets bought direct from Virgin Trains and Irish ferries...

London ► Dublin, first class...   

• Step 1, travel first class on Virgin Trains from London to Holyhead, leaving London Euston at 09:10 Monday-Friday or 08:50 Saturday, arriving Holyhead 12:50.  This is a modern air-conditioned 125 mph Virgin Voyager train on weekdays, a 125 mph Pendolino train on Saturdays.

• In first class you can select an intimate table for two with two armchairs facing each other across a table with table lamp.  Or choose a solo seat or table for four.  In first class it's quiet, civilised and relaxed - Whenever I've travelled, the first class on this train has been virtually empty, you may have it to yourselves!

• On weekdays a complimentary cooked breakfast is served at your seat by the steward or stewardess, perhaps egg, bacon and sausage or scrambled egg and smoked salmon.  There's cereal or even porridge, and toast.

• Step 2, sail from Holyhead to Dublin by luxury superferry, leaving Holyhead at 14:10 daily on Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses across the Irish Sea, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.

• In the ferry's quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge located over the ship's bridge, you get a fantastic forward view of the coast of Ireland approaching, while you enjoy complimentary red or white wine, tea, coffee, juice, and canapés of smoke salmon or cheese and biscuits.  There's also free WiFi.  Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet.

• Transfer from Dublin Ferryport to your Dublin hotel by taxi, this costs around €15.

Dublin ► London, first class...  

• Transfer from your hotel to Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 by taxi, this costs around €15.  Remember to allow for the check-in for the ferry.

• Sail from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead on Irish Ferries luxurious superferry Ulysses, leaving Dublin Ferryport terminal 1 daily at 08:05 and arriving Holyhead at 11:30.  The Ulysses is the world's largest car ferry.

• In the quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge located over the top of the ship's bridge, you get a fantastic forward view of the Welsh coast approaching, while you enjoy the complimentary red or white wine, tea, coffee, juice, and canapés of smoke salmon or cheese and biscuits.  There's also free WiFi.  Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet.  At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the passenger terminal and station.

• Travel by train from Holyhead to London.  Complimentary snacks and wine are served in Virgin Trains first class.  On Mondays-Fridays, a direct train leaves Holyhead at 13:58 arriving London Euston at 17:38 (there's in fact an earlier connection, but with a change).  On Saturdays, you leave Holyhead at 12:38, change in Chester (arrive 14:14, depart 14:35) and arrive London Euston at 16:38.  On Sundays you leave Holyhead at 12:50 on a direct train to London, arriving London Euston at 16:44.

Fares...

• London to Holyhead first class in theory starts at just £58 if you book in advance.  However, in reality the cheapest first class Advance fare I have yet found for the 09:10 departure connecting with the ferry is £115, so in fairness I'm taking that as my 'from' price.  At weekends it's often cheaper to buy a standard class off-peak ticket from London to Holyhead for £85 at www.virgintrains.co.uk, then upgrade to first class for £15, paid to the staff on board.

• Holyhead to Dublin by Irish Ferries ship Ulysses costs £29 plus £16 supplement for access to the Martello Club lounge.

How to buy tickets...

• Simply book the 09:10 Mondays-Fridays or 08:50 Saturdays train from London Euston to Holyhead online at www.virgintrains.co.uk, looking for a first class Advance fare.  Booking normally opens 12 weeks ahead, book early for the best fares.  If you only see the £211 full-price fare, it's possible that reservations haven't opened yet (as the full-price isn't tied to a reservation, but the Advance fares are).

• Then book the daily 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and/or the 08:05 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead at www.irishferries.com.  Make sure you add a seat in the Martello Club lounge or indeed a private cabin to your booking when prompted.

• Feedback if you travel this way is always appreciated!

A few tips...

• Travel on Mondays-Fridays:  First class on a direct Virgin Trains service between London and Holyhead includes complimentary meals, snacks & drinks on Mondays-Fridays, according to time of day.  At weekends there is no cooked food, only a pre-packed breakfast box and complimentary tea & coffee, so make sure you travel on a weekday for the full benefit of first class.

• Take a direct London-Holyhead train:  The direct trains between London and Holyhead are operated by Virgin Trains so have first class complimentary at-seat food and drink service for the whole journey.  If you travel between London & Holyhead with a change of trains at (say) Crewe, the train between London and Crewe will be Virgin Trains with complimentary food & drink, but the train between Crewe and Holyhead will be Arriva Trains Wales who do not provide complimentary food or drink.  So take a direct London-Holyhead or Holyhead-London train to get the full benefit of first class.  Which is why I don't mention Sundays from London to Holyhead & Dublin in this section, even though you can travel on Sundays.

London to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Tralee, Sligo, Wicklow or anywhere in the Republic of Ireland...

The most usual, easiest and fastest route to any of these cities from London, Birmingham or Manchester is by train to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin, then onward Irish train from Dublin Heuston station to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tralee or from Dublin Connolly station to Sligo or Wicklow.  A cheap SailRail ticket covers the British train, the ferry, and the Irish train all for one inclusive price

• Simply use the booking form at the top of the page.  This will give you a train+ferry timetable and fares from any rail station in Britain to any rail station in Ireland and sell you a cheap SailRail ticket online!

• The system may send you via the Stena Line ship, as the earlier arrival of the Stena ship gives you a bit more time to cross Dublin.  But if you'd prefer to cross with Irish Ferries on their superb Ulysses, simply click 'Advanced options', select 'Travel via' and enter 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries'.  Then it will come up with journeys including a crossing by Irish Ferries.

• For more details about the journey and travel options, the suggested train & ferry service from London to Cork, Limerick, Galway & major cities in Ireland via Holyhead is shown here.  The recommended option for the return journey is shown here.

• Alternatively, see the London to Dublin complete timetable section for train & ferry times from London to Dublin.  Then see the Irish Rail website, www.irishrail.ie, for train times from Dublin to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Wicklow, Kilkenny or Tralee.  Allow at least 90 minutes between ferry arrival and a train departure from Dublin Connolly, 2 hours for a departure from Dublin Heuston.

• For Rosslare & Wexford, you can also travel via Fishguard, see the section below.

• For Cork, you can also travel via the newly-reinstated Swansea-Cork ferry, see the section below.

How much does it cost? 

Advance fare =  Sail Rail Advance, this is what you normally pay if you book by 18:00 the day before you travel.  Occasionally you'll find them sold out, in which case the Walk-up fare will apply.  The ticket includes a reservation on the ferry and on all British trains on which seat reservation is possible.  You can only travel on the specific train or trains which have been reserved for you, not on alternative trains or routes, unless a delayed ferry means you miss a connection.  No stopovers are allowed.  On trains on which seat reservation is not possible, meaning local or suburban trains, and when you're in Ireland, you can take any suitable train.  Tickets are non-refundable, but changes to date or time can be made for a fee (about £10) in person at British railway stations but not in Ireland or by phone.

Walk-up fare = Sail Rail Single, this is the fare you pay if you buy a ticket on the day of travel, or in advance if the cheaper Advance fare has sold out.  Also known as Standby fare.  A reservation is required on the ferry, but seat reservation on trains is optional and you can use any train and any permitted rail route to and from the ferry port.  However, no stopovers are allowed except as necessary to make connections.  You can buy these walk-up fares in advance if you like, but the only reason you'd want one is if you wanted the flexibility to take alternative trains or routes on the way to or from the ferry port from those that the system offers you.  Refunds allowed less a £15-£20 admin fee.

• These fares are examples, you can buy tickets from any British railway station to Dublin or any Irish railway station. 

• The ticket covers the train or trains to Holyhead, the ferry to Dublin, and any suitable Irish train onwards from Dublin to your chosen destination.

• Making a return journey?  There are now no return fares, only one-way fares.  A return journey = two one-way fares.

• Children:  Children under 5 go free, children under 16 go for half the prices shown above.  No railcard discounts.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Unaccompanied children 16-17 years old must have written authority to travel from their parent or guardian.  Children under 5 go free, but they need a reservation for the ferry.

• Does the price vary?  Can they sell out?  Booking opens around 12 weeks in advance.  There are two price levels, SailRail Advance and the slightly higher SailRail Walk-up (and remember the fast ferry always costs a few pounds more than the ship).  The Walk-up price is always available even on the day of travel, the Advance price is usually available if you book in advance, although it's sometimes sold out so only the Walk-up price appears.  Note that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a limited quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, even at the Walk-up fare, so advance booking is a good idea. Cost of SailRail tickets if bought in euros in Ireland.

• Railcard holders:  As they are so cheap, there's no further discount on SailRail fares for young person's or senior railcard holders.

• Stopovers:  Stop-overs at stations in Britain are not allowed using any SailRail ticket, other than to make connections.  If you want to stop off anywhere, you'll need to buy separate tickets.

• Ship or fast ferry?  These fares are valid on any day, any date, any train and any sailing of the Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses.  Fares for using the Irish Ferries Swift fast ferry cost £5 more.  Fares via Stena Line's ship are similar to those via Irish Ferries Ulysses, and www.thetrainline.com tends to route you via the Stena ship.

• Taking a bicycle?  Bikes go for £9 each way on Irish Ferries, £10 each way on Stena Line, no reservation required.

How to buy tickets...

If you live in the UK:  SailRail tickets from any rail station in Britain to any rail station in Ireland can now be booked online at either www.raileasy.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Both www.raileasy.com and www.thetrainline.com can now book one-way or return tickets from any rail station in Britain to any rail station in Ireland, including London, Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds to Cork, Galway, Tralee, Limerick, wherever, with British train, ferry and Irish train all included on one cheap ticket.  Amazing!  Alternatively, you can buy these cheap SailRail tickets in person at your local railway station or by calling the SailRail booking line, 08709 000 773, lines open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays.  Or you can book with Virgin Trains on 0845 7 222 333 or Stena Line on 08445 762 762.  Stena Line's phone lines are open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays & 09:00-17:00 on Sundays.

Booking tip:  Buying two separate tickets, one London-Dublin, the other for onwards travel by Irish Rail can sometimes work out cheaper than a through ticket if you get the cheapest €10 web fare for Irish Rail beyond Dublin.  It's also easier to arrange a journey from (say) Limerick to Dublin one day, staying overnight, then Dublin to London the next day, if you book this as two separate journeys.

• Step 1, buy a London-Dublin ticket for £38 or £43 using the online booking form above.

• Step 2, buy a Dublin-Limerick/Galway/Sligo/wherever web fare online at www.irishrail.ie from just €10 one-way.  Web fares are non-refundable & non-changeable, so make sure you allow plenty of time between the ferry arriving at Dublin Ferryport and the train leaving Dublin, allowing for the transfer from port to station.  You pay online and collect tickets from the self-service machines at all main Irish stations, just by entering your booking reference or inserting your credit card.

If you live in Ireland, you can now buy cheap SailRail tickets online from any Irish rail station to London or any rail station in Britain, one-way or return, using www.irishferries.com/ie/sailrail.asp.  Tickets can be sent to any Irish address by normal or registered post, or sent to any address worldwide by normal post, at your own risk.  Alternatively, visit any major Irish Rail station or call Irish Railways on 01 703 1884 (lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or (if travelling by Irish Ferries) Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-16:00 Saturdays).

There is a regular fully-integrated train & ferry service from London, Bristol & Cardiff to Rosslare in Southern Ireland via Fishguard.  Rosslare is handy for Wexford & Waterford.  Special train & ferry SailRail tickets are sold from any British railway station to Rosslare Harbour via this route, just use the booking form above to buy a ticket to Rosslare Harbour, then buy an onward ticket to Wexford or Dublin when you get to Rosslare.  If you're heading for Cork, Limerick and so on, you're better off travelling via Holyhead & Dublin, see here.  London-Dublin journeys are best made via Holyhead, see here.

You usually need to change trains to reach Fishguard, either at Cardiff or Swansea.  The online system will tell you where to change, as it varies.

* = By bus, not train, see www.buseireann.ie. Heading to Dublin, you now need to change buses at Wexford.

No service on 25 & 26 December.  Always check UK train times for your date of travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk, as engineering work can affect train times especially at weekends. 

Rosslare Europort is linked by train to Wexford, Wicklow & Dublin.  They've rather stupidly moved the platform away from the ferry terminal, and it's now a 5 minute walk from the terminal building.  Check Irish train times at www.irishrail.ie.  Rosslare to Wexford & Dublin buses are operated by Bus Éireann, check times & fares at www.buseireann.ie.

The Waterford connection:  Sadly, the Rosslare-Waterford railway was closed in September 2010, and is now the missing link in the Irish rail network.  You unfortunately now need to travel by bus.  Arriving at Rosslare Europort on the afternoon ferry, a bus leaves from outside Rosslare ferry terminal doors at 19:00 daily, arriving Waterford 20:20.  Arriving at Rosslare on the overnight ferry, a bus leaves from outside Rosslare ferry terminal doors at 07:00 on Mondays-Saturdays or 07:15 on Sundays, arriving at Waterford bus station at 08:45.  In the other direction, a bus leaves Waterford bus station at 07:00 daily, arriving Rosslare Europort ferry terminal at 08:25, in time for the 09:00 ferry.  In the evening, a bus leaves Waterford bus station at 17:30 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Rosslare Europort ferry terminal at 19:10, or 16:30 on Sundays, change at Wexford, arriving Rosslare 18:20, in good time for the 21:00 ferry.  Please check these bus times at www.buseireann.ie.

Check the fare from any British station to Rosslare using the online booking form above (just change 'Dublin Ferryport' to 'Rosslare Harbour').

Advance fare =  Sail Rail Advance = the fare you would normally want to buy.  Tickets must be booked by 18:00 the day before you travel.  The fares shown above are not 'starting at...' prices, but are fixed prices that are almost always available at the price shown, even the day before departure.  The ticket includes a reservation on the ferry and on any British trains on which seat reservation is possible.  You can only travel on the specific train or trains which have been reserved for you, not on alternative trains or routes, unless a delayed ferry means you miss a scheduled connection.  No stopovers allowed.  On trains on which seat reservation is not possible, meaning local or suburban trains, you can take any suitable train.  Tickets are non-refundable, but changes to date or time can be made for a fee (about £10) in person at British railway stations but not in Ireland or by phone.

Walk-up fare = Sail Rail Single = the fare you pay if you buy a ticket on the day of travel.  Also known as Standby.  A reservation is required on the ferry, but seat reservation on trains is optional and you can use any train and any permitted rail route to and from the ferry port.  However, no stopovers are allowed except as necessary to make connections.  You can buy a walk-up fare in advance if you like, but the only reason you'd want one is if you wanted the flexibility to take alternative trains or routes on the way to or from the ferry port from those that the system offers you.  Refunds allowed less a £15-£20 admin fee.

About these SailRail fares..

• The fare includes the train to Fishguard and the ferry to Rosslare, all on one ticket for one inclusive price.

• The fares are fixed price, it's the same price whether you buy 90 days in advance or just one day ahead, summer or winter, mid-week or Fridays.  These fares are not a limited availability offer, they are always available.  However, the walk-up fare now applies if you buy a ticket on the day of travel.  Just remember that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, so advance booking is a good idea.

• Return journey = two one-way fares.

• Stopovers are not allowed.

• Railcard holders:  There's no further discount for railcard holders, as they're so cheap anyway.

• Children 5 to 15 travel at 50% off these fares, under 5s free.

• Travelling beyond Rosslare?  You can buy tickets from London or any station in Britain to Rosslare Harbour, but if you want to go beyond Rosslare you'll need to buy a separate onward train or bus ticket when you get to Rosslare.  Through tickets beyond Rosslare are no longer available.

• Taking a bicycle?  Bikes go for £10 each way on Stena Line, no reservation required.  Bikes are carried free on trains to Fishguard, but reservations are recommended as there's a 2 bike limit on Arriva Trains Wales and a 6 bike limit on First Great Western.  Call First Great Western to book your bike on the train.

How to buy tickets in Britain...

• Buy online, using the online booking form above.  Simply change 'Dublin Ferryport' to 'Rosslare Harbour' and enter any starting station you like.  This will book combined train & ferry tickets from London or any other station in Britain to Rosslare harbour.  A small booking fee is charged, from £1.75.  Onward tickets from Rosslare to Wexford, Waterford etc. should be bought on board the bus or train when you get to Rosslare.

• Buy in person at most UK railway stations.

• Buy tickets by phone, calling the SailRail booking line 0870 9 000 773 (+44 870 9 000 773 from outside the UK).  Lines are open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays.  You can also book by calling Stena Line on 08445 762 762.  Lines are open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays & 09:00-17:00 on Sundays.

• Onward tickets from Rosslare to Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow or Dublin can be bought when you arrive at Rosslare.  Rosslare station has no ticket office, so you can buy on board the train.

How to buy tickets in Ireland...

If you're in Ireland, you can buy train+ferry tickets by calling (01) 703 1884 (lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or by visiting a major Irish Rail station.

The civilised way to Ireland:  London to Rosslare for only £38...

Take a 125mph high-speed train from London Paddington station to Cardiff.  There's a buffet-bar on board.  You'll pass the Uffington White Horse and travel through Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Severn Railway Tunnel into South Wales.				...Transfer to a local train for the last leg to Fishguard Harbour.  A refreshment trolley is available.

At Fishguard, the little 2-car train arrives right alongside the Stena Line ferry Stena Europe for Rosslare.  It couldn't be simpler.  The ferry has bars, restaurants, lounges & family areas, also private cabins.		Top tip:  For £15 extra paid on board, relax in the Stena Plus VIP lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee, snacks, free newspapers & WiFi...
See the video:  Crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare aboard the Stena Europe

Swansea-Cork Ferries went out of business in late 2006 and there were no Swansea-Cork ferry sailings at all in 2007-2009.  But a campaign led by local businesses finally succeeded in bringing back the ferry, see www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com.  New company www.fastnetline.com acquired a new ship and sailings started in March 2010.

UPDATE 2012:  Sadly, Fastnetline ran into financial problems in 2011, and sailings ceased in September.  On 2 February 2012, it was announced that sailings will not resume.  All Swansea-Cork ferry service has ended, a great shame.

Fastnetline's ferry Julia, arriving in Cork Harbour...  Photo courtesy of fastnetline		A 2-berth standard en suite cabin on board the Swansea-Cork ferry Julia... Photo courtesy of fastnetline		On arrival in Cork harbour, you sail right past the seafront at Cobh on the way to the Ringaskiddy ferry terminal...

Where does Ireland's rail network go?

Trains are a pleasant and relaxing way to get around Ireland.  As you'd expect, most rail lines radiate out of Dublin, see Irish Rail's map of the Irish rail network, the route map above or you can buy a Britain & Ireland rail map.  New air-conditioned intercity trains are being introduced as part of a massive investment programme, and frequencies are being increased.  Dublin to Cork and Limerick will soon become hourly throughout the day, and trains will run every 2 hours on routes to Galway, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford.

• Trains run from Dublin Heuston Station to Limerick (2 hour 45 min), Cork (2 hours 50 min, change at Cork for Cobh), Killarney, Tralee, Galway (2 hours 45 min), Kilkenny, Waterford.

• Trains run from Dublin Connolly Station to Belfast (2 hours), Sligo (3 hours), Dun Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow, Wexford and Rosslare.

How to check Irish train times & fares, and how to buy tickets:  www.irishrail.ie

To check Irish train times & fares, see the Irish Railways website, www.irishrail.ie.  It's easy enough to buy tickets at the station as seat reservations are never compulsory, but to save a few euros you can buy cheap tickets in advance online at www.irishrail.ie, collecting them at the self-service ticket machine at all main stations.  You can Irish rail enquiries are on (within Ireland) 01 836 6222 or (calling from outside Ireland) 00 353 1 836 6222.

What are the trains like?  Dublin to Cork InterCity trains... These smart modern trains operate the Dublin-Cork route.  The full Irish breakfast on morning trains from Dublin is as good a breakfast as you'll have on any train  anywhere!  Free WiFi:  Most Dublin-Cork trains now have free WiFi.
Dublin-Cork 1st class:  First class seats on a modern air-conditioned train from Dublin to Cork...		InterCity to Cork:  An InterCity express train to Cork waits to leave Dublin's Heuston station...

Dublin-Cork 2nd class:  2nd class seats on an air-conditioned Dublin to Cork train.  Better than any bus!		Ticket machines:  You can buy cheap tickets at www.irishrail.ie & collect them from these machines.

InterCity railcars from Dublin to Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Wexford, Limerick, Rosslare... These smart modern air-conditioned railcars are the new face of Irish Railways.  They were introduced in 2008 onto all intercity routes from Dublin, other than the Dublin-Belfast and Dublin-Cork routes.

Which station in Dublin? Heuston station is the station serving Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford, Tralee, Westport & Ballina.  Connolly station is the one for Belfast, Sligo, Wicklow, Wexford, Dun Laoghaire & Rosslare...
Dublin's Heuston station, showing the new LUAS tram (www.luas.ie) which links it to the city centre & to Dublin's other main station, Dublin Connolly.		Inside Dublin Heuston station, looking towards the tracks.

Dublin to Belfast Enterprise trains... Modern air-conditioned Enterprise trains link Dublin & Belfast every 2 hours or better, journey time about 2 hours.  See www.irishrail.ie or www.translink.co.uk.  For travel between London or Scotland and Belfast via Stranraer, see the Northern Ireland page.
An Enterprise train from Dublin to Belfast...		Standard class seating on the Enterprise...

First class seating on the Enterprise...		Buffet car on the Enterprise...

Dublin City Tours by Open Top Bus

Buy a ticket for the Dublin hop-on, hop-off Open Top Bus...

City Sightseeing's red-and-yellow open top tour buses are now a familiar site in 100 major cities on 6 continents, and they do a good hop-on, hop-off tour bus ticket for Dublin.  I find the bus tour a good way to orientate myself in a city, returning to explore in more depth later.  It's also less wearing on the feet, especially with kids!

Buy your tour tickets online before you go, redeemable on any day you like within 3 months of buying it, see www.city-sightseeing.com.

	Railtours Ireland:  Intercity train from Dublin to Limerick, Cork, Galway or Belfast, then motorcoach to the sights...
	The Cliffs of Moher, western Ireland...
	Kissing the Blarney Stone, on the upper battlements at Blarney Castle, southern Ireland, supposedly giving you the gift of eloquence...

If you want to kiss the Blarney Stone, drive the Ring of Kerry or walk on the Giant's Causeway as a stress-free day trip from Dublin, Railtours Ireland (www.railtoursireland.com) deserves a special mention.  They run daily tours from Dublin using a unique concept that makes the famous sights & scenery of remote western & northern Ireland accessible as a day trip.  Working closely with Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Railways),

• you are whisked from central Dublin to Limerick, Galway, Cork or Belfast by comfortable air-conditioned intercity train, leaving around 7:00-7:30 am...

• A motorcoach meets the train and takes you on a guided tour into the countryside.

• The range of tours includes kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, driving around the Ring of Kerry, or to see the Giant's Causeway, or to Bunratty Castle and the Cliffs of Moher, and more...  There's stops for lunch & photographs;

• In the early evening the coach takes you back to the station and puts you on a fast intercity train back to Dublin, arriving (depending on the tour) 8:00-10:15 pm.

Prices are pretty good, for example the 1 day tour to Cork, the Blarney Stone & the Queenstown Story at Cobh costs €109 (£87) including the train ride from Dublin, and the 1 day tour to Belfast and the Giant's Causeway, or the Ring of Kerry are the same price.  As well as these day trips, they also run 2-6 day tours.  They've been operating for 10 years now, and get great reports. 

You can book online at www.railtoursireland.com, or by phone.  Please mention seat61.com when booking.

Top tip:  There's a full cooked breakfast available in the restaurant car of some of the Irish Rail intercity trains they use out of Dublin, costing around €16 (£13).  It's as good a cooked breakfast as you'll have on any regular scheduled train, so treat yourself!

Short breaks to Ireland without flying

London to Dublin tour, by train & ferry...

All short breaks from the UK to Ireland involve flights, don't they?  No they don't!  In 2008 Railtours Ireland  started running short breaks to Ireland using eco-friendly train & ferry to Dublin, with the option to add one-day tours to kiss the Blarney Stone, the Ring of Kerry, or visiting the Giant's causeway out of your Dublin base.  No airport hassles, no ugly motorways.  They've now been joined by train holiday specialist Railbookers who have also started offering short breaks to Dublin by train & ferry.  Both companies come highly recommended.

• Railbookers (www.railbookers.com) can tailor-make a 2-night or 3-night short break from anywhere in Britain to Dublin for you, starting on virtually any day or date you like, with train and ferry travel from anywhere in Britain to Dublin then 2 or 3 nights in the 4-star Ashling Hotel in Dublin.  A 2-night 3-day break starts at around £285 per person.  See www.railbookers.com or call 020 3327 0761.

• Railtours Ireland (www.railtoursireland.com) run a tour leave London every weekday from March to October, using the 09:10 Virgin Trains departure direct from London Euston station to Holyhead via the scenic North Wales coastline. At Holyhead you board the Irish Ferries cruise ferry 'Ulysses' and sail across the Irish Sea to Dublin Ferryport, arriving at 5.25pm, just as I recommend above.  It's the scenic & painless way to reach Ireland!  See the account of this journey & photos.

• The cost is €299 (£237) per person for London-Dublin return train+ferry travel plus 2 nights three-star hotel accommodation in Dublin (with the option of extra nights).  You can then mix-&-match the London-Dublin tour with one or more 1-day tours from Dublin, see the day trips section above.

• To book from the UK, call Railtours Ireland free on 0800 328 2899.  To book from outside the UK, call +353 1 856 0045.

Or make your own short break to Dublin...

• Book a SailRail ticket to Dublin as shown above. 

• Add a hotel in Dublin using the hotel search system below.

To get the most from your visit, you should take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both series are excellent.  Lonely Planet Dublin - Lonely Planet Ireland - Rough Guide Ireland.  Also consider Ecoescapes Ireland, which lists eco-friendly places to stay.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk...

Hotels & accommodation in Dublin & Ireland

Hotels in Dublin, Cork, Galway or anywhere else in Ireland...

Other hotel sites worth trying...

• www.tripadvisor.com is the best place to browse for independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels, and it has the low-down on Dublin attractions too.

• www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system).  It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

• www.mrandmrssmith.com (no relation!) is the place to start if you want something special for an anniversary, honeymoon, romantic break or other special occasion.  It lists a number of hand-picked boutique hotels in Dublin.

Backpacker hostels...

• If you're on a tight budget, don't forget the hostels.  For a dorm bed or an ultra-cheap private room in backpacker hostels in most European cities use www.hostelbookers.com.

Send your luggage in advance

Enjoy your journey without heavy luggage... 

Let www.carrymyluggage.com deliver your bags door to door.

If you'd like to enjoy your train journey free of heavy luggage, making it easy to get on and off trains with nothing more than a lightweight daypack or handbag, www.carrymyluggage.com will collect your luggage at your home address a few days before you leave, and will deliver it to addresses all over the EU, so it will be waiting at your hotel when you arrive.  It's not cheap, you can reckon on around £78 per case each way, but this is door to door, covering collection from your home in the UK or other EU country and delivery to an address in another EU country.  I've also arranged a 10% discount if you use the Promo code 'seat61' when booking your bags online.  www.carrymyluggage.com are a reliable company, they also work with companies such as Great Rail Journeys, Virgin Trains, First Great Western, Hull Trains, and South West Trains.

Travel insurance & health card

Get travel insurance, it's essential...

Never travel without insurance from a reliable travel insurer with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash (up to a limit) & belongings, and cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself).  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, though, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, and feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.

In the UK, use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65 (no age limit), see www.JustTravelCover.com.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

   If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from www.ehic.org.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Get a spare credit card, designed for foreign travel with no currency exchange loading & low/no ATM fees

Taking out an extra credit card costs nothing, but if you keep it in a different part of your luggage you won't be left stranded if your wallet gets stolen.  In addition, some credit cards are better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.

You can avoid ATM charges and expensive exchange rates with a Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or their multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, see www.caxtonfx.com for info.

Get an international SIM card to save on mobile data and phone calls...

Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're not careful you can return home to find a huge bill.  Consider buying a global pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone from www.Go-Sim.com, which can slash costs by up to 85%.  Go-Sim cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide, and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.  It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty bills when you get home.  It also allows cheap data access for laptops & PDAs.  A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone number' for life.