Travelling by Road

South East England has excellent road links and is easily accessible by car. It's easy to drive around and explore by road.  

Motorways including the M1, M2, M3, M4, M11, M20, M23, M25, M26, M27 and M40 run into and across the region, as well as many major A roads.

To plan your route, try The AA’s Car Route Finder

South East England stretches from the stunning white cliffs of Dover to the glorious sandy beaches of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and up to the stunning countryside of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.  All areas within the South are easily accessible by car and you can discover stunning coastal roads, beautiful viewpoints, villages and towns that are off the beaten track.   Below are some approximate drive times for exploring the region (subject to traffic)

• Dover to Bournemouth - 3 hours
• Dover to Hastings - 1 hour 30 mins
• Dover to Central London - 2 hours
• Central London to Brighton - 2 hours
• Central London to Oxford - 1 hour 30 mins
• Central London to Guildford - 1 hour 15 mins
• Portsmouth to Brighton - 1 hour 30 mins
• Portsmouth to Milton Keynes - 2 hours 15 mins
• Portsmouth to Central London - 2 hours

To find out the latest travel information, visit Traffic England

Travelling by road from the continent

If you’re travelling from overseas by car, you can drive straight onto the Eurotunnel train in Calais.  Eurotunnel take vehicles and their passengers from Calais to Folkestone in only 35 minutes. Once you arrive in Folkestone, the South East is easily accessed via the M20. It is the fastest cross-Channel operator for motorists and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with up to four departures an hour.  Travelling to by car to the Isle of Wight

You can travel to the Isle of Wight with you car by Wightlink or Red Funnel ferries, departing from Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton.  Visit our travelling by ferry page to find out more.

Car Hire

Compare the market and book your car or campervan hire with Auto Europe, some of the best deals and a large selection of rental vehicles from leading companies.

Mobile Homes & Caravans

Explore the South East in style with in your very own mobile home or campervan. If you're heading into the region from London, Coventry, Edinburgh, Belfast or Dublin then why not try Bunk Campers. Giving you the ultimate flexibility and freedom to roam.

On Two Wheels - Electric Bikes

Discover the beautiful Kent countryside on two wheels with UK Electric Bike Hire, pick up from their centre in Biddenden, Kent or their new centre at Dymchurch.  

On Two Wheels - Pedal Power

The New Forest National Park is one of the highlights of the South East, an ancient woodland full of amazing wildlife, the famous New Forest ponies and lots of bike routes both on and off road.  

Discover some of the fantastic cycling routes across the South East here.