Daily timetable, 28 March to 31 October 2026, in favourable weather only; no sailings published after 31 October · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~15 min
Operator
The Harbour Ferry
Map – Harwich Harbour Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Foot passenger, single, Harwich–Shotley | £5.30 |
| Child, single, Harwich–Shotley | £3.60 |
| Over 65s, single, Harwich–Shotley | £5.00 |
| Foot passenger, single, Harwich–Felixstowe | £6.60 |
| Child, single, Harwich–Felixstowe | £4.80 |
| Over 65s, single, Harwich–Felixstowe | £6.30 |
| Foot passenger, single, Shotley–Felixstowe (via Harwich) | £7.90 |
| Child, single, Shotley–Felixstowe (via Harwich) | £6.00 |
| Over 65s, single, Shotley–Felixstowe (via Harwich) | £7.50 |
| Bicycle or dog, per single journey | £1.50 |
| Round trip, full harbour circuit, adult | £15.80 |
| Round trip, full harbour circuit, child | £12.10 |
| Round trip, full harbour circuit, over 65s | £14.60 |
| Under-1s | Free |
The Harbour Ferry sells its own tickets; there is no third-party or council booking system. Buy online at theharbourferry.co.uk before travelling, or turn up and pay on board — the operator recommends booking ahead only at busy times. On board, card is the preferred payment, but exact cash is also taken because the crew do not carry change. Fares are priced by leg (Harwich–Shotley, Harwich–Felixstowe, or the longer Shotley–Felixstowe leg that runs via Harwich) and are for a single journey only. A separate 'Round Trip' fare — the same £15.80 adult price whichever of the three landings it is booked from — covers the full one-hour circuit calling at all three points and back, not just an out-and-back on one leg. A family of four gets a 10% discount, and under-1s travel free. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Harbour Ferry is a small, family-run foot and bicycle service that has linked the three points of Harwich Harbour since 1912, when a single boat named Pinmill first connected Harwich and Felixstowe; a second route to Shotley followed in 1914. Lucy and Chris have run the business since 2015, growing it from a 12-passenger landing craft to a 58-passenger boat, a former SS Canberra lifeboat brought into service in 2016. The ferry is the only water crossing between Essex and Suffolk at this point, and it is the reason Harwich, Shotley and Felixstowe stay linked for walkers and cyclists without the long road detour around the harbour via Ipswich.
Three landings share one timetable pattern rather than a simple back-and-forth. Harwich, at Ha'penny Pier, is the hub; Felixstowe (Landguard) and Shotley (the marina) are the two spokes, each on its own fixed, published schedule. Shotley is a scheduled call, not something passengers need to request. Between Harwich and Felixstowe the direct crossing takes about 15 minutes, roughly hourly from mid-morning to late afternoon; Harwich to Shotley is shorter, about 7 minutes by the operator's timetable; and the full circuit, calling at all three, takes about an hour.
The 2026 season runs from 28 March to 31 October, daily, but only in safe weather. The operator posts a same-day status flag on its website, and a south to south-westerly wind above 20 knots around high tide rules out sailings, so it is worth checking before you set out. The operator's homepage warns of reduced service in September and October and suggests booking online so you are not left waiting up to an hour for the next boat; its FAQ adds that in spring and autumn the boat sometimes runs with a 12-passenger limit instead of 58.
Sailings stop after 31 October. The operator publishes no winter timetable, and when this page was last checked on 16 October 2026 no 2027 dates had been announced; its FAQ gives the usual start as the first of April or Easter, whichever comes first, but that is general wording rather than a 2027 date. Bicycles and dogs on leads both travel for £1.50, though luggage and e-bike batteries must come off the bike before boarding. Pushchairs and children's life jackets are provided, there is no catering on board, and cafés cluster at all three landings. Tickets can be bought online in advance or from the crew on the day, by card or exact cash, since no change is carried.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
The direct Harwich–Felixstowe crossing takes about 15 minutes, Harwich–Shotley about 7 minutes, and the longer Shotley–Felixstowe leg (via Harwich) about 27 minutes. A full circuit calling at all three landings and back takes about an hour.
A single adult fare is £5.30 between Harwich and Shotley, £6.60 between Harwich and Felixstowe, and £7.90 between Shotley and Felixstowe via Harwich. Children and over-65s pay less on each leg, and a bicycle or dog costs £1.50.
No. It is seasonal: the 2026 timetable runs daily from 28 March to 31 October 2026, and the operator publishes no winter timetable. When this page was last checked on 16 October 2026 it had not announced 2027 dates; its FAQ gives the usual start as '1st April or Easter, whichever falls first'.
No, you can pay on board, but the operator recommends booking online at theharbourferry.co.uk, and its homepage advised it in October 2026 because of reduced service in September and October. The boat cannot wait for late arrivals, so arrive about 5 minutes before departure.
Yes. Bicycles are carried for £1.50 per journey, though space is limited on busy sailings, and any luggage or e-bike battery must be removed from the bike before boarding.
Shotley is a fixed, timetabled call on its own published schedule (Harwich–Shotley sailings run at set times through the day) — it is not a request stop.
Sailings depend on weather and tide. The operator says a south to south-westerly wind above 20 knots rules out sailings from one hour before to one and a half hours after high tide, and it shows an on time, delayed or cancelled status on its website, which is worth checking before travelling.
Yes, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome, for the same £1.50 fare as a bicycle.