Daily summer hours (checked live 22 September 2026): 10:00-17:00, boats roughly every 15-20 minutes · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Mudeford Ferry Limited
Map – Mudeford Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (12+), single | £3.50 |
| Child (3-12), single | £1.50 |
| Infant (under 3), single | Free |
| Adult bike | £1.50 |
| Child bike | £0.50 |
| Large luggage | £1.00 |
| Dog | Free |
Fares are collected on board by the crew once you have boarded; the operator accepts cash and most major cards. There is no online booking or pre-paid ticket system for the standard foot-passenger crossing, and only single fares are currently sold — the operator's own fares page states that return tickets are not currently available. Group rates are available for large groups, school trips and organised tours by contacting the operator in advance. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
The Mudeford Ferry is a small, seasonal foot-passenger boat run by Mudeford Ferry Limited across the narrow mouth of Christchurch Harbour, linking Mudeford Quay with Mudeford Sandbank. It is not a scheduled timetable service: the operator says plainly that it doesn't run to fixed times, but sends a boat from either side roughly every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the day while it is operating, weather and tide allowing. There is no booking system for the standard crossing — passengers simply wait near the ferry flag by the Fish Shop on the Quay, board when a boat arrives, and pay the crew on the water (cash or card).
The crossing is genuinely short, only a few hundred metres across the harbour entrance, and it exists to get beach-goers, dog walkers and beach hut owners onto the sandbank without the long drive around via Hengistbury Head. It is worth being clear about what it is not: it isn't the vehicle-free Hengistbury Head land train that runs along the headland itself from the Hengistbury Head car park, and it doesn't sail to Hengistbury Head directly — it lands on Mudeford Sandbank, from where Hengistbury Head is reached on foot along the spit.
Because it is a fair-weather, tide-dependent operation, the season is genuinely limited. As of 22 September 2026 it is running its full daily summer hours (10:00-17:00); from 1 October the daily hours shorten to 10:00-16:00, and from 1 November the service steps down to a weekends-and-selected-holidays pattern (10:00-15:00) before a full winter lay-up from 1 December for servicing. Fares are single-journey only — the operator does not currently sell return tickets — and are cheap: £3.50 for an adult, £1.50 for a child, with under-3s and dogs travelling free. Bikes and large luggage carry a small additional charge, and are always subject to available space, since the boats are small open craft rather than a car ferry.
- 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
Check the live status banner on the operator's homepage (mudefordferry.co.uk), which shows same-day running status and today's operating hours. Checked live on 22 September 2026 it showed 'Boats are running' with today's hours 10:00-17:00.
There's no fixed timetable — the operator's own FAQ says boats leave either side about every 15-20 minutes throughout the day it is operating. Just turn up near the ferry flag on Mudeford Quay (by the Fish Shop) or at the Sandbank landing and wait for the next crossing.
An adult single is £3.50 and a child (3-12) single is £1.50; under-3s travel free. There are no return tickets at present — every fare is a single journey, paid on board in cash or by card. Bikes cost an extra £1.50 (adult) or £1.00 (child), and dogs travel free.
Only in reduced form. From 1 November 2026 it runs weekends and selected holiday dates only (10:00-15:00), weather permitting, with the go/no-go decision usually made by 10:00 on the day. The operator's live calendar shows it fully closed for winter servicing from 1 December 2026.
No — the standard foot-passenger crossing is turn-up-and-go, with no booking required. Only private charters, harbour cruises and ashes-scattering trips need to be booked in advance directly with the operator.
No. The Mudeford Ferry crosses the harbour mouth between Mudeford Quay and Mudeford Sandbank; it does not land at Hengistbury Head itself, and Hengistbury Head is reached on foot from the Sandbank landing. It is a separate service from the Hengistbury Head land train, which runs along the headland from the Hengistbury Head car park and is not operated by Mudeford Ferry Limited.
Yes. Well-behaved dogs on a lead travel free. Bikes are carried subject to available space for an extra £1.50 (adult bike) or £0.50 (child bike), since the boats are small and space is limited.
The main option is Mudeford Quay Car Park (BH23 4AB, pay and display, around 400 spaces), right by the ferry point. If it's full, Avon Beach Car Park (BH23 4AN, about a 10-minute walk) and the Avon Run Road 'Sunken Car Park' (BH23 4DU, about a 15-minute walk, 2m height limit) are the operator's suggested backups.