Ashford International is the natural first-stop UK destination after a CDG to Ashford Eurotunnel crossing. The town sits 15 minutes from Folkestone, has direct Eurostar links back to Paris, and serves as the gateway to the wider Kent area — Canterbury, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and the Garden of England. This guide focuses on Ashford and the surrounding Kent destinations we deliver to from CDG.
Why Ashford International Is a Popular Pet-Arrival Point
Three reasons drive Ashford's popularity as a CDG-to-UK delivery destination:
- 15 minutes from Folkestone — the shortest road segment after the Eurotunnel crossing. Your pet is in the vehicle for the minimum possible time.
- Direct Eurostar links to Paris — useful when one owner flies and the other returns by rail. The Ashford Eurostar station is 5 minutes from town.
- Quieter than London arrival — less traffic, easier kerbside drop-off, calmer first hour in the UK for nervous pets.
The Wider Kent Area We Deliver To
From the Ashford Eurotunnel exit we can reach every Kent town within an hour:
- Ashford — 15 minutes from Folkestone.
- Canterbury — 20 minutes east of Ashford.
- Maidstone — 30 minutes north-west.
- Tunbridge Wells / Royal Tunbridge Wells — 35 minutes.
- Dover — 25 minutes (alternative ferry-port destination).
- Folkestone town — 15 minutes back.
- Sevenoaks / Tonbridge — 45 minutes.
- Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs (Thanet) — 35-45 minutes east coast.
- Cranbrook, Tenterden, Hawkhurst (Wealden Kent) — 30-40 minutes.
- Faversham, Sittingbourne — 30-40 minutes north Kent.
The CDG → Ashford Route Specifics
- CDG cargo terminal collection → A1/A26 motorway 285 km → Eurotunnel Coquelles.
- Eurotunnel 35-minute crossing → Folkestone arrival → M20 east 15 km.
- Ashford International area → your specific address.
Total drive time on a smooth day: 4 hours 30 minutes from CDG release to Ashford door.
Documentation and the Tapeworm Treatment Window
Pets travelling the CDG-to-Ashford corridor need the same core UK entry documents as any France-to-UK journey:
- ISO 15-digit microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination, at least 21 days old by the time of travel.
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of departure.
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs, administered 1–5 days before UK entry and recorded on the AHC.
For pets arriving at CDG from outside Europe, the tapeworm treatment is usually the tightest part of the schedule — it has to happen after the pet clears French customs at CDG but with enough margin before the Eurotunnel crossing for the treatment date to still fall inside the UK's re-entry window. This is one of the most common reasons owners handling the journey themselves run into problems at Folkestone Pet Reception, so we build the vet stop into the CDG-to-Ashford route timing rather than leaving it to chance.
What to Expect at Each Stage of the Journey
- CDG collection: once your pet has cleared French customs, we collect from the cargo terminal or your arranged handover point with paperwork ready to check.
- The A1/A26 drive north: the longest single leg of the journey — around 285 km through northern France to Coquelles. Most pets settle into the climate-controlled cabin within the first hour.
- Eurotunnel Coquelles: check-in, Pet Reception document scan, then the 35-minute Le Shuttle crossing with your pet remaining in the vehicle throughout.
- Folkestone arrival: a further Pet Reception scan on the UK side, then the short M20 run into Ashford.
- Ashford delivery: kerbside handover at your address, with paperwork copies and a settling-in period before we leave — not a rushed drop-off.
Why the Eurotunnel Route Beats Flying Direct to a UK Airport
Most UK arrival airports have limited live-animal cargo handling and customs processing that can add several hours once the plane has landed. The Eurotunnel route sidesteps this: your pet clears customs once, at CDG, and the UK-side check at Folkestone Pet Reception is a document scan rather than a full cargo customs process. For Kent-based owners specifically, this also means the final delivery leg is short, so your pet spends the minimum possible time in the vehicle after the Channel crossing.
Ashford International Eurostar — Practical Notes
If one owner is flying back to London by Eurostar, Ashford International has direct services (~38 minutes to London St Pancras). We can drop your pet at the Ashford home address while you continue by train; we handle the delivery handover with whoever is home. This split-route option is popular for diplomatic relocations and dual-base families.
Who Books CDG to Ashford?
- Kent residents returning from international travel — pet flies into CDG, we deliver to their Kent home.
- UK families with French holiday homes — outbound and return Kent-to-CDG pet shuttles.
- Kent-based breeders importing pedigree dogs from Europe.
- Eurostar commuters who keep the pet at the Kent home while working in Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ashford cheaper than London from CDG?
Pure mileage — Ashford is 15 minutes from Folkestone, London is 1 hour 45 minutes. Less driving = lower fare.
Can you collect a pet at Ashford International station?
Yes — we offer collection at the Ashford International Eurostar station for the reverse route (Ashford → CDG) if you're putting your pet on a road journey while you take Eurostar.
Do you cover smaller Kent villages outside the main towns?
Yes — any postcode in Kent. Rural addresses (e.g. small villages near Romney Marsh, Tenterden, Charing) are covered at the same base rate.
How early do I need to book for a Kent delivery from CDG?
48 hours is comfortable. For peak summer Saturdays, book a week ahead.
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