What is the difference between London Gateway Port and Felixstowe Port?

London Gateway Port is a newer, deep-water port designed for large modern container ships and automation, while Felixstowe Port is the UK's busiest container port with extensive handling capacity and established infrastructure. The choice depends on shipping volume, turnaround time, and vessel size.

Which port is better for importing containers into the UK?

Felixstowe is ideal for high-volume shipments due to its capacity and connectivity, while London Gateway is better suited for ultra-large vessels and automated, efficient processing. Your choice depends on cargo type, schedule, and logistics preferences.

How far is London Gateway Port from London?

London Gateway Port is approximately 40 miles east of central London, making it convenient for road and rail distribution across the Southeast of England.

How does the capacity of Felixstowe compare to London Gateway?

Felixstowe has a higher annual container throughput, handling over 5 million TEUs, whereas London Gateway is designed for large vessels with deep-water access but has a smaller current throughput. Capacity considerations depend on shipping volume and frequency.

Which port offers faster container handling and turnaround?

London Gateway is highly automated, which can lead to faster turnaround for some shipments, while Felixstowe relies more on traditional methods but has greater handling capacity overall.

Are there customs facilities at both ports?

Yes, both London Gateway and Felixstowe have full customs clearance facilities, enabling smooth import and export processes for UK and international cargo.

Which port is more suitable for large container ships?

London Gateway Port is designed to accommodate the world's largest container ships thanks to its deep-water berths, making it ideal for mega-vessel arrivals, whereas Felixstowe handles a wider variety of vessel sizes.

How are the rail and road connections at London Gateway vs Felixstowe?

Felixstowe has extensive road and rail links, including frequent rail freight services to major UK cities. London Gateway also has strong rail connections and excellent road access, particularly for Southeast England logistics.

What are the typical shipping times from Asia to these ports?

Shipping times are similar for both ports, generally around 25–35 days from East Asia depending on the vessel schedule and route. The choice of port may affect inland transit times rather than ocean transit.

Which port is more future-proof for UK container shipping?

London Gateway is designed with automation and deep-water capacity for future ultra-large vessels, while Felixstowe continues to expand and modernize to maintain the UK's largest container throughput. Both have strategic advantages depending on your logistics priorities.

London Gateway Port vs Felixstowe Port: The Ultimate UK Container Port Comparison

Blue30
8 hours ago
5 min read

The United Kingdom’s position as a major global trading nation depends on its container ports gateways that handle imports and exports by the millions of tonnes each year. Two of the most strategically significant of these are DP World’s London Gateway and the Port of Felixstowe. While both serve similar purposes, their histories, volumes, infrastructure and logistics advantages differ significantly.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know to compare them effectively.

Port Addresses

Here are the official locations for both ports useful if you’re planning visits, logistics routing or addressing correspondence:

London Gateway Port DP World London Gateway No 1 London Gateway Corringham, Stanford‑le‑Hope Essex, SS17 9DYUnited Kingdom

Port of Felixstowe Port of Felixstowe Tom line House, The Dock Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 3SYUnited Kingdom

Port Histories & Background

Port of Felixstowe: The UK’s Established Container Giant

The Port of Felixstowe has a long and storied history. Established in 1875, it evolved from a modest dock to the largest container port in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest in Europe.

Owned and operated by the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company (part of Hutchison Ports), the port became a leader in containerised freight through the latter half of the 20th century. Its location on the East Coast brought it close to the English Channel and main shipping lanes, helping it grow into a logistics powerhouse that handles nearly 50% of the UK’s containerised trade.

Felixstowe’s facilities include multiple deep‑water berths across two main terminals (Trinity and Land guard) and a roll‑on/roll‑off terminal. Its deep draught and large quay lengths allow it to serve ultra‑large container vessels efficiently, supporting global links with key markets in Europe, Asia and beyond.

London Gateway: The Modern Contender

In contrast, London Gateway is one of the UK’s newest major container terminals. It opened in 2013 as a £1.5 billion investment by global port operator DP World and was designed from the outset to be a semi‑automated deep‑water facility. It sits on the Thames Estuary in Essex, around 30 miles east of central London, giving it proximity advantages for the capital and Southeast markets.

London Gateway wasn’t just built to be another dock; it was envisioned as a fully integrated logistics hub. Alongside container handling terminals, it includes space for large‑scale warehousing, distribution centres and value‑added logistics operations effectively bringing the supply chain closer to the port.

Annual Volumes & Port Capacities

Here’s how the two ports compare in terms of throughput and capacity:

Feature	Port of Felixstowe	London Gateway
Annual Capacity	~4 + million TEUs	~2.4 million TEUs (expanding)
Recent Throughput (2023–2024)	~3.25 million+ TEUs	~2.05 million+ TEUs
Berths	9 across main terminals	4 (with 4th berth commissioned)
Role	UK’s dominant container hub	Fast‑growing modern terminal

TEU = Twenty‑Foot Equivalent Unit (standard container measure)

Felixstowe has held the volume lead for years, handling nearly half the nation’s container traffic, but London Gateway is growing quickly and adding capacity with its fourth berth and expansion plans.

Connectivity & Transport Times

One of the most important considerations for a business choosing a port is how goods move inland once unloaded. Here’s how both ports stack up:

Port of Felixstowe

Felixstowe benefits from strong road and rail links:

Road: The A14 connects to the M6, M1 and the Midlands; the A12 leads toward London.
Rail: Rail terminals connect the port directly to major inland freight hubs, including Nuneaton and the West Midlands.

Typical Road Transit Times (approx):

Felixstowe → London: ~3 – 4 hrs
Felixstowe → Midlands: ~4 – 6 hrs

London Gateway

London Gateway’s location on the Thames Estuary gives it some distinct benefits:

Road: Direct access to the A13 and quick connections to the M25, making journeys to London and the Southeast faster.
Rail: A dedicated rail terminal with multiple weekly services links the port to freight corridors across the UK.

Typical Road Transit Times (approx):

London Gateway → London: ~1 – 2 hrs
London Gateway → Midlands: ~4 – 5 hrs

The location of the London Gateway makes it well positioned for faster movement of cargo around the UK.

Port Fees & Pricing Comparison

Note: Actual port costs vary widely based on container type (20ft, 40ft), shipping line contracts, customs services and additional handling.

Fee Type	Felixstowe	London Gateway
CDS System Dev	£2.75	£2.75
Port Customs Exam	£25	£25
DTI Fee	£3.50	£3.50
Port Security Fee	£25	£28
Infrastructure Charge	£34	£30
Green Energy Charge	£39.75	£65.75
Typical Total (est.)	~£130 / container	~£155 / container

London Gateway’s slightly higher estimated port fees reflect investment in automated and sustainability‑oriented infrastructure, while Felixstowe’s slightly lower charges reflect its status as established throughput leader.

The high price of the London Gateway may offer faster freight movement and onwards shipping given its location.

Benefits of Choosing Each Port

Why Choose the Port of Felixstowe

1. Established Market Leader Felixstowe handles more container traffic than any other UK port — over 48 % of the country’s containerised trade flows through its berths.

2. Extensive Global Shipping Links Major global carriers operate regular services to and from Felixstowe, connecting the UK to ports worldwide.

3. Strong Inland Connectivity Excellent rail and road networks make moving goods to inland distribution centres fast and reliable.

4. Deep Water Access for Ultra‑Large Vessels Deep draught and long berths support the world’s largest container ships.

5. Proven Reliability Long history and experience handling large volumes — ideal for established logistics operations.

Why Choose London Gateway

1. Proximity to London & Southeast Markets Closer to a large portion of the UK’s population and consumption centres, reducing inland transit time and cost.

2. State‑of‑the‑Art Infrastructure Semi‑automated container handling boosts turnaround, and newer berths (including the world’s first all‑electric berth) improve efficiency and sustainability.

3. Integrated Logistics Park Large on‑site warehousing and distribution facilities reduce supply chain complexity and storage costs.

4. Fast Growth & Capacity Expansion

With a fourth berth online and expansion plans under way, London Gateway could handle 30 % of UK container traffic within a decade.

5. Sustainability Focus New all‑electric equipment and green port initiatives support corporate sustainability goals.

Head‑to‑Head: Trade‑Offs & Strategic Choices

Consideration	Felixstowe	London Gateway
Highest Throughput	✅	Growing
Proximity to London	—	✅
Modern Automation	—	⚡
Warehousing & Logistics Park	Limited	Extensive
Established Shipping Services	Extensive	Rapidly expanding

Choose Felixstowe if your priority is established scale and global connectivity with the widest range of shipping services.

Choose London Gateway if proximity to markets, modern infrastructure and an integrated logistics network are top priorities especially for time‑sensitive freight.

Final Thoughts

Both ports play vital roles in the UK’s supply chain:

Felixstowe remains the powerhouse of container traffic and an anchor point for international trade.
London Gateway offers strategic location advantages, innovative infrastructure, and future capacity growth.

Whether you’re a shipper, freight forwarder, importer or exporter, understanding these strengths helps you choose the right port to optimise cost, speed and resilience in your logistics operations.

Where should I get my container shipped to? This is complete up to you. However Blue30 supports freight movements from both the London Gateway Port and Felixstowe Port. With cost effective container haulage solutions, container devanning, storage, fulfilment and FBA prep services. You can rest knowing you will be in safe have no matter your choice.