People go to Calais primarily as a major transit hub between the UK and mainland Europe via ferry or the Channel Tunnel. It is a popular destination for tourists exploring the Côte d'Opale, beaches, and historic sites. Additionally, many migrants gather in the area seeking to cross to the UK due to family ties, language, or economic opportunities.
Calais is much more than just a gateway to France – it's a city where history, culture, wide open beaches and family-friendly attractions await. Whether you're here for a few hours or a few days, take time to explore its heritage, its stunning coastline and its lively town centre.
Other migrants come to the area because they are homeless while seeking asylum in France. The presence of migrants in and around Calais has affected the British and French governments, the Eurotunnel and P&O Ferries companies, and lorry drivers heading for the UK and their companies.
If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Calais Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Port. Stroll along the area's seaside or simply savour its top-notch restaurants.
In 2005 France's domestic intelligence network, the Renseignements Generaux, identified 150 "no-go zones" around the country where police would not enter without reinforcements. Christopher Dickey, writing in Newsweek, said the situation had arisen due to racism towards immigrants.
But do people seeking asylum get this free housing forever? No. When someone gets refugee status, they can no longer stay in asylum accommodation. They can choose where to live, but they have to pay for their rent or ask for government help – like any UK citizen.
As of January this year, the allowance for adults was 11.45 euros (£8.13) a day. This equates to 80.15 euros (£56.82) a week. This is higher than any adult rate in the UK. However, the French state provides no money for children.
Asylum seekers often move from France to the UK due to existing family ties, the appeal of an English-speaking environment, perceived better opportunities, and challenging conditions/treatment in French camps, with smugglers often encouraging the dangerous Channel crossing by promising a UK destination, even if information is false, reports BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xyn30yj0o, Right to Remain https://www.righttoremain.org.uk/uk-france-one-in-one-out-immigration-policy-a-flawed-fix-for-a-complex-crisis/, United Against Inhumanity. Cultural links and a desire to join relatives already in the UK are major drivers, alongside perceptions of better integration prospects, despite the UK's stricter work access rules.
From 2000 onwards, the name "jungle" has been used by migrants to describe many encampments and shanty towns around Calais. The use of the word to describe encampments is thought to derive from the Pashto word "dzjangal" which means a forest or wood.
The most renowned specialties are andouillette de Cambrai, Maroilles tart, chicory gratin, carbonade flamande, anguille au vert à la Flamande (eel cooked with herbs), coq à la bière, endive and ham gratin, hochepot, Boulogne-style mackerel.
Calais, England's last foothold on continental Europe, fell to a surprise French attack in January 1558. It had been in English hands for 220 years and its loss was a body-blow to national pride. Queen Mary famously remarked that "when I am dead and opened, you shall find Calais engraved on my heart".
There isn't one single "most run-down" town, as it depends on the metric, but recent reports frequently cite Walsall (West Midlands) as Britain's most deprived for overall quality of life (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025), while Jaywick (Essex) is repeatedly named England's most deprived neighbourhood by government data. Other towns often mentioned for significant decline due to economic hardship, unemployment, and urban decay include areas in Blackpool, Hastings, and Middlesbrough, alongside places like Portsmouth and Aldershot facing specific challenges.
According to a Yougov poll in 2018, majorities in all seven polled countries were opposed to accepting more migrants: Germany (72%), Denmark (65%), Finland (64%), Sweden (60%), United Kingdom (58%), France (58%) and Norway (52%).
In principle, asylum-seekers have the right to housing. That means each person who has filed a request for asylum in France should be housed by the OFII (Office francais de l'immigration et de l'integration), the same organization that provides your allowance.
The UK's economy is currently larger than France's in total GDP, but figures can fluctuate, with some reports suggesting France has slightly overtaken the UK in wealth per capita or by specific metrics, while the UK often shows higher GDP per person in other analyses, highlighting very similar economic standing with comparable GDP per capita and living standards, though France has greater overall household wealth and the UK higher financial asset wealth. Both are major European economies, often ranking closely in global lists for overall size and wealth per person, with recent data showing the UK's GDP slightly ahead (around $3.96 trillion vs France's $3.36 trillion for 2025 estimates) but differing perceptions based on various metrics like GDP per capita or wealth distribution.
The sharp rise in the number of regular migrants can be attributed to the liberalisation of migration laws, making it easier for non-EU migrants to work in the UK, a campaign aimed at attracting more foreign students, and the high number of visas granted to people from Ukraine and Hong Kong on humanitarian grounds.
Pickpockets are the most significant problem and are commonly children under the age of 16 because they are difficult to prosecute. Pickpockets are very active on the rail link from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city centre.
The Zone Rouge (Red Zone) is a region near Verdun, France spanning some 460 square miles of mostly virgin forest – at least on the surface. It's teeming with history, making it a major tourist attraction and a source of income for locals – yet no one lives there and nothing is built there.
