This April marks the 70th anniversary of the world’s most famous spy – James Bond. Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel, was published on 13 April 1953. Ian Fleming wrote eleven Bond novels and two collections of short stories, drawing inspiration from his own experiences and adventures in the Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War as well as the time he spent in France as a young man.
For fans of the novels and Bond history, Le Touquet is perhaps the ultimate pilgrimage site. This fashionable seaside resort town features in several of the Bond novels, including Goldfinger and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but is most famously associated with Casino Royale.
The eponymous casino was based on those in Deauville and Le Touquet, and the town of Royale les Eaux, where the novel is set, was further inspired by them. Le Touquet attracted the likes of P. G. Wodehouse, Noel Coward, and H. G. Wells in the 1920s and 1930s and was incredibly popular with wealthy British tourists.
Bond’s journey to Royale-les-Eaux from MI6 HQ may well have taken him via Calais, so even if you aren’t lucky enough to own an Aston Martin DB5 or the 1930 Blower Bentley he drives in Casino Royale, you can still enjoy the sights and scenery on your drive to Le Touquet, following 007 down this beautiful stretch of coastline.
Fleming often stayed at Le Westminster, the hotel that became the inspiration for Le Splendide. Guests will be captivated by its art deco façade and 1920s style, and yet the hotel itself is the perfect combination of timeless elegance and innovative modernity. No wonder Fleming kept Le Westminster in mind when writing Casino Royale and the character of James Bond.
The hotel’s bar, Le Bar du West, can even shake up a vodka martini for you. You might be lucky enough to try a Vesper, made as closely as possible to Bond’s very specific recipe:
"Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet, shake it very well until it's ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel".
For fans of Bond trivia, Le Westminster was where Sean Connery signed his contract to play James Bond in Dr No, and Roger Moore was also a regular visitor. Signed photos of Connery, Moore, and Fleming himself hang in the hotel for visitors to admire.
Le Touquet remains the chic and glamorous resort that it was in Ian Fleming’s day, with plenty of boutique shops, charming artisan patisseries and colourful Belle Epoque villas to see as you stroll through its bustling streets and on to the unspoiled dunes of its beautiful sandy beach. At just under an hour’s drive from Calais, Le Touquet makes for a perfect day trip or short break to experience a taste of luxury in one of James Bond’s favourite haunts.
Enjoy a day trip or short break to fabulous Le Touquet with DFDS. Day Trip fares start at £39 return and 3-day short break fares start at £99 return for a car and up to four people from Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk.
Upgrade your ticket to include access to the exclusive Premium Lounge with complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks from £12 per person. Add Priority Boarding from £10 per car each way to be one of the first to board and disembark the ferry.
Browse a selection of fragrances, cosmetics and electronics in DFDS’ duty-free shops and save up to 50 per cent off UK high-street prices. Spend €150 on your return in the Duty Free stores on board or at the ports in Calais and Dunkirk and receive a free day trip to use another time.
For more information or to book visit www.dfds.com.
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About DFDS:
DFDS provides ferry and transport services in and around Europe, generating annual revenues of EUR 2.3 bn.
To over 10,000 freight customers we deliver high performance and superior reliability through ferry & port terminal services, and transport and logistics solutions. DFDS delivers high reliability to more than 10,000 freight customers through ferry and port terminal services and transport and logistics solutions.
For more than five million passengers, it provides safe overnight and short sea ferry services.
Our 8,000 employees are located on ships and in in offices across 20 countries. DFDS was founded in 1866, is headquartered in Copenhagen, and listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.
In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.
DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for 11 years running (2012-2022), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last 12 years (2011-22).
DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.
For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.
In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.
DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for 11 years running (2012-2022), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last 12 years (2011-22).
DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.
For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.