You can take either a Brittany Ferries or P&O Line ferry from Portsmouth, UK to Cherbourg, France. Both have web sites where you can book passage. Take a train from Waterloo Station to Portsmouth and take a taxi to the ferry terminal. You should be able to rent a car at the Cherbourg Ferry Terminal.

If you are going to the Tapestry, the first exhibit is a replica where they tell the story of the tapestry in agonizing detail. I skipped it and went straight to the ral thing. The audio guide for it is very good and I avoided the lines.

Also in Bayeux is the British Cemetary and a museum across the road from it. I heard that the tank at the entrance was Patton's personal tank but I cannot verify that story. From there, it is a short drive to Omaha Beach. There is an excellent museum along the way of items recovered from the sea floor. It's worth a visit if only to see the DD tanks. FOllow the coast to the left and you can't miss Omaha Beach and the American Cemetary. Follow the signs to Pont du Hoc. Ste. Mer Eglise with its Parachute Museum is worth a visit, too.

If you are staying overnight, I highly recommend a B&B called "La Ducrie". It's run by an English couple. They have a web site with contact information.

Be sure to eat some steamed mussels and be advised that cider in France is hard cider.

Can take train to Portsmouth and Ferry to Caen. Going in other direction, we're renting a car in Paris, driving to Bayeux, returning to Paris and flying to London.