Getting to Brighton & Hove is easy. It's just under an hour by rail from London and only half an hour from London Gatwick Airport.

The city is also served by a direct rail link from the Eurostar Service at St Pancras, as well as easily accessible from the major ports of Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton and the local port of Newhaven. National Express coaches also regularly service the city.

Travelling To Brighton & Hove By Train

Travelling by train is often the fastest way to get to Brighton from other UK destinations. It’s also a greener option than driving or flying.

Book in Advance

Once you know when you want to visit we recommend booking your train tickets in advance online. Not only will it save you time at the station but you can also enjoy savings on your rail fares. Whether you're travelling from London, Gatwick or St. Pancras, book your train travel in advance so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the journey. 

To find out more visit the Southern Railway or Thameslink websites. 

If you are travelling from Europe, the Eurostar train arrives from Europe at St Pancras, London, where there are direct trains to Brighton. If you are travelling to Brighton by train and need to leave your luggage then contact CityStasher to be connected with secure local businesses who will store your luggage for you.

Trains to Brighton from London and the South East

London is the hub of the UK’s rail network and it is easy to connect to trains to Brighton & the South Coast from the major London stations. The fastest direct travelling times from London to Brighton are: London Victoria – 52 minutes (direct), London Bridge – 58 minute (direct) and London St Pancras – 1 hour 16 minutes (direct). 

Rail services in the UK are operated by a number of private train operators. The key operators to Brighton are Southern and Thameslink. Trains to Brighton arrive at the mainline station on Queens Road. Regular rail connections also serve Hove and take just a few minutes from Brighton. Brighton is also very accessible by train from major towns along the South Coast and Kent.

PLUSBUS Discount Ticket

Your journey doesn't end at the station, add PlusBus to your train ticket for unlimited bus travel during your visit. Find out more on the Southern Railway website. 

Travelling to Brighton from the London Airports

Trains to Brighton from Gatwick take approximately 30 minutes direct and run regularly. For trains from Heathrow to Brighton, your best bet is to take the London Underground to London Victoria and connect with a mainline train to Brighton. Trains to Brighton from Stansted take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. The journey involves two changes, usually at Tottenham Hale for an Underground train to Victoria, where you connect with a mainline train to Brighton. Thameslink offers a regular and direct service to Brighton from Luton Airport, which takes approximately 2 hours. 

By Bus & Coach

Coaches are a cost effective way of travelling to Brighton from almost anywhere in the UK or Europe. They tend to take longer than train journeys of the equivalent route, but are generally clean and comfortable, with onboard toilet facilities. 

National Express is the major coach operator serving Brighton. Regular National Express coaches serve Brighton from the main London Airports of Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted. Coaches arrive at Pool Valley Coach Station, which is very central and just moments from the beach and Brighton Palace Pier. Full information is available on the National Express website. 

By Ferry

The nearest port to Brighton is Newhaven. Ferries travel from Dieppe and take around 4 hours. The ferries are run by LD Lines.

The quickest way to travel by ferry from Europe is from Calais to Dover. Crossings take between 75 and 105 minutes. Ferries are operated by P&O and run regularly throughout the day and night. DFDS Seaways also operates out of Dover, running ferries to and from Dunkirk (2 hours each way). Longer routes from France and Spain, operated by Brittany Ferries, arrive at Portsmouth.

Getting to Brighton from the Ferry Ports

Brighton & Hove is easily accessible by car from Newhaven. Journey time is approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Brighton is around 1.5 – 2 hours by motorway from the major ports of Dover, Portsmouth and Southampton. For foot passengers there are also regular connections to Brighton from the ports via rail.