Getting to Brighton

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.

By Plane

All the major London airports are within easy reach of Brighton. London Gatwick to Brighton, for example, is only a 30 minute journey by train. So getting to Brighton from anywhere in the world is surprisingly easy. Below we've listed details of all the major (and some minor) airports serving the region.

London Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick airport is approximately 30km north of the city & just 30 minutes away by train. Gatwick serves a huge array of national and international flights and has a south and a north terminal.

London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest and most sophisticated airports in the world. Situated approximately 30km west of central London it is about a 90 minute journey from Brighton. The airport primarily serves long haul flights and serves most major carriers, including British Airways. The airport has 4 terminals. Terminals 1 and 3 are a short walk from each other, whilst terminals 4 and 5 are served by free trains and buses.

Stansted Airport

Stansted Airport is located 64km to the north-east of London. It is home to many of the UK's low-cost airlines and serves largely European and Mediterranean destinations.

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.  If you are travelling from Europe, the Eurostar train arrives from Europe at St Pancras, London, where there are direct train connections to Brighton. 

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 a train to Brighton and the South Coast from the major London stations. The fastest direct travelling times from London to Brighton are: 

Rail services in the UK are operated by a number of private train operators. The key operators to Brighton are Southern and Thameslink. Trains arrive into Brighton mainline Station on Queens Road. Regular rail connections also serve Hove and take just a few minutes from Brighton. 
Central Brighton is easily walkable (about 10 minutes) from Brighton station, but if you require a bus or taxi - these are both available at the front of the station.
Brighton is also very accessible by train from major towns along the South Coast and Kent.

By 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.

Coach travel to Brighton from the London and South East Airports

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 Pier.
Guide direct travel times to Brighton by coach, from London Victoria and key London and South East airports, are listed below. Please note; these are only a guide and may vary depending on route and interchange times. Full information is available on the National Express website. 

By Car

There are excellent public transport links into Brighton & Hove, but should you decide to drive to the city, the following information should help you plan your journey.

Driving to Brighton from London

Onward travel to Brighton is easy - London to Brighton is approximately 50 miles, with a journey time of about 90 minutes, depending on the traffic. Simply take the A23/M23 south until you reach Brighton.

Driving to Brighton from Kent and the South East

If you are travelling to Brighton from the East or West use the A27.
If you are travelling to the UK via ferry to Dover (approximately 2 hours) or Eurotunnel to Folkestone (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes) the quickest route is to:

For more detailed, or alternative routes to Brighton, visit the AA Route Planner website.