Direct trains to Brighton run from various stations in London including Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras, which provide convenient connections in about 50 to 60 minutes. Other cities with direct train services include Portsmouth, Southampton, and Cambridge as well as London Gatwick Airport, where the journey takes around 30 minutes.
If you are travelling from Europe, Eurostar train services operate to/from London St Pancras Station, from where there are direct trains to Brighton.
To plan your train journey, visit National Rail Enquiries website.
National Express coaches serve Brighton from London Victoria coach station and the main London airports of Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted regularly, as well as cities such as Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester. Coaches arrive at Pool Valley coach station, which is very central and just moments from the beach and Brighton Palace Pier.
Brighton is within easy access of northern France from the nearby port of Newhaven. It is also only 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by motorway from the major ports of Dover and Portsmouth.
The nearest port to Brighton is Newhaven which is around 30 minutes in the car. Ferries travel from Dieppe to Newhaven and take around 4 hours.
The quickest way to travel by ferry from Europe is from Calais to Dover. Crossings take between 1 hour 15 and 1 hour 45 minutes with ferries running regularly throughout the day.
If you're coming from London, the A23 is the most common route; follow signs for the M23 from Central London, merge onto the A23, and head towards Brighton, which typically takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. If you’re traveling from the north, take the M1 south to the M25 and exit at the M23, while those coming from the west can enjoy the scenic A27 along the southern coast, which might take a bit longer.
Brighton is located close to London airports – all within two hours of the City.
- London Gatwick Airport: The fastest option is a direct train to Brighton, taking around 30-35 minutes. Trains depart frequently (up to every 10 minutes during peak times) from Gatwick’s South Terminal. Tickets can be purchased online or at the station.
- London Heathrow Airport: The most efficient route is to take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington Station in London (15 minutes), then transfer to the London Underground and head to London Victoria. From there, take a direct train to Brighton, with a total travel time of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
- London City Airport: Take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) to Bank Station, then the Underground to London Bridge, and a train to Brighton. This trip can take about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
- Luton and Stansted Airports: These are farther away, so the journey involves multiple transfers. Take a train from either airport to central London (St Pancras for Luton or Liverpool Street for Stansted), then connect to a Brighton-bound train, with travel times averaging 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.
To plan your train journey, visit national rail enquiries website here.
Car hire is available at these airports for visitors looking to drive themselves. Several major rental companies operate, and advance booking is recommended during peak travel times.
