Brighton
Best day trips from Brighton: how to get there and what to see
Brighton sits on a fast rail line, so the best day trips need no car: Seven Sisters and Eastbourne in about 40 minutes, Lewes in 20, Hastings in 1 h 15, Arundel in 1 h 30, London in 1 h. Go early, buy an off-peak return, and skip the car unless you want the South Downs villages.
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GuideBrighton
Key facts
- Best without a car
- Lewes, Eastbourne and Seven Sisters, Hastings, Arundel, London — all by direct train from Brighton station
- Shortest worthwhile trip
- Lewes, about 20 minutes by train; a half day is enough
- Longest of these
- Arundel, about 1 h 30 by train with a change at Ford or Barnham
- Typical return fare bandcheck
- Off-peak day return roughly £6–£20 depending on distance; 2026 estimate
- Cheapest way to pay
- Contactless or a railcard; buy at the station or online before 06:30 for the best fares
- Car needed for
- South Downs villages, Devil's Dyke and Beachy Head viewpoints beyond the bus routes
- Start time that works
- Leave Brighton by 09:00 to have four usable hours before the light goes in winter
The choices at a glance
Every option below is reachable by train or bus from central Brighton, so you can decide on the morning. Fares are 2026 estimates for an off-peak day return; times are the fastest direct service, and most run at least hourly.
| Day trip | Time from Brighton | Best for | Return fare (2026 est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewes | 20 min train | Castle, old streets, half day | £6–£8 |
| Seven Sisters / Seaford | 35–40 min train | Cliffs, coast path, walking | £8–£10 |
| Eastbourne | 40 min train | Pier, Beachy Head, South Downs | £9–£12 |
| Hastings | 1 h 15 train | Old Town, castle, seaside | £14–£18 |
| Arundel | 1 h 30 train | Castle, cathedral, river | £15–£20 |
| London | 1 h train | Museums, theatre, shopping | £20–£35 |
Check times on the day; engineering works close parts of the line on some weekends.
What each trip actually involves
Lewes is the easy half day: a Norman castle, a steep high street of independent shops and the remains of the priory, all within 15 minutes' walk of the station. Go on a weekday to avoid the market-day crush.
For the Seven Sisters, take the train to Seaford or Eastbourne and walk a section of the coast path between them. The full Seaford-to-Eastbourne walk is about 13 km and takes 4–5 hours with climbs; a shorter out-and-back from Seaford to the Cuckmere Haven viewpoint is 2–3 hours. There is little shelter and no reliable food on the cliffs, so carry water.
Eastbourne adds a pier, a flat seafront and the start of the South Downs. Buses run up to Beachy Head and Birling Gap if you do not want the climb. Hastings has the most to fill a full day: the Old Town, the castle on the hill, the fishing beach and the Jerwood gallery area.
Arundel is the one to book ahead for: the castle and the cathedral are the draw, and the castle keeps limited opening days outside summer. London is the fallback when the weather turns — an hour to Victoria, then the Underground.
- Lewes: castle, high street, half day
- Seven Sisters: coast path, no shelter, carry water
- Eastbourne: pier, Beachy Head bus, flat seafront
- Hastings: Old Town, castle, full day
- Arundel: castle and cathedral, check opening days
- London: 1 h to Victoria, best wet-weather option
What a day costs
Rail is the main cost. Off-peak day returns from Brighton run roughly £6–£8 to Lewes, £8–£10 to Seaford, £9–£12 to Eastbourne, £14–£18 to Hastings, £15–£20 to Arundel and £20–£35 to London, all 2026 estimates. A Network Railcard pays for itself after two or three trips if you travel off-peak.
Add £10–£20 for lunch, more in Arundel and London, and £8–£15 for castle or house entry where one applies. Contactless tap-in works on most of these routes, but a paper or app ticket can be cheaper for longer trips.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 est.) |
|---|---|
| Off-peak return, Lewes | £6–£8 |
| Off-peak return, Eastbourne | £9–£12 |
| Off-peak return, London | £20–£35 |
| Lunch, pub or café | £10–£20 |
| Castle or house entry | £8–£15 |
| Network Railcard | About £30 a year; check current price |
Practical tips
Buy before you travel if you want a specific train, but for these short hops the fare barely changes, so deciding on the morning is fine. Off-peak starts after the morning commuter peak, which makes a 09:00–09:30 departure both cheaper and quieter.
In winter, daylight ends around 16:00, so a coast-path walk needs a morning start. Check the weather for the cliffs specifically: wind and rain make the Seven Sisters section genuinely exposed.
If you are coming from abroad, sort data before you go so you can check live train times and buy tickets on the move.
- Leave by 09:00 for a full day
- Off-peak fares start after the commuter peak
- Winter daylight ends about 16:00
- Check weekend engineering works
- Carry water on the coast path
Questions people ask
What are the best day trips from Brighton?
Lewes for a half day, Seven Sisters and Eastbourne for cliffs and coast, Hastings for a full day of Old Town and castle, Arundel for castle and cathedral, and London when the weather turns. All are direct by train from Brighton station.
Can I visit these places without a car?
Yes. Lewes, Seaford, Eastbourne, Hastings, Arundel and London all have direct or one-change rail services from Brighton. A car only helps for South Downs villages and viewpoints beyond the bus routes.
How long do day trips from Brighton take?
Lewes is about 20 minutes each way, Seven Sisters and Eastbourne 35–40 minutes, Hastings 1 h 15, Arundel 1 h 30 and London 1 h. Allow four usable hours on the ground for a comfortable day.
Which day trip is best in bad weather?
London. The train to Victoria takes about an hour and the museums are free, so a wet day costs you only the fare. Hastings Old Town also works, since much of it is under cover.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNational Rail – journey planner and fares
- officialVisitBritain – England
- officialVisit South East England
- officialArundel Castle – opening times
- secondaryWikivoyage – Brighton