How to get from London to Brighton

Brighton sits on the south coast, roughly 80 km from central London. The train is the default choice: fast, frequent and direct from several London stations. Coach is cheaper on some dates but slower. Driving works if you need a car at the coast, but parking in Brighton is limited and expensive.

Book train tickets directly with the operator or a national rail retailer. Advance single fares are released in limited numbers and rise as the date approaches, so booking one to two weeks ahead usually gets the lowest price. Off-peak and super off-peak tickets cost less than anytime fares but restrict which trains you can take.

For coaches, book with the operator's own site or app. Seats are usually cheaper booked ahead, and some services sell out on summer weekends and bank holidays.

If you are driving, check parking options in Brighton in advance; central car parks fill on sunny weekends.

Travel off-peak if you can: weekday mid-morning and early afternoon trains are cheaper and less crowded.

Brighton station is a short walk from the seafront and the Lanes, so you rarely need a taxi on arrival.

On summer weekends and bank holidays, book both train and coach seats early; demand is high.

If you are continuing onward, Brighton connects by rail to other south coast towns and back to London.

The rail route runs south from London through the Sussex countryside to Brighton. Trains leave from London Victoria, London Bridge and Blackfriars; check which station your service uses before you travel, as it affects your onward connections in London.