London to Brighton Trains From £8.00*

The London to Brighton line is served by Thameslink and the Gatwick Express, both part of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). Gatwick Express departs from London Victoria, while Thameslink trains from London Bridge. Check the table below to decide the best option for your trip.

• Thameslink is the most affordable option, maintaining high comfort standards on board with a similar travelling time to Gatwick Express. 
• Gatwick Express offers a high-speed and direct connection to Brighton. The train is very efficient and often gets you to Brighton in less than an hour. Tickets are more costly, but it can be a great option for working during your commute or avoiding the stress of catching a connection. 

Reach Brighton in under an hour from London, travelling south through the suburbs of Croydon and into the Surrey and Sussex countryside before arriving at the coast.

London Victoria & Bridge: Getting to the Platform

Victoria has its own built-in Underground station, served by three lines: the Victoria line and the District and Circle lines (sub-surface), making it reachable from virtually anywhere in Zone 1 in under 15 minutes. There’s also a large bus station that sits directly outside the main entrance in the station forecourt.

Victoria is effectively two stations joined together, separated by a central building. Southern and Gatwick Express trains for Brighton depart from the western side (platforms 9–19). The area is very central, with plenty of shops, cafés and food outlets available just outside the station and in the main concourse. Luggage facilities are operated by the Excess Baggage Company inside the station.

London Bridge Station is located in central London, in Southwark, with entrances on both Tooley Street and St Thomas Street. Its Underground Station is on the Northern Line and Jubilee Line, with regular Tube services connecting to anywhere in Zone 1 in under 15 minutes.

The Upper Level provides access to platforms 1–9 for mainline train services, whilst the Lower Level has connections to the Jubilee Line and Northern Line (Bank branch) on the London Underground. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes throughout the station, and direct access to Borough Market for having a quick meal before departure.  

Onboard trains from London to Brighton

Both Gatwick Express and Southern operate modern, spacious trains on this route, equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi. The route heads south from Victoria through the inner suburbs of Clapham and Balham, picking up speed through Croydon before the landscape opens up into the Surrey and Sussex countryside beyond East Croydon and Gatwick Airport.

The scenic side

The train winds through the densely built urban landscape of south London's inner suburbs and gradually gives way to the Sussex countryside. Beyond East Croydon and Gatwick you can spot rolling hills and open fields stretching out on either side of the tracks.

Key landmarks

Ouse Valley Viaduct, between Balcombe and Haywards Heath, is a breathtaking Victorian structure of 37 arches constructed from warm red brick. It carries the railway line across the River Ouse valley below – a testament to 19th-century railway construction at its finest.

Arriving at Brighton

Brighton station is a spectacular Victorian terminus, opened in 1840. As you step off the train, the main concourse and ticket gates are directly ahead, with shops on the concourse.

The correct exit

• Main Exit (Queen's Road): Walk straight through the ticket gates and out onto Queen's Road for the most direct route to the seafront. The sea is visible within moments and is approximately a ten-minute walk straight ahead down the hill.

• Trafalgar Street Exit (North Laine): Head to the left-hand side of the concourse for Trafalgar Street, which leads under the station into the North Laine — Brighton's shopping and café district. 

• Rear Exit (Cycle Hub & Taxi Rank): The rear exit, accessible through the station, leads to the taxi rank (next to platform 8) and the Brighton Cycle Hub, a purpose-built three-storey facility with storage for 500 bikes, a repair shop, café, showers and changing rooms.

Onward Travel

• Buses: Six bus stops are located directly in front of Brighton station on the forecourt, served by numerous Brighton & Hove Bus routes. Routes 7 and 27 from the forecourt take you to North Street for the Royal Pavilion, and route 27 also serves the Sea Life Centre near the pier.

• By foot to the seafront: Brighton Palace Pier and the beach are approximately a 15-minute walk south from the station exit, straight down Queen's Road and West Street. Bournemouth Pier is around 30 minutes on foot, and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum is 20 minutes away.