--- title: "Trains from Brighton to London | EveryRail" description: "Direct trains take about 1 hour from Brighton to London, to Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express. No reservations." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/brighton-to-london/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()Brighton to London by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()Brighton to London by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Brighton to London by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in London]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated October 2026 # Brighton to London by train Direct trains take about 1 hour from Brighton to London, to Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express. No reservations. ![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]() Origin Brighton Destination [London]() Country [United Kingdom]() A direct train takes you from Brighton to [London]() in about an hour, with no change. The quickest trains take around 1 hour, and Thameslink to London Bridge takes 1 hour 1 minute to 1 hour 5 minutes. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express all leave from Brighton station, and each goes to a different set of London stations. Decide where in London you want to end up, then take the train that goes there. ## Brighton station has trains for every London terminal All trains to London leave from Brighton station on Queens Road. It has step-free access to all platforms, a ticket office that opens at 03:45 and closes at 01:45, shops and refreshments. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express run the services. Find London on the departure board and read the final stop and the calling points. The board tells you whether the train ends at London Victoria, London Bridge or somewhere beyond, so you know where you will arrive. ## Which train goes where in London Southern trains arrive at London Victoria. Gatwick Express also arrives at London Victoria, calling at Gatwick Airport on the way. Thameslink arrives at London Bridge and goes on through London Blackfriars to London St Pancras International. If you want the West End or the Underground from Victoria, take Southern or Gatwick Express. If you want the City, or the north of London by St Pancras, take Thameslink. Choosing the right train saves you a change across town. ## Trains leave several times an hour Expect several trains an hour through the day. The fastest take around 1 hour, and slower trains that call at more stations take longer, so read the arrival time as well as the departure. Check your date for the first and last train, because the timetable is different late at night. ## Buy a ticket that matches your train Advance tickets are the cheapest. You buy them for one named train and cannot swap to another. Off-Peak tickets cost less than Anytime and avoid the busiest hours. Anytime tickets work on any train that day. A "London Terminals" ticket covers London Victoria and London Bridge, among others. A "London Thameslink" ticket covers London Bridge, London Blackfriars and London St Pancras International, among others. Check that the ticket names the London station your train uses. If you are unsure, ask at the ticket office before you board. Railcards take up to one third off many fares. Children aged 5 to 15 travel for £2 each with an adult on Off-Peak tickets. Prices change with the time and how early you book, so look at your own date. ## You cannot reserve a seat, and Global Passes are valid You cannot reserve a seat on Southern trains. Take any free seat. Many Southern trains have free wifi and charging points. Interrail Global Passes (for people who live in Europe) and Eurail Global Passes (for people who live outside Europe) are valid on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, and a pass holder can board without a reservation. If you live in the UK, a Global Pass covers only one outbound and one inbound journey in your own country, so you cannot use it for an ordinary trip inside Britain. ## Closures to know about before you leave On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026 no trains run between Brighton and Three Bridges. A diverted Southern train runs between Brighton and London Victoria via Hove, Worthing, Horsham and Gatwick Airport and takes longer. No trains run between Gatwick Airport and Purley or East Croydon on Sunday 10 January 2027. From Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February 2027 no trains run between Brighton and Three Bridges via Haywards Heath. Check your date before you go. ## At the London end From London Victoria you can take the Victoria, District or Circle line. From London Bridge you can take the Northern or Jubilee line. London Bridge, Blackfriars and St Pancras International sit on the Thameslink line, so you can stay on one train across central London. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() ### Train service - [Gatwick Express]() Gatwick Express runs non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport in about 31 minutes, with some trains also serving Brighton. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Southern]() Southern runs between central London and the south coast through Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire, calling at Gatwick Airport. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Thameslink]() Thameslink runs a 24 hour core route between Bedford and Brighton through central London, with a direct link to Luton Airport. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in London [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in London**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does the train from Brighton to London take? About 1 hour on the quickest trains. Thameslink to London Bridge takes 1 hour 1 minute to 1 hour 5 minutes. ### Can I get a direct train from Brighton to London? Yes. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express all run direct from Brighton, and none needs a change. ### Which London station will my train from Brighton reach? Southern and Gatwick Express go to London Victoria, and Thameslink goes to London Bridge. Thameslink continues to London Blackfriars and London St Pancras International. ### What does a Brighton to London train ticket cost? It depends on the time of day and how early you book, and Advance tickets are the cheapest. Check that the ticket names the London station your train uses. ### Can I book a seat on the Brighton to London train? No. You cannot reserve a seat on Southern trains, so take any free seat. ### Is my Interrail or Eurail Global Pass valid from Brighton to London? Yes, on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, with no reservation needed. If you live in the UK, a Global Pass covers only one outbound and one inbound journey in your own country, so it does not work for this trip. ## More routes [![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Amsterdam to London by trainDirect Eurostar trains take about 4 hours 10 minutes from Amsterdam to London, with around 3 daily departures and fares from about €57 / £52.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Barcelona to London by trainNo direct train. TGV INOUI Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon (about 6h46), RER D to Gare du Nord, then Eurostar (2h17) to London St Pancras.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Birmingham to London by trainDirect trains from Birmingham New Street to London Euston take about 1h30, fastest 1h17. Chiltern Railways from Moor Street to Marylebone takes about 2 hours.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Brussels to London by trainDirect Eurostar trains link Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid and London St Pancras in about two hours; fares start at £39 on selected departures.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Budapest to London by trainBudapest to London by train is not direct: connect via Paris or Brussels, then take Eurostar to London St Pancras. Fastest trips take around 17 hours.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Coventry to London by trainDirect trains from Coventry to London Euston take about 1 hour on Avanti West Coast and about 1h20 to 1h30 on London Northwestern Railway. Fares from £9.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Crewe to London by trainDirect trains from Crewe to London Euston take 1h37 on the fastest Avanti West Coast services and around 2h10 on slower ones. Advance fares from £25.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Doncaster to London by trainDirect trains from Doncaster to London King's Cross take about 1h45. LNER, Hull Trains and Grand Central run them. 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