Brighton to London by train

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.