--- title: "Trains from London to Brighton | EveryRail" description: "Direct trains take about 1 hour from London to Brighton, from Victoria or London Bridge. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express run it. No reservations." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/london-to-brighton/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[United Kingdom]()London to Brighton by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[United Kingdom]()London to Brighton by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About London to Brighton by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Brighton]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated October 2026 # London to Brighton by train Direct trains take about 1 hour from London to Brighton, from Victoria or London Bridge. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express run it. No reservations. ![Brighton Pier seen from the seafront on a sunny day]() Origin [London]() Destination Brighton Country [United Kingdom]() You can take a direct train from [London]() to Brighton in about an hour, with no change. Three companies run them, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, from different London stations. Pick your train by the London station that suits you, because that decides the company and the ticket. ## Three companies serve Brighton from London Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express all run to Brighton. For a visitor the difference is the London station you start from, and what the ticket allows. Southern runs from London Victoria. Gatwick Express also runs from London Victoria and calls at Gatwick Airport. Thameslink trains to Brighton call at London St Pancras International, London Blackfriars and London Bridge, so they suit you if you start in the City or at St Pancras. ## Choose the London station that is closest to you Brighton trains leave from several stations, and so start from the one nearest you. London Victoria is on the western side of central London and has the Victoria, District and Circle lines. London Bridge is south of the river and has the Northern and Jubilee lines. London Blackfriars and London St Pancras International are on the Thameslink line, so you can start from St Pancras without crossing London first. Find Brighton on the departure board and check the platform shortly before you leave. Look at the destination on the board, not the company name. ## Trains run several times an hour all day Expect several trains an hour through the day, so you rarely wait long. The journey is about 1 hour on the fastest trains, and Thameslink between London Bridge and Brighton takes 1 hour 1 minute to 1 hour 5 minutes. Slower trains that call at more stations take longer, so check the arrival time before you buy. Check your date for the first and last train. ## Tickets: buy for the company you will ride There are three kinds of ticket. Advance tickets are the cheapest. You buy them ahead for one named train, and you cannot swap to another. Off-Peak tickets are cheaper than Anytime and allow travel outside the busiest hours, while Anytime tickets let you travel on any train on your date. This is where visitors lose money. 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. Before you pay, check that the ticket names the London station your train uses. If you are not sure, buy at a station ticket office or ask staff before boarding. A Railcard takes up to one third off many fares, and it is worth buying only if you will make several journeys. Children aged 5 to 15 can travel for £2 each with an adult on Off-Peak tickets. Fares change with the time of day and how far ahead you buy, and the price on your date is the only one that counts. ## You do not need a reservation, and Global Passes are valid You cannot reserve a seat on Southern trains. Pick any free seat when you board. Trains can be full at busy times, so board early if you want to sit together. 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. Show your pass with your travel day filled in. 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. ## Engineering works can close the line Some days the main line to Brighton is closed. On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026 no trains run between Brighton and Three Bridges. A diverted Southern train runs between London Victoria and Brighton via Gatwick Airport, Horsham, Worthing and Hove, so the trip takes longer. On Sunday 10 January 2027 no trains run between Gatwick Airport and Purley or East Croydon. From Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 February 2027 no trains run between Three Bridges and Brighton via Haywards Heath. Check your date before you travel. ## Arriving in Brighton Trains arrive at Brighton station on Queens Road. It has step-free access to all platforms, a ticket office, shops and refreshments, and bus services for onward travel. Many Southern trains have free wifi and charging points, which is useful if you are checking your onward plans on the way. ## 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 Brighton [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Brighton**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the train from London to Brighton? The quickest trains take around 1 hour. Thameslink from London Bridge takes 1 hour 1 minute to 1 hour 5 minutes, and slower trains take longer. ### Is there a direct train from London to Brighton? Yes. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express all run direct trains with no change. ### Which London station do I leave from for Brighton? London Victoria for Southern and Gatwick Express, and London Bridge for Thameslink. Thameslink also calls at London Blackfriars and London St Pancras International. ### How much is a train ticket from London to Brighton? Fares depend on the time of day and how far ahead you buy, with Advance tickets the cheapest. A Railcard takes up to one third off many fares. ### Do I need to reserve a seat on the train to Brighton? No. You cannot reserve a seat on Southern trains, so pick any free seat. ### Does my Interrail or Eurail pass work from London to Brighton? Yes. Interrail and Eurail Global Passes are valid on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express, and no reservation is 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]()Brighton to London by trainDirect 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]()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. 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