London to Brighton train

Located on the south coast of England, less than an hour from London by train, Brighton is one of the UK's most popular destinations. Whilst it has long been known as a seaside resort, there is far more to Brighton than just fish and chips on the beach! Brighton railway station is the southern terminus of the Brighton mainline in England, and the principal station serving the city of Brighton, East Sussex. It is 50 miles 49 chains (81.45 km) from London Bridge via Redhill.

London to Brighton train times information

The distance between London and Brighton is 47 miles. The average journey time between London and Brighton is 1 hour 21 minutes. The first train from London to Brighton departs at 03:10, and the last train from London to Brighton departs at 02:08. On an average weekday, there are 437 trains traveling from London to Brighton. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, and the fastest journey time by train is 52 minutes.

Trains from London to Brighton leave from London Bridge, London Victoria or London Blackfriars with several departures an hour. It is possible to travel from London to Brighton without having to change trains. Direct services usually take just over an hour or 52m on the faster trains. If you’re travelling on an indirect service, these typically change at Hove, Haywards Heath, or Three Bridges and take around 1h 15m – depending on which route you take.

Many of the trains between London and Brighton are run by Southern Rail as well as Thameslink and the Gatwick Express. All three train companies offer free WiFi on most of their trains – just look out for the blue WiFi sign on the door of your carriage. Passengers are welcome to bring their bicycles with them on the trains unless it’s during rush hour. However, folded cycles are allowed at any time as long as they fit in the luggage compartment.

Tips on finding cheap train tickets

Book early. Cheap train tickets are usually released by train operators in advance of the journey. 

Be flexible. 

Check alternative routes.

Avoid Peak times.

Avoid Friday and Sunday. 

Get a Railcard. Check Your Railcard Eligibility.

Trains tickets are expensive in the UK because they have all been sold off to private companies, rather than being owned publicly. Private companies have only one priority, and that is to make a profit. We were told that privately-owned train companies would mean competition and that that would drive down prices.

Train tickets from London to Brighton can start from as little as £5 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending on the time of day, route, and class you book.

Did you know that most train companies in the UK increase their prices as the departure date approaches? Our aim is to help you save money, if you want to find the cheapest ticket, you can get more information on Trainpal.