Visit Brighton by Train
Find out about trains to Brighton, how to get great discounts on your travel, and top offers on things to do when you get there
Welcome to Brighton
Brighton has something for everyone, including a long stretch of pebbled beach, a National Open Water Swimming Centre, a Grade II* listed pier, the seafront prom, the Royal Pavilion, the i360 viewing pod, pedestrianised shopping lanes and plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Find out more about travelling to Brighton by train below, along with everything you need to know about the city. Discover all the best things to do and places to visit in Brighton – and don’t forget you can save money on your train travel with a Railcard. And by taking the train you are also helping to lower carbon emissions.
If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can also visit our Day Trips From Brighton by Train page.
How to get to Brighton by train
Brighton has 1 main station:
Brighton: There are regular direct trains to and from many destinations, including London, Lewes, Eastbourne, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Cambridge, Luton and Bedford. If you are coming via London, you can travel directly from London Victoria, London Bridge or London St Pancras.
There city is also served by trains to Hove, Preston Park and London Road Brighton.
You can plan your Brighton train journey, find the cheapest fares and book tickets online with our Journey Planner.
Fastest journey times to Brighton by train
From | To | Journey time from* |
---|---|---|
London | Brighton | 58 min |
Bedford | Brighton | 2 hr 25 min |
Stevenage | Brighton | 1 hr 47 min |
Cambridge | Brighton | 2 hr 25 min |
Bath | Brighton | 3 hr 14 min |
Leicester | Brighton | 2 hr 42 min |
Gatwick | Brighton | 26 min |
* Please note, some journeys will take longer and you may have to change trains
Get great offers on top Brighton attractions
Visit National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) for more great offers when you travel by train.
2FOR1: Royal Pavilion Brighton
Discover Brighton’s extraordinary and extravagant pleasure palace, located in the heart of the city centre
1/3 OFF: SEA LIFE Brighton
Based opposite Brighton’s iconic pier, SEA LIFE Brighton has over 5,500 creatures as well as daily talks and feeds
2FOR1: Brighton i360
Experience Brighton’s best views by far as you glide up gently to 138 metres in the spacious glass viewing pod
More attractions in Brighton
Visit the Palace Pier(external link, opens in a new tab), for rides, shops, snacks and more. There’s a £1 entry fee to non-Brighton residents
Get 2FOR1 entry at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery(external link, opens in a new tab) and explore the eclectic collections
Strap in for a 300-meter ride above Brighton beach on The Brighton Zip(external link, opens in a new tab)
Take the plunge at Sea Lanes(external link, opens in a new tab), the UK’s first national open water swimming centre – it’s even heated to 19 degrees all year round!
Free things to do in Brighton
Take a breather in the Royal Pavilion Gardens(external link, opens in a new tab), an oasis of calm and nature in the city
Wander through the North Laine(external link, opens in a new tab) with its colourful, bustling independent and vintage shops, flea markets and open-air cafes
Free walking tours(external link, opens in a new tab) offer a tips-based tour of the city from the start of May to the end of August and reveal fascinating facts such as why tourists once drank sea water
Family Brighton
Walk on the ceiling at the Upside Down House(external link, opens in a new tab) on the seafront
Visit the Booth Museum of Natural History(external link, opens in a new tab), home to a breath-taking collection of over half a million insects, 50,000 minerals and rocks and the odd dinosaur bone
Play table tennis or hop on a skateboard at The Level(external link, opens in a new tab), an award-winning open space in the heart of the city that also has a kids play area
LGBTQIA+ Brighton
Every August, the annual Brighton Pride(external link, opens in a new tab) is held in the city, with Trans Pride(external link, opens in a new tab) taking place in July
Piers and Queers(external link, opens in a new tab) is a 90-minute walking tour of Brighton from an LGBTQI+ perspective
One of Brighton’s most popular LGBTQI+ nights is at Revenge Club(external link, opens in a new tab)
Accessible Brighton
If you require assistance for any part of your rail journey, please visit our Passenger Assist page to find out more
To search or browse Brighton’s accessible attractions, restaurants, hotels and more, visit the AccessAble website(external link, opens in a new tab)
Theatre and shows in Brighton
Laugh your heart out at comedy nights at Komedia(external link, opens in a new tab)
See a show at the historic Theatre Royal(external link, opens in a new tab), which first opened its doors in 1807
Watch live music, alternative theatre, dance or comedy at The Old Market(external link, opens in a new tab)
Music in Brighton
Find out all about the history of Brighton’s Musical Routes with Jo Whiley’s audio guide
ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 after performing Waterloo at Brighton Dome(external link, opens in a new tab), a beautiful venue that is still going strong
Bing Crosby and The Jam played their final shows at The Brighton Centre(external link, opens in a new tab), the largest conference and exhibition centre in southern England
Concorde 2(external link, opens in a new tab) is an intimate venue on the seafront that showcases up-and-coming indie bands
Brighton in film and TV
Brighton is a popular shooting location for many films and TV shows, including:
The seminal mod film Quadrophenia, which shot at the Grand Hotel as well as what has now been officially renamed Quadrophenia Alley
Grace, the TV crime drama starring John Simm
My Policeman, starring Harry Styles, which was shot at locations including the Palace Pier and the Royal Pavilion
Gurinder Chadha’s Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
Find out more about Brighton
Go to the Visit Brighton website.
Journey times and offers are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Palace Pier image credit: © VisitBrighton.com
Royal Pavilion Gardens image credit: © Adam Bronkhorst/VisitBrighton.com
The Upside Down House image credit © VisitBrighton.com
Komedia image credit: © VisitBrighton.com
Brighton Dome image credit: Peter Prior
Grand Hotel image credit: by Matthew_Hartley is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0