Colchester to Brighton bus with National Express

Fri 04 Sept
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The cheapest and fastest coaches from Colchester to Brighton

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 04 Sept

Cheapest price on 04 Sept

£54

Average ticket price on 04 Sept

£66

Fastest journey on 04 Sept

6 h 22 m

Average journey duration on 04 Sept

6 h 31 m

Buses on 04 Sept

30

Distance

138 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Colchester to Brighton is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Colchester to Brighton will cost around £66 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £54.

Fast coaches

To travel from Colchester to Brighton you need to make at least 2 changes.

  • National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX025
    14:107h42
    Colchester, East Hill / High Street
    21:52Brighton, Preston Circus
    £541One-way
    2 changes
  • National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX025
    14:107h45
    Colchester, East Hill / High Street
    21:55Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)
    £541One-way
    2 changes
  • National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX025
    14:107h55
    Colchester, East Hill / High Street
    22:05Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)
    £541One-way
    2 changes
  • National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX025
    14:107h55
    Colchester, East Hill / High Street
    22:05Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)
    £541One-way
    2 changes
  • National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX025
    14:107h45
    Colchester, East Hill / High Street
    21:55Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)
    £541One-way
    2 changes

Travel Information

Compare train and coach for Colchester to Brighton

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Colchester to Brighton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £10 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 57m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £10, while a train costs an average of £68.

Distance: 138 km

Compare bus with

Coach
Most popular
Train
Driving

£10

Average Price

Cheapest

£68

Average Price

£33

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 22m

Average total duration

4h 52m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 57m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 27m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 5m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

-

CO2 emissions

National Express

Most popular bus company

Thameslink

Most popular train company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Colchester to Brighton is a coach with an average price of £10.

This is compared to other travel options from Colchester to Brighton:

A coach is £58 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Colchester to Brighton costing on average £68.

The fastest way to travel from Colchester to Brighton is by train with an average journey time of 2h 27m.

Other travel options to Brighton take longer:

Coach takes on average 4h 52m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Colchester and Brighton including taking a train and coach.
Take the bus. It's the cheapest way to make this trip, and the price gap is usually bigger than people expect.

Tickets start at around £10 compared to roughly £33 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £23. The journey takes 4h 52m versus 2h 5m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.

Live departures

Colchester to Brighton bus times

The table below shows live departures for Colchester to Brighton coaches for tomorrow, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
National ExpressNX717 · NXA6 · NX0252:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h30
10:05 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA6 · NX0252:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h45
10:20 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA6 · NX0252:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h35
10:10 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h27
14:02 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h30
14:05 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h40
14:15 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h30
14:05 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h40
14:15 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX0255:35 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h27
14:02 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX0258:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h35
15:15 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX0258:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h22
15:02 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX0258:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h25
15:05 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX02511:55 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h32
19:27 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX02511:55 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h45
19:40 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX727 · NX02511:55 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h35
19:30 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h45
21:55 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h42
21:52 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h55
22:05 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h55
22:05 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h42
21:52 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02514:10 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h45
21:55 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX728 · NX02516:45 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h35
23:20 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX728 · NX02516:45 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h37
23:22 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NX728 · NX02516:45 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
6h45
23:30 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h05
2:45 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h55
2:35 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
8h05
2:45 Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h57
2:37 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h57
2:37 Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church)2 changes
National ExpressNX717 · NXA8 · NX02518:40 Colchester, East Hill / High Street
7h55
2:35 Brighton, Preston Circus2 changes

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Colchester to Brighton by train or coach

Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Fri
04 Sept
Sat
05 Sept
Sun
06 Sept
Mon
07 Sept
Tue
08 Sept
Wed
09 Sept
Thu
10 Sept

Why should you book Colchester to Brighton coaches with Omio?

National Express operates all coaches services from Colchester to Brighton.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Colchester to Brighton.

Why book with Omio vs National Express?

  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Colchester to Brighton.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Colchester to Brighton.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Colchester to Brighton

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Buses from Colchester to Brighton run on average 24 times per day, taking around 4h 52m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £9 if you book in advance.

The earliest coach runs at 02:35, the last at 22:55. The fastest coach covers the 138 km distance in 6h 30m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
138 km
Average bus duration
4h 52m
Cheapest ticket price
£9
Buses per day
24
Fastest bus
6h 30m
First bus
2:35
Last bus
22:55
Cheapest Month
Jun
Cheapest Day
Tue
High Season
Jul - Sept
Low Season
Oct - Dec
Busiest Day
Mon
Least Busy Day
Mon
Best time to book
14 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Bus providers: National Express from Colchester to BrightonYou can travel by bus between Colchester to Brighton with National Express for as low as £9. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average National Express Duration
4h 0m
Cheapest National Express Price
£39
National Express frequency
7 a day
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.

What's included in each class

Compare National Express classes and the amenities included in each one.

Standard
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Power plugs

Complete guide to Brighton

Things to do in Brighton

Discover the best of Brighton — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Brighton trip today.

  • Recommended

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

Contemporary art gallery in the Royal Pavilion Garden, showing major exhibitions in a restored historic building.

  • Recommended

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

Museum inside the Royal Pavilion Estate covering local history, fashion, decorative art and changing exhibitions.

Centre for Contemporary Arts Brighton

Seafront gallery dedicated to photography and contemporary visual culture, with changing exhibitions and events.

Pound sterling (£)

Moderate for a UK seaside city. Hotels and dining are pricier than many British towns, but buses, casual eats and supermarket options help keep daily costs manageable.

Average meal costs

Budget
£8-15 for fast food or a simple lunch.
Mid-range
£20-35 per person for a meal.
Fine dining
£60+ per person for upscale restaurants.
Coffee
£3-4.50 for a cappuccino.

Tipping culture

Service may be included in restaurants; if not, 10-12.5% is common for good service. Taxi fares are often rounded up. Tipping in cafés is optional.

FAQs: Colchester to Brighton coach

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Colchester to Brighton by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Brighton, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap coach tickets from Colchester to Brighton can start from as little as £9 when you book in advance. The average coach ticket price for Colchester to Brighton is £10; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by coach from Colchester to Brighton is 6h 30m to travel the 138 km long route. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest coach from Colchester to Brighton leaves at 2:35. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest coach from Colchester to Brighton leaves at 22:55.
There are 24 coaches a day from Colchester to Brighton which require at least one change with National Express. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer coaches.
When taking a coach from Colchester to Brighton, you can count on National Express for the best way to get you to Brighton. You can also check all possible coach companies who offer a service between Colchester and Brighton and compare the amenities they offer before buying a coach ticket.
When departing from Colchester , you have various coach station options to start your route from including Colchester, East Hill / High Street, Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station), Ipswich, Quadling Street (Cardinal Park Cinema) . When arriving in Brighton , you can end your route in coach stations like Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church), Brighton, Preston Circus, Brighton, Old Steine South (Stop Z), Brighton, Pool Valley Coach Station, Brighton, Preston Park, Brighton, Patcham, Hove, Kingsway, Brighton, Withdean Park, Brighton, Preston Road / Harrington Road (Preston Park), Brighton Railway Station - Stroudley Road.Passengers board the coach most frequently from Colchester, East Hill / High Street, which is located around away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church), located 0 away from the city centre.
A trip to Brighton from Colchester is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 6h 30m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a coach from Colchester to Brighton is June.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Colchester and Brighton including taking a train and coach.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the coach from Colchester to Brighton:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the coach from Colchester to Brighton for coach company National Express.
Whether you can cancel your coach ticket from Colchester to Brighton depends on the coach companies:
  • National Express
    • You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the coach with coach company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
No, there is no food available to purchase on board the coach from Colchester to Brighton.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a coach ticket from Colchester to Brighton:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a coach ticket from Colchester to Brighton:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the coach from Colchester to Brighton.
You can reserve your seat on the coach from Colchester to Brighton with the following coach company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the coach from Colchester to Brighton with the following coach company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the coach from Colchester to Brighton with the following coach company: National Express.

popular bus stations

Important Stations and Airports in Colchester and Brighton

Most Colchester to Brighton buses use the Colchester, East Hill / High Street to Brighton, York Place (St Peter's Church) station pair, with some services arriving at Brighton, Preston Circus. Use this guide to compare Colchester and Brighton bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.

Departure bus stations in Colchester
Arrival bus stations in Brighton

Which Colchester station do buses to Brighton leave from?

Buses from Colchester to Brighton leave from Colchester, East Hill / High Street. The station is from Colchester city centre at Colchester Bus Station, Colchester CO2 7DP, UK.
Colchester, East Hill / High StreetColchester Bus Station, Colchester CO2 7DP, UKWifiParkingATMTaxisAccessibilityWCShowerTicket Office
City-centre transport

Getting to Colchester, East Hill / High Street from Colchester city centre

Bus1, 2, 3 · 1m · £3 · every ~17 min
107, 105 · 7m · £0.90 · every ~3 min

Colchester, East Hill / High Street bus station facilities and services

Colchester, East Hill / High Street has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at Colchester, East Hill / High Street. ATMs are available at Colchester, East Hill / High Street.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Colchester, East Hill / High Street.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Colchester, East Hill / High Street: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Colchester, East Hill / High Street: Limited accessibility features.

Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station)Colchester Bus Station, Colchester CO2 7DP, UKWifiParkingATMTaxisAccessibilityWCShowerTicket Office
City-centre transport

Getting to Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station) from Colchester city centre

Bus74B, 107, 105, 43 · 3m · £3 · every ~5 min

Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station) bus station facilities and services

Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station). ATMs are available at Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station).

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station).

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station): Parking, Taxis, WC.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Colchester, Stanwell Street (Bus station): Wheelchair accessible with ramps.

More options for your journey from Colchester to Brighton

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeCoachesCoach tickets to Brighton Colchester to Brighton bus

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