Brighton to London Gatwick Airport train with Thameslink

Trains from Brighton to London Gatwick

It is easy to travel from Brighton to London Gatwick, with there being a reliable and frequent service throughout the week. There are about 134 trains that leave Brighton for London Gatwick on weekdays and Saturdays and around 96 that depart on Sundays. The average journey time for trains on this route is approximately 35min, so you’ll be at the airport terminal in no time at all. All trains that operate this route are direct too, so you won’t have to make any changes along the way.

Brighton to London Gatwick Train Time: Daily Departures

Seeing as there are about 136 trains departing daily on weekdays and Saturdays and around 96 on Sundays, you should find it easy to find a train that matches your schedule. On weekdays the earliest train departs at about 05:05, on Saturdays it is around 04:10, whilst on Sundays it tends to be at about 04:15. The latest departure on a weekdays and Saturdays tends to be about 23:37, whilst on Sundays it is around 22:55. All the trains that travel between Brighton to London Gatwick are direct, so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

How long is the journey by train from Brighton to London Gatwick?

You can travel from Brighton to London Gatwick quickly and efficiently. There is a frequent service throughout the week, with trains leaving early in the morning right up until late at night. The average time it takes to travel from Brighton to London Gatwick by train is around 35min. The fastest train operates this route in around 27min, whilst the slowest train takes about 55min. All the trains have the same departure station in Brighton and arrival station at London Gatwick.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Brighton to London Gatwick?

Departure train stationAll trains depart from Brighton Railway Station, which Is located in the heart of the city. You can get to the station from the famous Brighton Pier in about 15min by foot. The station has lots to offer passengers, with food outlets, shops and toilets all available. It is also accessible for people travelling with a disability or mobility issues.

Arrival train station:All the trains arrive into London Gatwick train station, which is a 12min drive from Crawley or about a 30min train to London Victoria train station. At London Gatwick train station you will find places to eat, drink and shop. Whilst there are also toilets. It is also very accessible for people with disabilities as it is connected to the airport.

Brighton Pavilion Happy Faces. Source: Shutterstock

Which train companies travel from Brighton to London Gatwick?

There are two train companies that travel from Brighton to London Gatwick, so you will have a choice of which one suits your needs more. ThamesLink and Southern both offer a fast and regular service between these two locations, with trains leaving regularly throughout the week. Both companies have equally fast services, so you will get there in equally good time. ThamesLink tends to have have around 94 trains departing daily between Monday to Saturday with Southern operating about 40 trains daily. On Sundays, ThamesLink has approximately 50 trains departing Brighton and Southern has around 46. With these trains being great for commuters and holiday makers, it won't take you long to reach your destination.

ThamesLink from Brighton to London Gatwick

ThamesLink Brighton to London Gatwick offers a comprehensive schedule throughout the week. There are fast trains which travel the route in approximately 32min, with the slower ones taking around 42min. On average there are about 96 trains during the weekdays and Saturday and around 50 trains on Sundays. The earliest trains tend to depart about 04:12 on Saturdays, 05:20 on Sundays and 05:06 on weekdays. The last trains tend to be about 23:37 on Mondays and Saturdays and around 23:42 on Sundays. With both one-way and round-trips available, you’ll be able to book your rip with ease.

Southern from Brighton to London Gatwick

Southern Brighton to London Gatwick also offers a good service on a daily basis. With trains also operating very efficiently, you can get from Brighton to London Gatwick in about 26min. The slower route can take up to 46min, so you should check the timetable before you leave. In general there are about 39 trains that depart on weekdays and Saturdays, whilst there are about 56 that operate on Sundays. The first trains with this company tend to leave around 05:29 on Saturdays, 04:33 on Sundays and 05:18 on weekdays. With the final train departing at about 23:13 on weekdays and Saturdays and 23:09 on Sundays.

Train Brighton to London Gatwick: Services on board

Both ThamesLink and Southern offer great services to passengers. On both trains you can purchase First Class tickets, so you’ll can enjoy a more spacious environment and comfier seating. Wi-fi is also available throughout the trains, so you can stay online for your whole journey. Folding bikes can be taken on the trains. On both Southern and ThamesLink trains you can take a bike on board too, but not during peak travel times in the morning or evening.

Both Southern and ThamesLink have similar baggage policies, which mean you can have two items of luggage that are no larger than about 30cm x 70cm x 90cm and no heavier than around 23kg. If you are travelling with a disability and need assistance whilst at the station, you can arrange this by calling up the train companies at least one day in advance of when you travel. Both sets of trains are well equipped for disabled travellers, with spacious areas for wheelchairs on board. You can take up to two pets on board the trains too, providing they are kept on a lead or in a suitable animal carrier.

Gatwick Express Train. Source: Shutterstock

How to find cheap train tickets from Brighton to London Gatwick?

It is easy for you to get cheap train tickets from Brighton to London Gatwick if you know where to look. For instance, if you know in when you would like to travel then it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible. This way you will get better priced fares. If you are flexibile around the day or time that you can travel this can also reduce the cost of your ticket. For example, travelling a few hours either side of your desired time might make your journey cheaper. Having a railcard is also helpful, as they provide you with discounts of around one-third of the cost. A young person’s railcard is an example of one type of railcard you can get if you are aged between 16 and 25.

To London by train – travel tips

London is the capital city of the UK and it has much to see and do. To ensure you don’t miss out on all the top attractions, it a good idea to have an itinerary in place. Begin your trip by going to the Tower of London, which is the Queen’s official palace and fortress. Then head over to the London Dungeons, which looks at prison life in historic London.

After this head over to Borough Market, where you can grab a great bite to eat from one of the many food stalls. Close by is The Shard, which you go to the top of and get a great view of the London Skyline. After this get away from the hustle and bustle of the city at either Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, where you can take in local wildlife and vast greenery.

Then see London from another perspective and take a river tour, which will give you a chance to see a range of great attractions including The Palace of Westminster. Before you leave, head over to the West End where you can catch a world famous show at one of the many theatres.