- Must visit
Lewes Castle & Museum
Town museum inside Lewes Castle, covering Sussex archaeology, local history and views from the battlements. A strong first stop in Lewes.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£9
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£9
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
12 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
12 m
Trains on 18 Sept
1
Distance
17 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Polegate to Lewes is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Polegate to Lewes will cost around £9 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £9.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 1 trains from Polegate to Lewes, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 17 km distance in an average of 12 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 12 m .
The slowest trains will take 12 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.


Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Polegate to Lewes among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £4 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 44m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £4, while a train costs an average of £9.
Distance: 17 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£9 Average Price | £4 Average Price Cheapest | £4 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
44m Average total duration Fastest 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 31m Average total duration 1h 1m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 22m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Polegate to Lewes:
A coach is £5 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Polegate to Lewes costing on average £9.
Other travel options to Lewes take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 1m.
You'll arrive about 8m sooner (14m by train vs 22m by car). Tickets start at around £9 compared to roughly £4 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Southern.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Polegate to Lewes trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G27052 | Delayed 23:15 0:15Polegate station (PLG) | 0h13 | 23:28 23:28Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G26376 | On time 5:29 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h16 | 5:45 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
C09883 | On time 5:44 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h16 | 6:00 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G26278_C83035 | 5:59 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h18 | 6:17 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G26287 | On time 8:09 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h12 | 8:21 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G77143 | On time 8:15 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h16 | 8:31 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
C82802 | On time 8:39 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h13 | 8:52 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G27030 | On time 8:46 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h17 | 9:03 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
C09944 | On time 9:04 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h16 | 9:20 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
G77150 | On time 9:21 Polegate station (PLG) | 0h12 | 9:33 Lewes station (LWS) | 0 changesdirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train 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.
Trains from Polegate to Lewes run on average 6 times per day, taking around 14m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £9 but you can travel from only £4 by coach.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:02, the last at 23:58. The fastest train covers the 17 km distance in 17m.
Distance 17 km |
Average train duration 14m |
Cheapest ticket price £9 |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 17m |
First train 0:02 |
Last train 23:58 |
Cheapest Month Dec |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 28 days |
Discover the best of Lewes — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Lewes trip today.
Town museum inside Lewes Castle, covering Sussex archaeology, local history and views from the battlements. A strong first stop in Lewes.
Former Tudor house with furnished rooms and exhibits on domestic life. It gives a vivid sense of everyday history in the county town.
Museum in the former home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf. Displays explore the Hogarth Press, Bloomsbury links and the couple’s life here.
Steep historic street lined with old buildings, independent shops and antique outlets. It captures the character that makes Lewes so appealing to wander.
Central street and shopping area with historic facades, bookshops and cafés nearby. A practical and atmospheric base for exploring the town centre.
Accessible riverside walk with wetland views, birdlife and open skies. A calm route that contrasts nicely with Lewes’s compact historic centre.
A strong Sussex ale long brewed in Lewes. It is tied to the town’s historic brewery and is a classic local pint to try in local pubs.
Traditional Sussex pond pudding is suet pastry wrapped around butter and a whole lemon, then steamed. It is a rich county speciality with old rural roots.
A hearty Sussex stew of beef, onions and stock, slowly cooked with potatoes. It is a warming traditional dish linked to local farm cooking.
Stylish modern restaurant and wine bar serving seasonal small plates, local produce and a relaxed contemporary atmosphere.
Refined dining pub near Lewes serving modern British cooking, local ingredients and a polished but comfortable countryside feel.
Traditional Lewes pub known for Harvey’s ales, classic British dishes and a lively historic atmosphere in the town centre.
Moderate for southern England. Hotels can be pricey in peak season, but dining and local buses are similar to other market towns near Brighton.
Service is sometimes included; if not, tip 10-12.5% in restaurants for good service. Taxis are often rounded up or tipped about 10%. Cafés usually do not expect tips.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Polegate to Lewes by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Lewes, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Polegate to Lewes trains use the Polegate to Lewes station pair. Use this guide to compare Polegate and Lewes train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Polegate has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Wi-Fi is available at Polegate.
Ticket office support is available at Polegate.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Polegate: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Polegate: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Polegate: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category B1 station: Step-free access to both platforms via separate entrances and short ramps (below 400m and less than 1:10 gradient). Access between platforms via level crossing. Assistance Meeting Point is at the main entrance on platform 2, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: All Southern ticket machines are able to sell tickets with Disabled Persons Railcard discounts. Ticket machines are of an accessible design, however their location and the station itself may not be so please check the station access note for further details, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Lewes has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Lewes.
Wi-Fi is available at Lewes.
Ticket office support is available at Lewes.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Lewes: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Lewes: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Lewes: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category B2 station: Steep ramp to platforms 2 and 3 (to London / some trains to Seaford / Eastbourne). Ramp is over 400m long and above 1:10 gradient). Lifts to all other platforms. Assistance Meeting Point is the Ticket Office, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: All Southern ticket machines are able to sell tickets with Disabled Persons Railcard discounts. Ticket machines are of an accessible design, however their location and the station itself may not be so please check the station access note for further details, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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