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Home » What’s the best London to Brighton train price?

What’s the best London to Brighton train price?

Whether you’re wanting to see the sights of the Capital, or soak up some sun in Brighton, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting the best value for money. Here’s our guide to which trains go to Brighton, how to book them and how you can get the best London to Brighton train price.

What is the London to Brighton train price?

So, there are three different brands of train (all operated by the same company) that go to Brighton. The London to Brighton train price can depend on which one you travel with, so let’s go through each of them.

Gatwick Express

Gatwick Express trains run from London Victoria to Brighton twice every hour on Mondays to Saturdays. These trains take just under an hour to complete the trip, and they stop at Gatwick Airport and Haywards Heath on the way.

In terms of price, here’s what you can expect:

  • An Off-Peak Return is £43.50 (valid after 09:30 weekdays, return portion valid for one month)
  • An Anytime Day Return is £38.90 (valid any time)
  • An Off-Peak Day Return is £34.10 (valid after 09:30 weekdays).

These fares are also accepted on Thameslink trains.

Southern

Direct Southern services only run from London Victoria to Brighton on Sundays, when the Gatwick Express service doesn’t operate on this route.

The prices are the same as the Gatwick Express, though you’d only ever need the Off-Peak fare, seeing as these trains only run on Sundays.

They run twice per hour too, though the train calls at some extra stops, and takes just over an hour.

Thameslink

Finally, let’s take a look at the London to Brighton train price if you travel with Thameslink. These trains run every day of the week.

You have a few different stations to choose from, as these trains serve St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink (except on Sundays), Blackfriars and London Bridge. Typically, you’ll find four trains per hour (three on Sundays). The typical journey time is just over an hour from London Bridge, and up to 80 minutes from St Pancras.

Here are the London to Brighton train prices if you choose Thameslink:

  • An Off-Peak Return is £39.60 (valid after 09:30 weekdays, return portion valid for one month)
  • An Anytime Day Return is £31.30 (valid any time)
  • An Off-Peak Day Return is £21.60 (valid after 09:30 weekdays)
  • A Super Off-Peak Day Return is £14.50 (valid all day on weekends and Bank Holidays).

So, if you want the best London to Brighton train price, you should choose Thameslink. Just remember that these tickets are valid only on Thameslink-branded trains.

If you’re travelling out on a Saturday, then back on a Sunday (or Bank Holiday), then the cheapest option is to buy two Super Off-Peak Single tickets (£14.40 each).

How do I book the best London to Brighton train price?

You can do this through the Railsmartr website! Just pop your journey details in and we’ll show you the best value fare for your trip:

railsmartr website showing results for the london to brighton train price

We’ll always show you the cheapest London to Brighton train price, but if you click on the price of each train, then you’ll be able to choose from all of the different fares available.

When you book this way, there’s no need to worry if your ticket is valid. What’s more, all of the ticket types we’ve told you about are fully flexible and refundable. You don’t need to take a specific train, and if you change your mind before you travel, we’ll refund the tickets for you. That’s the full value, too. No extra fees!

What are the trains like?

Let’s take a look at the two main types of train you might use. Gatwick Express services have Electrostar trains, which have four, eight or 12 carriages:

gatwick express train

You’ll find a power socket at every window seat, free WiFi and plenty of luggage space. There are lots of full-size tables, too.

Meanwhile, if you take Thameslink, your train will have either eight or 12 carriages. Our main tip is to aim for the very rear of the train, and to sit in First Class. The rear First Class compartment is always open to Standard Class ticket-holders:

interior of a thameslink train, which has the best london to brighton train price

Every seat has access to a power socket, there’s free WiFi and you have a bigger table to use, as well. Remember though, you can only use the rear compartment.

Is there anything else I should know?

Here at Railsmartr, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next?

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with Railsmartr. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 14:00 04/08/23. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.