Brighton to Gatwick Airport Trains From €9.74*

Whether you're after the fastest journey or the best value fare, take a look at our comparison below to find the right operator for this short hop north from Brighton to Gatwick Airport.

• Thameslink: With advance fares from £11.50, and trains running throughout the day, Thameslink is the most frequent service on the route. At 30-40 minutes, the journey is only a little longer than the Gatwick Express, making it a great value option.
• Gatwick Express: A dedicated airport express train completing the journey in around 30 minutes, with advance fares from £13.70, Gatwick Express offers a marginally faster and slightly more premium service than Thameslink.

The approximately 25-mile journey from Brighton to Gatwick Airport heads north through the Sussex countryside and the High Weald before arriving directly into the South Terminal. To make sure your journey starts smoothly at either end, here are a few platform shortcuts and station tips to help you find your way around.

Brighton: Getting to the Platform

Its grand Victorian trainshed is one of the most recognisable railway buildings on the south coast. Brighton station sits on Queens Road, just a short walk away from the seafront. Taxis are available from the rear of the station, and a bus station in front provides services to the town centre, Hove and the surrounding area.

• The Platform Tip: Services to Gatwick Airport depart from platforms 3 to 6, which handle most northbound departures, but do check the departure boards before heading down, as platform allocations can vary by operator and service.
• Pre-Departure: The concourse has a good range of cafés, food shops and retail outlets for anything you might need before boarding, with food stalls and vans often setting up near the main entrance. The ticket office is staffed and there are also ticket machines available throughout the station if you need to purchase or collect your ticket before travelling.

Onboard trains from Brighton to Gatwick Airport

The journey might only be around 30 minutes, but the route north from Brighton passes through some varied countryside as you travel through Sussex before arriving directly beneath the terminal.

• The View Alert: Sit on the left-hand side heading north for the best views of the South Downs and the Sussex hills as the train climbs away from Brighton.
• Key Landmarks: The route passes through the edge of the High Weald, with the wooded hills and farmland of the Sussex interior visible as the train heads north through Haywards Heath.

Arriving at Gatwick Airport

Located right next to the South Terminal, Gatwick Airport station sees you arrive directly into the airport complex, with lifts and escalators connecting platforms with the terminal concourse above.

• The South Terminal: Exits from the station lead straight into the South Terminal building, with check-in, security and the departure halls all within easy reach once inside.
• The North Terminal: Passengers flying from the North Terminal should follow signs for the free inter-terminal shuttle, which departs from the South Terminal every few minutes and reaches the North Terminal in around two minutes.
• Onward Travel: For journeys away from the airport, buses and coaches depart from outside the South Terminal, with taxis also available nearby for shorter trips across Sussex and Surrey.