Travel · Airports
Airports from Brighton: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted
How to reach the London airports from Brighton. Train times are from the National Rail journey planner, checked on 26 October 2026, given as “about”. We publish no fares.
Updated October 2026
Gatwick
Direct Southern and Thameslink trains take about 30 minutes to Gatwick Airport station, beside the South Terminal (gatwickairport.com).
Luton
Direct Thameslink trains take about 2 hours to Luton Airport Parkway; the Luton DART shuttle runs on to the terminal (london-luton.co.uk).
Heathrow
There is no direct train. Take Thameslink to Farringdon and change to the Elizabeth line (tfl.gov.uk), or see heathrow.com for the options; National Express runs coaches (nationalexpress.com).
Stansted
There is no direct train: travel into London and take the Stansted Express from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale (stanstedexpress.com).
Taxis and private hire
Licensed taxis and private-hire cars can be booked for airport journeys; agree the price before you travel. Ride-hailing apps change often: check what the app offers.
Questions and answers
Which airport is closest to Brighton?
Gatwick, about 30 minutes by direct train.
Is there a direct train from Brighton to Luton Airport?
Yes: Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway, about 2 hours, then the DART.
Train times from the National Rail journey planner for a weekday in November 2026. No fares are published here; check with each operator.