Brighton is on the south coast of England in the United Kingdom, approximately 50 miles or 80 kilometres south of London.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during Brighton Bear Weekend, please see our accommodation page.
Getting here by car
- If you’re coming from the north (London), take junction 7 south from the M25 onto the M23, signposted for Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Continue driving south as the M23 turns into the A23, which leads directly into Brighton.
- If you’re coming from the west (Portsmouth/Worthing) or east (Eastbourne), you need to get to the A27 heading towards Brighton. When you reach the A23 interchange, turn south onto the A23; Brighton should be clearly signposted.
Getting here by train
Trains run regularly from several London railway stations, including Victoria, St Pancras and London Bridge. Trains also run from the west (Portsmouth/Worthing) and east (Eastbourne/Ashford) at regular intervals.
If you arrive at St Pancras in London via Eurostar, you can then take a direct train to Brighton; the journey time is approximately 75 minutes. Alternatively, you can take an Underground train (Victoria line, southbound) from Kings Cross St Pancras to Victoria, from where you can take a train directly to Brighton.
Note that train journeys are usually considerably cheaper if you depart after peak travelling time in the morning (typically 10:00), and that it is usually much cheaper to buy a return ticket than two single tickets for the same journey.
You can look up train times and purchase advance tickets on the National Rail website.
Getting here by plane
Many car hire options are available at all UK airports. If you do not want to drive, you can also travel to Brighton via public transport.
If you arrive at Heathrow Airport, there are three ways to get to Brighton (listed from most to least expensive):
- Take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station in London. From Paddington, take an Underground train (Circle or District line, southbound) directly to Victoria, from where you can take a train directly to Brighton (see above).
- Take an Underground (tube) train to Victoria Station in London. To do this, first take an eastbound Piccadilly line train. At South Kensington station, change to an eastbound Circle or District line train. Alight at Victoria, from where you can take a train directly to Brighton (see above).
- Take National Express coach 747 to Brighton, which takes approximately two hours; it is advisable to book this in advance.
If you arrive at Gatwick Airport, there are two ways to get to Brighton:
- Take a train directly from the railway station within Gatwick Airport to Brighton. Trains run regularly, and a single journey costs approximately £10.
- Take National Express coach 747 to Brighton, which takes approximately one hour; it is advisable to book this in advance.
From other airports, either hire a car and drive to Brighton, or catch a train to London and follow the directions above.