People who search for London to Brighton are often looking for one of three things: the train, the car, or the famous bike ride and vintage car run. This page covers the car and the train honestly, and tells you where a private driver fits in if you are going to Brighton by road.
London to Brighton: train, coach or car?
Train. Trains to Brighton run from London Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras, and take roughly an hour. For one traveller, the train is the quickest and usually the cheapest choice, especially with an advance ticket. The National Rail guide shows the routes and current fares.
Coach. The coach is cheap but slower than the train and subject to the A23 and M23 traffic.
Private driver. The drive is 53 miles and takes about 1 h 40 min without traffic. Our chauffeur picks you up at your address and drops you at your hotel, a restaurant or the seafront.
| Train | Coach | Private driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | One or two travellers | Tightest budget | Groups, luggage, late return |
| Can stop on the way | No | No | Yes |
| Return time | Fixed by the ticket | Fixed by the ticket | Whenever you choose |
Why take a private driver to Brighton
The train works well until you factor in a group of four, a big suitcase or a night that ends after midnight. A driver is useful in each of those cases. You can leave London when you want, stay in Brighton as long as you like, and return at the end of the evening, rather than at the time of the last train.
For a hen or stag weekend, a birthday or a corporate day out, one fixed price for the car is easier to share than separate train tickets. The V-Class takes up to eight passengers, and a Mercedes Sprinter minibus carries up to 16 and is quoted on request; see minibus and coach hire.
London to Brighton by car: the route and timing
The route runs south from central London on the A23 and M23 and then joins the A23 again to the coast. It is not a difficult drive, but on a hot weekend the road to the sea fills up, and a Friday evening out of London is slow. Leaving before 09:00 on a Saturday, or travelling midweek, saves a lot of time. Our drivers know the usual delays and plan the departure with you.
The London to Brighton bike ride, rally and vintage car run
Many of the searches for London to Brighton are about events: the annual charity bike ride, other cycle rides and the Veteran Car Run. A driver can be useful if you are taking part or supporting someone who is. We can take you or your family to the start in London, meet you at the finish, or bring friends and relatives back at the end of the day.
Event dates change every year, so check the organiser’s page, such as the British Heart Foundation bike ride, for the date and route. Cycles and event kit take space, so tell us when you ask for a quote and we will tell you which car fits.
A day trip to Brighton
Brighton is an easy day trip. The usual day covers a walk along the seafront and the pier, the Lanes and North Laine for shops and lunch, and the Royal Pavilion. For opening times and tickets, use the official Visit Brighton site. If you have a driver, you could add the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters on the way, or continue to Canterbury on another day. Our guide to the best day trips from London by car has more.
What a London to Brighton private driver costs
Our hourly rate outside London, beyond the M25, is £70 an hour in an E-Class, £85 in an S-Class or a V-Class and £105 in a Range Rover. Hourly hire has a four-hour minimum.
For a day in Brighton, we estimate seven and a half hours (1 h 40 min each way plus four hours in the city): £525 in an E-Class, £638 in an S-Class or V-Class and £788 in a Range Rover. VAT is included and the price is agreed before you book. It is the price of the car, not per person.
A one-way transfer, an overnight stay or a late-evening return is quoted on request. See the prices page for the full table.
How to book your Brighton driver
- Use the form below or the contact page to give us your pick-up address, date, number of passengers and luggage.
- Tell us whether you want a day return, a one-way trip or a late return.
- We send a fixed price, VAT included, with the car that fits the group.
- Your chauffeur arrives at the agreed time and waits for you in Brighton.
Airports and onward journeys
Brighton is not far from Gatwick, and we also cover Gatwick airport transfers if you are flying in or out. Tell us at the time of the quote if a flight is part of the day, and we will plan the timing with you.
Cheaper ways to go and what a car adds
For one traveller, the train is the answer, and advance tickets keep the fare down. We would rather say that than quote you for a trip where it makes no sense. National Rail shows the options for your date.
A private driver changes the maths for a group. You pay for the car, so a party of four to eight shares one price, and nobody has to queue for the last train home. Luggage, shopping and anything bought in the Lanes stay in the boot, and the car takes you to the door of your hotel or home at the end of the night.
Practical tips for Brighton
Parking in central Brighton is limited and the seafront gets very busy on sunny weekends, so being dropped close to your hotel or the seafront and collected later is easier than driving yourself. If you are staying overnight, we can return the next day and quote the whole trip together.
If you are heading to a concert, a conference at the Brighton Centre or a wedding in the area, tell us the venue and the time you need to arrive. We will plan the departure from London so that you arrive with time to spare, and agree the return time before you book. For wedding parties, see our wedding car hire page.
Seven Sisters and the coast
If you would like more than the seafront, the white cliffs at the Seven Sisters are a short drive along the coast. A driver makes the combination easy, as the car waits at each stop. Tell us what you want to see and we will quote the whole day.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
