How to travel from Brighton to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Brighton and Colchester is around 170km (106 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 1h 55m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Brighton to Colchester by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ColchesterBrighton if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to London Victoria and then to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £27($32)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Stansted Airport London and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £13($15)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration1h 55m
  • Distance177km (110 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Brighton and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Brighton to Colchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 4h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 1h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £31 ($37).

The distance between Brighton and Colchester is around 170km (106 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 139km (86 miles)

It takes around 2h 20m to get from Brighton and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Brighton to Colchester is to drive which takes around 1h 55m and will set you back approx £31 ($37).

The cheapest way to travel between Brighton and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £13 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Brighton and Colchester. It typically takes around 2h 20m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Brighton to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Victoria and Liverpool Street station. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 20m.

Gatwick Express, Southern Service and Greater Anglia run train services between Brighton and Colchester. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 2h 20m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Brighton and Colchester. It typically takes around 4h 20m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Brighton to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stansted Airport London. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 4h 20m.

National Express run regular bus services between Brighton and Colchester. Buses run 4 times a day and take around 4h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Brighton to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Victoria and then to Colchester. instead which will take 2h 20m.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Brighton and Colchester. The distance is around 177km (110 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Brighton to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 20m and will usually cost around £27 ($32).

How do I get from Brighton to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Brighton and Colchester

Transport options from Brighton to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 20m
£27($32)
every 3 hours170km (106 miles)
Bus
4h 20m
£13($15)
4 times a day272km (169 miles)
Drive
1h 55m
£31($37)
on demand177km (110 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Brighton and Colchester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Colchester

The following major airports near Colchester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester