How to travel from Derby to Brighton, United Kingdom

The distance between Derby and Brighton is around 291km (181 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Derby to Brighton by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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Train via London Euston

Take the train to London Euston and then to Brighton.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £38($45)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Gatwick (LGW).

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3 and then to Brighton.

  • Duration5h 55m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($30)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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car
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Drive

Drive to Brighton.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Distance307km (190 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Derby and Brighton

There are several options for getting from Derby to Brighton by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($30) and will take around 5h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £38 ($45).

The distance between Derby and Brighton is around 291km (181 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 251km (156 miles)

It takes around 3hrs to get from Derby and Brighton by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Derby to Brighton is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £38 ($45).

The cheapest way to travel between Derby and Brighton, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £25 ($30) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Derby and Brighton. It typically takes around 3hrs and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Derby to Brighton. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London St Pancras International. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3hrs.

East Midlands Railways, Thameslink, London Midland, Avanti West Coast, Gatwick Express and Southern Service run train services between Derby and Brighton. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3hrs, 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 Derby and Brighton. It typically takes around 5h 55m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Derby to Brighton. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 55m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Derby and Brighton. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Derby to Brighton. We recommend that you take the train to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Gatwick (LGW). instead which will take 3h 35m.

The closest major airport to Brighton is Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) which is approximately 37km (23 miles) from Brighton. Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) 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 Derby and Brighton. The distance is around 307km (190 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Derby to Brighton is to take the train which takes, on average, 3hrs and will usually cost around £68 ($80).

How do I get from Derby to Brighton

Compare travel optionsbetween Derby and Brighton

Transport options from Derby to Brighton
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train via London Euston + 1 similar
2h 55m
£38($45)
hourly300km (186 miles)
Train3hrs
£68($80)
hourly291km (181 miles)
Train and Plane
3h 35m
£175($210)
hourly465km (289 miles)
Bus
5h 55m
£25($30)
once daily348km (216 miles)
Drive
3h 10m
£35($42)
on demand307km (190 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Derby and Brighton

Train operators

Airports near Brighton

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

LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
37km (23 miles) from Brighton
LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
75km (47 miles) from Brighton
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
77km (48 miles) from Brighton