How to travel from Manchester to Brighton, United Kingdom

The distance between Manchester and Brighton is around 379km (236 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Manchester to Brighton 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 BrightonManchester if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Euston and then to Brighton.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £83($100)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

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

  • Duration6h 10m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £28($33)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Brighton.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Distance416km (258 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Manchester and Brighton

There are several options for getting from Manchester to Brighton by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £28 ($33) and will take around 6h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £83 ($100).

The distance between Manchester and Brighton is around 379km (236 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 329km (204 miles)

It takes around 3h 10m to get from Manchester and Brighton by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Manchester to Brighton is to take the train which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx £83 ($100).

The cheapest way to travel between Manchester and Brighton, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £28 ($33) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Manchester and Brighton. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Manchester to Brighton. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Euston and Victoria station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 10m.

Avanti West Coast, Gatwick Express, Southern Service, Thameslink, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway run train services between Manchester and Brighton. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 10m, 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 Manchester and Brighton. It typically takes around 6h 10m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Manchester to Brighton. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Heathrow Airport T2 and T3. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 6h 10m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Manchester and Brighton. Buses run twice daily and take around 6h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Manchester to Brighton. We recommend that you take the train to London Euston and then to Brighton. instead which will take 3h 10m.

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 Manchester and Brighton. The distance is around 416km (258 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Manchester to Brighton is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around £83 ($100).

How do I get from Manchester to Brighton

Compare travel optionsbetween Manchester and Brighton

Transport options from Manchester to Brighton
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 2 similar
3h 10m
£83($100)
hourly379km (236 miles)
Train via London Euston3h 40m
£105($125)
every 30 mins381km (237 miles)
Train via Reading5h 15m
£130($155)
hourly411km (255 miles)
Bus
6h 10m
£28($33)
twice daily427km (265 miles)
Drive
4h 20m
£47($56)
on demand416km (258 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Manchester 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