How to travel from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton, United Kingdom

The distance between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton is around 138km (86 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 1h 35m.

3 routes found

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

👋 Also check out BrightonSouthend-on-Sea if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to West Ham and then to Brighton.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    £37($44)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
2
car
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Drive

Drive to Brighton.

  • Duration1h 35m
  • Distance138km (86 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton

There are several options for getting from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton by train, subway and car. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the underground which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 2h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 1h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £25 ($29).

The distance between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton is around 138km (86 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 99km (62 miles)

It takes around 2hrs to get from Southend-on-Sea and Brighton by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton is to drive which takes around 1h 35m and will set you back approx £25 ($29).

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

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton. It typically takes around 2hrs and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in West Ham and London Bridge station. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 2hrs.

c2c, Thameslink, Southern Service, London Underground (Tube) and Gatwick Express run train services between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 2hrs, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Southend-on-Sea and Brighton. We recommend that you drive to Brighton. instead which will take 1h 35m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton. We recommend that you take the train to West Ham and then to Brighton. instead which will take 2hrs.

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 Southend-on-Sea and Brighton. The distance is around 138km (86 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton is to take the train which takes, on average, 2hrs and will usually cost around £37 ($44).

How do I get from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton

Compare travel optionsbetween Southend-on-Sea and Brighton

Transport options from Southend-on-Sea to Brighton
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2hrs
£37($44)
every 30 mins142km (88 miles)
Train via Upminster2h 25m
£13($15)
hourly143km (89 miles)
Drive
1h 35m
£25($29)
on demand138km (86 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southend-on-Sea 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