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Brighton railway station is on Queens Road in the centre of town, it is a fairly small station in terms of facilities offered, yet with 8 platforms all being fairly close to each other for convenience. It managed by Southern Rail, so of course, you'll see most Southern Rail staff manning the station's concourse, and most services coming from Southern as well as other railway franchises and routes they operate: Gatwick Express and Thameslink. The main station serving the City of Brighton and Hove, Brighton Station is the 7th busiest train station in the UK outside of London, in which it provides multiple services to, the quickest being a 57 minute Gatwick Express route into Victoria, the cheapest being the slightly longer route via Southern, with services from Thameslink going into St Pancras International and London Bridge. The only other operator to run services from the station is Great Western Railway, who run routes to the likes of Bristol or Cardiff. If you're travelling to a major city probably further north than London, odds are unless it's the likes of Cambridge, you probably will need to change in London. It is a shame Brighton isn't on much more longer routes going up north, meaning I had to take two trains back to Manchester and a tube after coming to the city to watch my team, Manchester City lift the Premier League for the second time in a row. Brighton Station has a few shops to grab to go food and beverages and miscellaneous including WHSmith which is basically found at every station, a PRET which is the only place you can sit down with a coffee and perhaps a snack (mainly to go food, and a limited menu), and Superdrug. It is a real shame there is a lack of places to grab something to eat before travelling here, as one would expect from a large station, with very little choice other than PRET, unless you fancy the 10 minutes or so walk (or 5 minutes on multiple buses) into the main city centre. Of course, you could get lunch with the to go food section, perhaps at M&S, but I found here to be overpriced and have a limited selection for me as a coeliac, requiring a gluten-free diet. Separate reviews for all of these businesses to come, folks! The station does seem a mess on match-days, with trains going into Falmer to serve the Amex Stadium being messy with a long and winding gating queuing, which you actually have to leave the station and enter it again to start the queue, which prolongs things and could be thought out a lot better. I didn't notice a lot of ticket machines at the station either. The station staff seemed really friendly, so well done to Southern for that, and the ceiling of the station was really impressive and cool. This station is okay but it just feels like it is trying to be as basic as possible that they can get away with. 2*
Another railway station that I have the opportunity to review, though I haven't gone as far as reviewing every single metro/underground station that I visited (which is probably what I will be doing next time, if there is a next time). Anyway, there is nothing particular about this station that stands out, it is your typical English industrial era station. Unlike the ones on the continent it comes across a somewhat more practical than anything else. Form here you can pretty much catch trains to most places along the coast, or at least in the local region. The other thing is that there are numerous stations that means that you can get to other parts of Brighton, and the adjoining towns. The Thameslink and Gatwick Express also terminate here. As for facilities, well, there your standard facilities as well.
Five and nine! The Brighton line! Toot toot! So goes the bingo call for the number 59. Today, a variety of train companies will deliver to this little bijou town on the south coast and is one of the rare occasions when privatisation of the rail industry has led to consumer choice rather than the imposition of a private rather than public monopoly You'll arrive in a nice Victorian station with high ceilings admitting a lot of natural sunlight. It's not the biggest in terms of facilities but there's a toilet (fee required), a newsagent and some places for coffee and a snack. Limited seating is available However, you're only steps from the fun of Brighton as the station is conveniently located close to the centre of town. So, walk on through into town The staff were helpful with information when I clarified which trains I could catch with my off peak saver ticket Toot toot!
I hate to get all romantic on your asses but catching the train from Brighton Station always makes me think of Brief Encounter. I know that was filmed at Carnforth Station not Brighton but there's something about the arched ceilings, the grand architecture and the freezing platforms that conjures images of heartache and heartbreak. In the summertime, the station is usually jam-packed with tourists and weekenders flocking to Brighton for a few days of sunshine. The rest of the time however, it always feels quite a emotive place with hundreds of strangers passing through looking for love, lust or company.
Approaching Brighton Station from Queen's Road, the place looks pretty grand. Huge glass archways and a large forecourt, it's more like a central London station. It's huge inside, and there's an M&S, WH Smiths, coffee shop and sushi cart. What more could you need for your travels?! The past year or so has seen the introduction of more ticket machines, although I've recently discovered this hasn't cut down the queues of over-enthusiastic students at 8.30am heading to the university campuses at Falmer. Maybe this will die down after the first term. I mean really? Early morning lectures? That won't last. There's also quite a large ticket office with actual people at them, this can be a God send when the machines won't seem to accept your £10 note. The station does get very busy at the weekends with the hoards of tourists that flock here, but there's nine platforms and plenty of trains heading right across the south coast, so the masses are swiftly dealt with. Located right at the beginning of the North Laine it's the perfect spot to start your Brighton escapades.
The station has a good bit of history attached to it. The original facade was based on ideas of the Renaissance and was designed by Henry Morcatta. This was back when Trafalgar Street didn't have the bridge. The whole station was massively enlarged by the Victorians who added all the wrought iron and platform covers that dominate the station today. These days it's a busy port of call and is on the line to all major cities in the country. They have a range of services and shops dotted around the forecourt. There is a good mix of ticket office and self service machines and a massive information board clearly informs you about departures. The station is kept clean and it has the feel of a London terminal in many ways. A pretty good welcome into the city if you have arrived by rail with enough available to start off your time in Brighton.
It's easy to find the train you need, there are always 3 or 4 nice National Rail guys in fluorescent jackets to point you in the right direction if not. The station building is impressive, Victorian and huge. There's a new waiting room! (well heated, like actually warm) complete with tables and chairs, a bar and even salt and pepper should you for some reason decide to eat your main meal here. I've never been in a better waiting room. It's so handy if you have friends that are always late or don't have a boyfriend into the frost bitten and mucousy look. Much like other big stations there's a piano. However the performers are classic brighton; 6 year old boys in anime tshirts improving jazz to old chaps playing As Time Goes By to people like me who, when a little tipsy, will play the first 20 seconds of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton then walk away smuggly while the station groans. The M and S is handy. Toilets are 20/30p and v clean indeed. Bit pigeony but then they're not seagulls so really who cares. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the centre and the route couldn't be easier; walk out of the station, you can already see the sea. Just walk straight down the road in front of you towards the sea. Unless you're here for the beach, in which case obvs keep walking, you'll meet a clock tower (see picture). You're kinda in the centre here. I always feel excited when I'm walking from my train into Brighton station. Dinner dates, nights out and lazy days on the beach. It's the best.
I utilized this train station many times during my study abroad at University of Sussex. It is the closest train station that will take you into London. The staff here are all very nice. I have asked several staff on numerous occasions on stuff like which track is the one I need to go to and how to purchase tickets, etc. The train station itself has a historic feel to it and it has a lot of natural lighting coming in. Very clean and spacious. The trains are usually on time and I have yet to experience a delay. MIND THE GAP.
Compared to other stations Brighton is pretty good, if you have a long wait plenty of coffee shops around and a well positioned Smiths to pass the time. If u are having signal issues good free WiFi at station to use. Never usually a problem with train delays but i.m not a frequent train user
I completely agree with Joseph- as soon as the train pulls into this station..I feel so glad to be home. The station is very beautiful and acts as a great indication of the oncoming coolness of Brighton. I love the green painted iron work and the opaque roof which lets in a soft light. There are the usual problems with electrical failures and such but generally the whole place runs very smoothly, the staff is friendly and they are quite quick to signal any delays. There are lots of ticket desks as well as lots of ticket machines- making easier to grab a ticket and go. Be warned though, it gets very busy at rush hour and despite the numerous ticket vendors, there are still queues. There is a great florist's stand, a small M&S, a Smith's, a Millie's Cookies, a few other's I've forgotten! And cash machines!
I am marking the station down a star. Travelling to the Midlands today and booked my tickets online well in advance. Went to the ticket machine to print them and no tickets came out. I am now in a ridiculously long queue with a bizarre ticketed system in order to get my journey sorted. As a result of the wait I have missed my trains! There is now a large touch screen machine whereby you have to select your type of query, take a ticket and then wait! Its a very convoluted process and would be very confusing to any visitors. Disappointing.
Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, on the south coast of the United Kingdom. The station was built by the London & Brighton Railway in 1840, initially connecting Brighton to Shoreham-by-Sea, westwards along the coast, and shortly afterwards connecting it to London Bridge 51 miles to the north, and to the county town of Lewes to the east. In 1846, the railway became the London Brighton and South Coast Railway following mergers with other railways with lines between Portsmouth and Hastings.
This station is inevitable. You take the train from London to Brighton and end up here. It's not the greatest station but it's a necessity. The surrounding areas of this station aren't they great either. Occasionally you're welcomed by some druggies sitting outside on the benches. An upgrade is overdue but alas. read more
The UK National Railway system is a cheap, fast, efficient way to travel the UK. Forward facing and quad stalls, comfortable seats, full bathrooms and wifi! Covers all of the UK and regional airports. We took the Gatwick express from London (Earls Court transfer @ Victoria ) landing in Brighton Beach area in 1hr. Wonderful location. read more
7 years ago
Brighton railway station is on Queens Road in the centre of town, it is a fairly small station in terms of facilities offered, yet with 8 platforms all being fairly close to each other for convenience. It managed by Southern Rail, so of course, you'll see most Southern Rail staff manning the station's concourse, and most services coming from Southern as well as other railway franchises and routes they operate: Gatwick Express and Thameslink. The main station serving the City of Brighton and Hove, Brighton Station is the 7th busiest train station in the UK outside of London, in which it provides multiple services to, the quickest being a 57 minute Gatwick Express route into Victoria, the cheapest being the slightly longer route via Southern, with services from Thameslink going into St Pancras International and London Bridge. The only other operator to run services from the station is Great Western Railway, who run routes to the likes of Bristol or Cardiff. If you're travelling to a major city probably further north than London, odds are unless it's the likes of Cambridge, you probably will need to change in London. It is a shame Brighton isn't on much more longer routes going up north, meaning I had to take two trains back to Manchester and a tube after coming to the city to watch my team, Manchester City lift the Premier League for the second time in a row. Brighton Station has a few shops to grab to go food and beverages and miscellaneous including WHSmith which is basically found at every station, a PRET which is the only place you can sit down with a coffee and perhaps a snack (mainly to go food, and a limited menu), and Superdrug. It is a real shame there is a lack of places to grab something to eat before travelling here, as one would expect from a large station, with very little choice other than PRET, unless you fancy the 10 minutes or so walk (or 5 minutes on multiple buses) into the main city centre. Of course, you could get lunch with the to go food section, perhaps at M&S, but I found here to be overpriced and have a limited selection for me as a coeliac, requiring a gluten-free diet. Separate reviews for all of these businesses to come, folks! The station does seem a mess on match-days, with trains going into Falmer to serve the Amex Stadium being messy with a long and winding gating queuing, which you actually have to leave the station and enter it again to start the queue, which prolongs things and could be thought out a lot better. I didn't notice a lot of ticket machines at the station either. The station staff seemed really friendly, so well done to Southern for that, and the ceiling of the station was really impressive and cool. This station is okay but it just feels like it is trying to be as basic as possible that they can get away with. 2* read more
Another railway station that I have the opportunity to review, though I haven't gone as far as reviewing every single metro/underground station that I visited (which is probably what I will be doing next time, if there is a next time). Anyway, there is nothing particular about this station that stands out, it is your typical English industrial era station. Unlike the ones on the continent it comes across a somewhat more practical than anything else. Form here you can pretty much catch trains to most places along the coast, or at least in the local region. The other thing is that there are numerous stations that means that you can get to other parts of Brighton, and the adjoining towns. The Thameslink and Gatwick Express also terminate here. As for facilities, well, there your standard facilities as well. read more
13 years ago
Five and nine! The Brighton line! Toot toot! So goes the bingo call for the number 59. Today, a variety of train companies will deliver to this little bijou town on the south coast and is one of the rare occasions when privatisation of the rail industry has led to consumer choice rather than the imposition of a private rather than public monopoly You'll arrive in a nice Victorian station with high ceilings admitting a lot of natural sunlight. It's not the biggest in terms of facilities but there's a toilet (fee required), a newsagent and some places for coffee and a snack. Limited seating is available However, you're only steps from the fun of Brighton as the station is conveniently located close to the centre of town. So, walk on through into town The staff were helpful with information when I clarified which trains I could catch with my off peak saver ticket Toot toot! read more
17 years ago
I hate to get all romantic on your asses but catching the train from Brighton Station always makes me think of Brief Encounter. I know that was filmed at Carnforth Station not Brighton but there's something about the arched ceilings, the grand architecture and the freezing platforms that conjures images of heartache and heartbreak. In the summertime, the station is usually jam-packed with tourists and weekenders flocking to Brighton for a few days of sunshine. The rest of the time however, it always feels quite a emotive place with hundreds of strangers passing through looking for love, lust or company. read more
16 years ago
Approaching Brighton Station from Queen's Road, the place looks pretty grand. Huge glass archways and a large forecourt, it's more like a central London station. It's huge inside, and there's an M&S, WH Smiths, coffee shop and sushi cart. What more could you need for your travels?! The past year or so has seen the introduction of more ticket machines, although I've recently discovered this hasn't cut down the queues of over-enthusiastic students at 8.30am heading to the university campuses at Falmer. Maybe this will die down after the first term. I mean really? Early morning lectures? That won't last. There's also quite a large ticket office with actual people at them, this can be a God send when the machines won't seem to accept your £10 note. The station does get very busy at the weekends with the hoards of tourists that flock here, but there's nine platforms and plenty of trains heading right across the south coast, so the masses are swiftly dealt with. Located right at the beginning of the North Laine it's the perfect spot to start your Brighton escapades. read more
16 years ago
The station has a good bit of history attached to it. The original facade was based on ideas of the Renaissance and was designed by Henry Morcatta. This was back when Trafalgar Street didn't have the bridge. The whole station was massively enlarged by the Victorians who added all the wrought iron and platform covers that dominate the station today. These days it's a busy port of call and is on the line to all major cities in the country. They have a range of services and shops dotted around the forecourt. There is a good mix of ticket office and self service machines and a massive information board clearly informs you about departures. The station is kept clean and it has the feel of a London terminal in many ways. A pretty good welcome into the city if you have arrived by rail with enough available to start off your time in Brighton. read more
11 years ago
It's easy to find the train you need, there are always 3 or 4 nice National Rail guys in fluorescent jackets to point you in the right direction if not. The station building is impressive, Victorian and huge. There's a new waiting room! (well heated, like actually warm) complete with tables and chairs, a bar and even salt and pepper should you for some reason decide to eat your main meal here. I've never been in a better waiting room. It's so handy if you have friends that are always late or don't have a boyfriend into the frost bitten and mucousy look. Much like other big stations there's a piano. However the performers are classic brighton; 6 year old boys in anime tshirts improving jazz to old chaps playing As Time Goes By to people like me who, when a little tipsy, will play the first 20 seconds of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton then walk away smuggly while the station groans. The M and S is handy. Toilets are 20/30p and v clean indeed. Bit pigeony but then they're not seagulls so really who cares. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the centre and the route couldn't be easier; walk out of the station, you can already see the sea. Just walk straight down the road in front of you towards the sea. Unless you're here for the beach, in which case obvs keep walking, you'll meet a clock tower (see picture). You're kinda in the centre here. I always feel excited when I'm walking from my train into Brighton station. Dinner dates, nights out and lazy days on the beach. It's the best. read more
12 years ago
I utilized this train station many times during my study abroad at University of Sussex. It is the closest train station that will take you into London. The staff here are all very nice. I have asked several staff on numerous occasions on stuff like which track is the one I need to go to and how to purchase tickets, etc. The train station itself has a historic feel to it and it has a lot of natural lighting coming in. Very clean and spacious. The trains are usually on time and I have yet to experience a delay. MIND THE GAP. read more
Decent and bright railway station with wifi. A few coffee shops inside and enough ticket machines that you don't have to really wait that long. Trains were on time, and the platforms were pretty logically laid out (unlike London Victoria). read more
11 years ago
Compared to other stations Brighton is pretty good, if you have a long wait plenty of coffee shops around and a well positioned Smiths to pass the time. If u are having signal issues good free WiFi at station to use. Never usually a problem with train delays but i.m not a frequent train user read more
10 years ago
17 years ago
I completely agree with Joseph- as soon as the train pulls into this station..I feel so glad to be home. The station is very beautiful and acts as a great indication of the oncoming coolness of Brighton. I love the green painted iron work and the opaque roof which lets in a soft light. There are the usual problems with electrical failures and such but generally the whole place runs very smoothly, the staff is friendly and they are quite quick to signal any delays. There are lots of ticket desks as well as lots of ticket machines- making easier to grab a ticket and go. Be warned though, it gets very busy at rush hour and despite the numerous ticket vendors, there are still queues. There is a great florist's stand, a small M&S, a Smith's, a Millie's Cookies, a few other's I've forgotten! And cash machines! read more
I am marking the station down a star. Travelling to the Midlands today and booked my tickets online well in advance. Went to the ticket machine to print them and no tickets came out. I am now in a ridiculously long queue with a bizarre ticketed system in order to get my journey sorted. As a result of the wait I have missed my trains! There is now a large touch screen machine whereby you have to select your type of query, take a ticket and then wait! Its a very convoluted process and would be very confusing to any visitors. Disappointing. read more
Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, on the south coast of the United Kingdom. The station was built by the London & Brighton Railway in 1840, initially connecting Brighton to Shoreham-by-Sea, westwards along the coast, and shortly afterwards connecting it to London Bridge 51 miles to the north, and to the county town of Lewes to the east. In 1846, the railway became the London Brighton and South Coast Railway following mergers with other railways with lines between Portsmouth and Hastings. read more
I really like this station! It has everything that you need really for when you set off on your travels/return to Brighton. Facilities are good - there is an awesome Curry Leaf café food stall (also on Ship Street and at The Temple Bar on Western Road) which is perfect if you want to grab something quick to eat. There's also a bakery stall just outside the station that do a good selection of tasty breads and a pizza wood fire van outside too which is fairly good quality and reasonable for grab and go food. There's also a couple of coffee shops in the station and a small but perfectly formed Marks and Spencer food hall, great for train beers/wine. The only downside for me is the lack of seating in the station and the fact that you have to pay to use the toilets! read more
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Global warming is a hot topic right now, especially in a green city like Brighton. It is therefore important that we all "do our bit" and avoid the unnecessary use of cars. Trains are a great way of reducing your carbon footprint when making long-distance trips. Shamefully they are not as cheap as they could be, but blame that on the privatisation of the railways (cough, cough 1980s/90s Tory government, cough). It is a however, always a pleasure to travel by train to and from Brighton. The Victorian station is majestic in its structure and always kept clean. The station is well staffed and secure; there are always taxis to the front and a large car park at the rear. Not to mention the Marks & Spencer, WH Smith and various food and coffee outlets inside. Whenever I enter Brighton station from the north I feel like I am home and proud to be here. Don't be a pain [to the environment by driving a CO2 machine]: take the train! read more
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