Heathrow vs Gatwick for Brighton — which is best?
Booking flights for a Brighton trip? This is the airport-choice cheat-sheet. Gatwick wins, here's exactly why — distance, drive time, M25 risk, prices, and when Heathrow might still work.
Published 2026-05-01 · Get London Transfer
The short answer
Gatwick wins decisively for Brighton. 30 miles direct down the A23/M23, 45 minutes door-to-door. Heathrow is 80 miles, 2 hours, requires crossing the M25 — and is roughly £85 more per transfer.
The full comparison
| Gatwick | Heathrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Brighton | 30 mi | 80 mi |
| Drive time off-peak | 45 min | 120 min |
| Route | Direct A23/M23 — no London traffic | M25 anti-clockwise then M23 |
| Risk of major delay | Low — bypasses M25 entirely | High — M25 is a known bottleneck |
| Transfer price (saloon) | From £65 | From £150 |
| Best for Amex Stadium matches | Yes | No |
Why is Gatwick so much better?
Geography. Brighton sits on the south coast, due south of Gatwick. The A23 is a continuous arterial route running directly between them with no major junctions or bottlenecks. Most of it is dual carriageway or motorway.
Heathrow sits to the west of London. To reach Brighton, you have to either:
- Cross the M25 to get south of London (peak-hour delays of 30-60 minutes routine), or
- Cut through south-west London via the A3 and A24 (slower than the M25)
Either way, you spend most of the journey just escaping London.
When would you choose Heathrow anyway?
You wouldn't, if you had the choice. But the reality is:
- Long-haul: Heathrow has far more long-haul routes than Gatwick. If you're flying from North America, Asia, Australia or the Middle East, you'll likely land at LHR regardless.
- Specific airlines: BA short-haul routes Brighton-bound travellers often use leave from LHR T3 or T5.
- Connections: If you're connecting from another LHR-only flight.
If that's you, the Heathrow to Brighton route still works fine — we just allow extra time and price for the longer distance.
What about the train?
The Gatwick Express to Brighton (via Three Bridges) takes about 30 minutes — fast, but you're then onto Brighton's notoriously congested taxi rank for the last mile. From Heathrow to Brighton by train, you'd change in Central London (Victoria) — 2.5 hours plus luggage stress.
For 2+ passengers with cases, a private car is usually competitive on price and substantially better on stress.
Matchday at the Amex Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium is at Falmer, 5 miles north of Brighton itself — even closer to Gatwick (28 miles, 45 minutes). See our dedicated Gatwick to Amex Stadium page for matchday set-down details.
Brighton seafront hotels we drop at regularly
- The Grand Brighton — Marine Parade
- Hotel du Vin Brighton — Ship Street
- The Old Ship Hotel — King's Road
- Hilton Brighton Metropole — King's Road
- Hotel Pelirocco — Regency Square (offbeat)
- Drakes Brighton — Marine Parade (boutique)
Our drivers know the seafront one-way system — most hotels reached directly.
Frequently asked questions
How much cheaper is Gatwick than Heathrow for Brighton?
Roughly £85 less. Gatwick-Brighton from £65 vs Heathrow-Brighton from £150.
Is the Gatwick Express train better than a car?
For solo travellers with one bag, possibly. For 2+ passengers with cases, a private car works out competitive and is door-to-door.
Can I avoid the M25 from Heathrow to Brighton?
Not really — you can use the A3/A24 alternative but it's slower than the M25 outside peak hours. The M25 routing remains best most of the time.