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Travel to Sussex

Find out what options there are for getting to Sussex.

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Check your emails before travellling to campus on Arrivals Weekend for last-minute travel updates.

Travelling by car

If you are travelling to campus by car on Arrivals Weekend, you will need to book a time slot to collect your key (unless you’re staying in Stanmer Court, in which case you can head straight to your accommodation). Time slots can be booked through the accommodation portal using your online accommodation account. 

There is free parking throughout Arrivals Weekend on Friday 18 September until the end of the day on Sunday 20 September. Our Welcome Marshals will be on hand to show you where to park for key collection and how to get to your residence. 

From 7am on Monday 21 September, normal parking enforcement will be back in place. If you don’t have a parking permit, you will need to move your car into one of our visitor car parks and pay for your parking.

If you are travelling to Stanmer Court, follow the signage to Southern Water. Vehicle access to Stanmer Court is available through the Southern Water car park.

Football match – Saturday 19 September

Congestion and delays: There will be a football match at the American Express Stadium opposite the university campus, kicking off at 3pm. This will cause significant delays around the area before, during and after the game. If you’ve booked to move in on Saturday, please allow extra travel time and plan your journey accordingly.

To reduce congestion, arrival timeslots will not be available during the hour before kick-off or the hour after the match finishes.

Travelling from Heathrow Airport

There are a number of public transport options for travelling to Sussex from Heathrow Airport.

Important: The free coaches running from Heathrow Airport to campus between 17 and 20 September are now fully booked. There are no plans to add any additional coaches.

Public transport

You can travel to Brighton from Heathrow Airport using National Express Coaches or National Rail.

A National Express public coach takes about two hours to get to Brighton from Heathrow.

You can buy tickets through the National Express website.

National Express coaches arrive at Pool Valley Coach Station in Brighton. You can get a taxi from East Street or a bus from Old Steine to your accommodation.

You can get an underground or overground train from Heathrow Airport into London, although the train is not recommended if you have heavy luggage. You can plan a journey on the Transport for London website and download a map of the London Underground train network. You can get trains from London Bridge and London Victoria to Brighton Station, and from Brighton Station to Falmer Station if you’re heading to campus. Use the National Rail website to plan your journey.

You can book a taxi directly to your accommodation – see the “Travelling by taxi” section below.

Travelling from Gatwick Airport

If you are travelling from Gatwick Airport, you can get a train to Brighton Station, where there are connections for Falmer Station if you are heading to campus. We recommend using the National Rail website to plan your journey in advance.

Important: The free coaches running from Gatwick Airport to campus between 17 and 20 September are now fully booked. There are no plans to add any additional coaches.

Travelling by taxi

If you’re travelling to Sussex with family or you have large luggage, you may wish to travel from the airport by taxi.

We have an arrangement with 581 Taxis where you can book a taxi to meet you at the airport. Sussex students and your families can get a discount all year long by quoting the discount code Sussex581.

To book, contact the taxi company directly by calling +441273 300300 or email taxis@581travelltd.co.uk. You will need to provide your:

  • name
  • date of arrival
  • landing time
  • airport
  • flight number
  • terminal
  • address in Brighton & Hove
  • contact phone number.

Price and payment

For Sussex students, the prices are:

  • from London Heathrow, £127 plus additional car park charges
  • from London Gatwick, £83 plus additional car park charges.

If you want to share a taxi, request this when you book and 581 can discuss a price for a shared taxi.

You will liaise directly with 581 so make sure the company has your details and a contact number (this can be an international number). Confirm with them if you should pay by card or with cash.

More transport options

Find out how to get to the University of Sussex campus if you are travelling by train, car, bus or taxi.

See more from Before you arrive