Find out what options there are for getting to Sussex from the airport.
Travelling from airports over Arrivals Weekend
If you are travelling to Sussex over Arrivals Weekend (Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September), you can book tickets for our free Heathrow Meet and Greet coach service for new and returning students. This service will take you from Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 to the Sussex campus or Brighton city centre.
You can also book tickets for our free Gatwick Meet and Greet coach service on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September. This service will take you from Gatwick Airport North Terminal to the Sussex campus or Brighton city centre.
Travelling from Heathrow Airport
There are a number of public transport options for travelling to Sussex from Heathrow Airport.
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.
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, £126 plus additional car park charges
- from London Gatwick, £85 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.
Travelling by car
If you are travelling by car to Sussex, there is free parking throughout Arrivals Weekend from 7am on Friday 19 September until the end of the day on Sunday 21 September.
There will be plenty of parking marshals to guide drivers, letting you know where you can park.
From 7am on Monday 22 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.
More transport options
Find out how to get to the University of Sussex campus if you are travelling by train, car, bus or taxi.