London to Brighton with Southern - You Get What You Pay For!

[@linustwizell7913]

As we say in Brighton - "There is nothing standing between you and your goals except you. And Southern Rail."

[@rkgaustin]

"I've entrusted one tiny segment of my journey to public transport and it's let me down" - Clarkson

[@rkgaustin]

In November of 2021 Stratford overtook Waterloo as Britain’s busiest railway station.

[@aldo4319]

You caught a train from East Croydon that also started at Victoria so you could have stayed there and picked up the same train

[@joannatyl6379]

Thanks for this video. Since I plan to visit UK in August, stay in Brighton and go for a 1 day trip to London I was looking for the best (and the cheapest!) way to do it. And now I know which train operator not to choose ;)

[@AdamHiley-k7k]

Very similar to Southeastern the fastest Train to Brighton i believe only stop's at East Croydon and Clapham junction

[@cms9902]

Surprised you haven't travelled from St Pancras to Ramsgate, Folkstone, Ashford and then the High speed section back to St Pancras on the Javelin. It's a round robin trip.

[@danaknight1513]

I took the Gatwick Express train from Victoria to Brighton with no train changes (non-stop) in about 59 minutes. I'm sure I paid more than you did, but if you have luggage or suitcases, it's worth the money.I think 1 way, same day ticket was about £20.

[@karens4503]

Sadly, Southern are no strangers to cancellations, delays and poor excuses as to why. I use the trains to get to and from work and normally get home very late.

[@improperrunner]

What a faff. I've personally done this journey many times. Myself and my boyfriend went from Victoria on a Southern Service for £31 for both of us that took 2hrs 15 mins last Friday. Our one back only took an hour and cost us £6.60. The prices are so different. The Gatwick Express and Thameslink are so much nicer than Southern too.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

2hrs 15m! It’s pretty unpredictable all this tbh. I took the Thameslink service back which I agree is quicker but the trains aren’t much better. I think Gatwick Express is probably the preferred option if you can afford it! Cheers.

[@nickyruso2786]

A massive part of my life when younger.

[@richardnei]

Nice video! I’m just back from a short break in Brighton last week. Although we got the Thameslink from Gatwick to Brighton. Was so handy after our flight. ✈️

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks AFUK, yes I came back on the Thameslink which was direct and quicker,though I must say the seats in standard were terrible!

[@richardnei]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Yeah I would total agree. The seat weren’t great!✈️

[@Sman-eg1zs]

Southern Rail is not good, but I like the seats, the ones with the tables anyway. I know the line very well as I live in Haywards Heath. You could have got off at Gatwick , eats Croydon or Haywards Heath and got a direct train to Brighton. Those 313s on the Brighton to Porstmouth line are really awful in the rush hour!

[@Andrewjg_89]

Gatwick Express operates a direct service from London Victoria to Brighton which some stops at Gatwick Airport and most of them terminates at Gatwick Airport. And Gatwick Express is coming back into service from 3rd April 2022.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I used that a couple of years back when I flew into Gatwick - much nicer than Southern. I don’t travel in this part of the world often tbh but it was an interesting experience anyway. Hope to get a bit more time down there in the future 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Couldn't agree more.

[@misscattrap]

Never taken southern to Brighton, always Thameslink. Weird to see you say it’s pricier as it always cheaper for me- but that’s with a Thameslink only ticket as I live on another Thameslink route

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi MissCatTrap, thanks for the comment. I didn’t know much about either service tbh - just went for the cheapest one when booking. I came back with Thameslink though as all the Southern ones were cancelled. I had another one way £5 ticket for that which I used otherwise the train back would definitely have been dearer but then it’s maybe more route-specific. I didn’t review the Thameslink train but the seats on that one were really thin - like ironing boards!

[@enraptured6700]

Took this train to Lewes this summer to tour Virginia Woolf's house. No stops or delays for me though! I wanted to show my family the train I took, and your video gave a great perspective on the trip!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

That’s great to know and I’m glad you had a better journey than me. Thanks for the comment 😊

[@michellestone]

London to Brighton? Only ever caught the Gatwick Express, 58 minutes. Two stops, Gatwick and Brighton. Heard too many bad things about Southern Rail.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Michelle, thanks for the comment. Yes the Gatwick Express must be the preferred option for this route although I’m guessing it’s more expensive. Southern did provide a bit more ‘adventure’ for me tbf, so at least I did get to see a few places I wouldn’t have normally 😂👍

[@michellestone]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I don't know the price of the ticket from Victoria to Brighton as I only buy a ticket from Brighton to Birmingham. I catch the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then catch a ten minute bus ride to Marylebone Station, then catch the train to Birmingham Moor Street. I haven't done this since 2019, and then it was 55 pounds return.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@michellestone good choice! Marylebone’s my favourite London terminus - just a lot less busy than the others and the trip up to Moor Street (which is a fantastically preserved station) is lovely. I made a video on this route a while back and you can get some cheap advance fares for this leg with Chiltern 👍

[@skyblazeeterno]

for convenience the Gatwick Express is great but normal services are fine if you can deal with the duration

[@Ryancool446]

London waterloo is the busiest

[@mancs123]

Great review as always! :D

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Lazlo 😊

[@shaneD7378]

Southern are refurbishing there 377s so by now you do have power outlets on some of their unit's also the 313s are coming to the end of their service life with Southern I believe by the end of the year

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Shane, thanks for the comment. I think these days, power outlets are one of those ‘small essentials’ people look for and expect. Transport for Wales have made a good job of refurbing most of their trains up by me (even the 150’s now have power!). The other thing is toilet provision. Largely though, it still relies on passengers treating the trains with respect and that’s sadly lacking on some services (Birmingham to Shrewsbury late night for example). Cheers for the comment, Mark

[@craigmollins8057]

My local station on the Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton route is served by 313s

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Craig, thanks for the comment. I must get down to Portsmouth soon. I want to try the hovercraft over to the IoW.

[@rogerhudson9732]

The electric powered train London-Brighton started running in 1933, the non-stop version took 55 minutes. It's slower today after Gatwick racecourse became an airport. Going to Hove is a bit of a detour, changing at Croydon to a London Bridge -Brighton service would have been better. I pity anyone who paid for that first class ticket, four across and just an antimacasser!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Roger, thanks for the comment. Yep, I don’t really know the area tbh,thought I’d try this as it was cheap but agree it was a bit of a faff! Not much point in first class either is there.

[@herenow6953]

I use Redhill station which is on that line and it's baffling how few direct trains there are to Brighton - if i get the train I have to change at Gatwick - mad! Brighton is the not only the terminus but also the biggest connurbation on that line so why so few trains go direct is beyond me! The undulations are the North Downs and South Downs - the North downs are south of East Croydon, and the South Downs a bit inland from Brighton - hence the tunnels etc.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi HN, yep I’m certainly not an expert on the network in that part of the world. I think there are easier services to Brighton but this was all about cost and you can’t go wrong for £5 really. I will get back down there at some point as there’s a lot more exploring to do.

[@steveluckhurst2350]

Redhill is no longer as important as it once was.

[@simonwhitlock9189]

From what I have seen and heard about Southern Rail they seem to be the butt of comedians jokes for their bad time keeping and generally mucking passengers around, it would seem that you experienced this on your journey, well at least you got there in the end, good job as always so stay safe and cheers for now.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes, it was more of an ‘adventure’ than I was anticipating but all good fun really and a bit of a different part of the world for me. I’ll get down there again some time I’m sure. Cheers for now! 😂

[@vishnarayan8091]

the train loooked splended😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@Timstravels01]

My my, what a faff! Glad you got to Brighton eventually. The question is, did you get back? 🤣

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I did get back (eventually). I could have made another video about that ‘story’ but I’d had enough by then tbh 😂

[@surinamesechicken9780]

You get what you pay for... On southern. I might have just sacked it off and walked to the coast from Hove, you are basically in Brighton anyway. Southern I find much worse that South Western railway.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Surinamese chicken - didn’t realise Hove was so close! Not that familiar with the area tbh, last time I was down I was at East Sussex uni in Falmer(?) I think? That was a while ago - this time round I just ended up in a massive ball of confusion really 😂🙄

[@scoottyscott7845]

Already knew this video was going to be a great review, thank you for the information. I will now use Southern rather than Thameslink to Brighton 😄

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Moonlight, glad to help 😊

[@scoottyscott7845]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I look forward to the next informational vid😊

[@JTsJourneys]

Such a faff. Certainly not worth the hassle, those southern trains with the padded seats though are preferable to the thameslink option (provided you don’t jump int be thameslink first class)

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes, you may recall I came back on the Thameslink service and those ‘ironing boards’ were terrible! I think first class was de-classified but unsurprisingly, by the time I realised, it was full.

[@NonameTime]

My guess would be Kings Cross as the busiest. ?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It's big but Stratford is the answer you're looking for.

[@fifanerds]

you know you can get a train on national rail from farringdon to brighton. 1 train, never delays, and the same price

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

No I didn’t. Which TOC is it please? I’ll check it out. Ta.

[@finleytransportfan]

Nice Video! Busiest is Clapham Junction

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Finlay! You may be surprised but Wikipedia reckon it's Stratford. I would have said Clapham Junction too before I looked it up.

[@finleytransportfan]

@@LetsMakeaTrip ye

[@kbegemot]

- Victoria to Brighton! How hard is that? - Hold my beer! )))

[@timtube1663]

I remember doing this journey on old slam door 4CIGs and 4VEPS. Laaaaavly!!!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Those were the good old days yep.

[@stevewood6548]

I believe the busiest station in London is Waterloo

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

According to Wikipedia Steve it’s Stratford (though I must admit, I wouldn’t have said that - I’d have gone for Clapham Junction)!

[@prp3231]

I saw Abba at Waterloo.

[@adyback7994]

7:20 I think the soap did work fine buddy, you waisted a lot of soap by not holding your hand below the place it came from...Still....great to see hand washing. There are rail works that were displayed weeks ago with the Main-Line disruptions that would take place....well before the ticket was bought too.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hello Ady, thanks for the advice re: the soap dispenser - I’ll watch out for that next time! Always wash your hands people - especially at the moment 👍 Rail works - yep I’m sure they were displayed online and at the stations in the area. I don’t live in the south-east and am not that familiar with the network tbh, what I did have was more of an ‘adventure’ than I thought and looking back, it did give me the chance to see a few other places along the way. Things don’t always go to plan do they but it almost always makes for a more interesting and entertaining video! Cheers mate 😊👍

[@TheBigLemon679]

Great trip funny as I’m doing this tomorrow 😂

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Good luck! 😂

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Luis, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

[@neilwoodward7336]

I hope that all people WOULD be sitting down while using the loo paper and toilet on that train... 🤔?

[@Juanovalle]

Stratford is the busiest 👌

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Juan, no-one else needs to guess it now! Well done mate 👍✅

[@improperrunner]

I thought Clapham Junction was the busiest?

[@vedanshidixit3169]

Hi.. I am student from India... will be moving to Brighton in Sept 2022. Can someone please help me the way I can travel from London Heathrow Airport to Brighton train station?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi, personally I would take the National Express coach (prices from £10) and it takes approx 2 hours direct from Heathrow. Hope this helps.

[@breatharian2009]

That's my train line!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

How do you find the service generally?

[@breatharian2009]

@@LetsMakeaTrip It's nothing like the punctual French SNCF! The trains are so often late. At Haywards Heath the train divides between the front 8 and rear 8 carriages. It doesn't quite give the feeling of a 21st century/first world country service. It's adequate as it gets you from point A to point B. Always best to buy advanced tickets online to benefit from discounts. What more can I say?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@breatharian2009 yep, tbh I found it worse than most other areas I've been to in the UK, let alone anywhere else! It was my first experience of it so maybe it's not that bad all of the time? But yes, not one I'd rush back to really!

[@breatharian2009]

@@LetsMakeaTrip You didn't get off at Haywards Heath, did you? It's funny there to hear a controller yell out "The first eight coaches go to xyz and the rear eight coaches go to xyz. Be sure to be seated in the right coach!"

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@breatharian2009 I didn’t. But some of my local trains used to do that i.e. Aberystwyth & Pwhelli.

[@leighhitchin1531]

Use the Gatwick express next time but a good video

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Leigh. Yes I have been on the Gatwick Express - it’s pretty good I agree.

[@derisleybrittain]

Excellent quality 🥂🥂🥂🥂🙏🙏🙏🙏🍾🍾🍾🍾❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕🍸🍸🍸🍷🍷🍷🍷😆😆😆😆🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate, nice emoji’s this week - looking impressive there! ✅✅✅✅✅

[@philipbett9373]

it not a good trine becon there all not on timne

[@franksimpson339]

Fancy that, a union flag hanging in a British railway station.

[@roberthannington7563]

I think the buisyest station is Paddington

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Robert, Paddington is pretty busy (one of my favourite London termini actually) but according to Wikipedia it’s Stratford which I must admit I wouldn’t have got personally 👍

[@roberthannington7563]

@@LetsMakeaTrip That is really surprising I really wanna see someone do a trip from Bournemouth to Newbury or from Bournemouth to London so if your looking for ideas where to go there is one

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@roberthannington7563 don’t think I’ve ever been to Bournemouth so yeh, always open for suggestions. Cheers 😊👍

[@roberthannington7563]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Hi do u want me to send some pictures of the trains I have been on today

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@roberthannington7563 hi Robert, are you on Twitter? Post them up mate, I’d be interested to have a look 👍