St. Pancras to Brighton via train
October 19, 2024 8:02 PM Subscribe
I'm planning on taking the Eurostar from Paris to London and pretty much hopping on a train to head south to Brighton as soon as I arrive in London later this fall - will I need to pre-purchase that ticket to Brighton, or is that pretty much just something I can walk up to a kiosk to buy a ticket when I arrive?
I mean, I'm mostly a benighted American whose primary rail experience is Amtrak flavored (it is not, uh, at all recommended to taste the Amtrak rolling stock), but if it's just a matter of costing a little bit more for a walk-up ticket but actual availability and scheduling isn't really a problem, I'm maybe OK with that? I'm also not opposed to stuffing my luggage in a locker and having dinner in London before setting out (i.e. giving myself some time between trains for getting through the station, late arrivals, etc), but walking around London with a full set of international luggage seems like a bad time.
I mean, I'm mostly a benighted American whose primary rail experience is Amtrak flavored (it is not, uh, at all recommended to taste the Amtrak rolling stock), but if it's just a matter of costing a little bit more for a walk-up ticket but actual availability and scheduling isn't really a problem, I'm maybe OK with that? I'm also not opposed to stuffing my luggage in a locker and having dinner in London before setting out (i.e. giving myself some time between trains for getting through the station, late arrivals, etc), but walking around London with a full set of international luggage seems like a bad time.
Best answer: Apologies, what Balthamos and I have completely forgotten is that you CAN get a direct train from St Pancras to Brighton on the Thameslink line. This is by far the best option if you have luggage. Use https://www.thameslinkrailway.com For times and prices. Probably easiest just to get a walk-up ticket so you aren't tied to a particular train. It will be very busy at rush hour.
It's a slightly lower-profile line compared with all the other mainlines into London, hence why I forgot, but by far the most convenient if you have luggage. Look for signs to the Thameslink platforms when you are at St Pancras
posted by el_presidente at 12:14 AM on October 20 [6 favorites]
It's a slightly lower-profile line compared with all the other mainlines into London, hence why I forgot, but by far the most convenient if you have luggage. Look for signs to the Thameslink platforms when you are at St Pancras
posted by el_presidente at 12:14 AM on October 20 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Yes, I’ve done this route an lot and it’s direct from KC/SP! There are kiosks right there to buy tickets or you could download an app eg Trainline and buy them on there.
posted by atlantica at 12:25 AM on October 20
posted by atlantica at 12:25 AM on October 20
Best answer: There absolutely are direct trains from St Pancras to Brighton. I take this route often. In defence of above posters the St Pancras to Brighton line is a relatively new route. Victoria to Brighton is the much older and traditional train line for getting from London to Brighton. Both lines run now.
You can buy tickets on the day from the ticket machines at St Pancras or the ticket office at St Pancras if you’d rather discuss your options with a human being. You can also buy in advance via the thamleslink railway website linked above or one of several train ticket apps. As el_presidente says, look for the signs to the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras.
Have a good trip.
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 12:26 AM on October 20 [1 favorite]
You can buy tickets on the day from the ticket machines at St Pancras or the ticket office at St Pancras if you’d rather discuss your options with a human being. You can also buy in advance via the thamleslink railway website linked above or one of several train ticket apps. As el_presidente says, look for the signs to the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras.
Have a good trip.
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 12:26 AM on October 20 [1 favorite]
Woops! Ignore me. I’ve flagged my comment for deletion. However probably quite good to be aware there are multiple options if on the day there are strikes/engineering works/weather causing any problems.
posted by Balthamos at 12:40 AM on October 20
posted by Balthamos at 12:40 AM on October 20
Best answer: Yep, you can buy a ticket before boarding.
For luggage I can genuinely recommend those guys who make their living storing luggage in the back room of shops, which are the businesses which come up when you search for luggage lockers in the vicinity of wherever you want to store your stuff. They’re fine and good value.
posted by lokta at 4:54 AM on October 20
For luggage I can genuinely recommend those guys who make their living storing luggage in the back room of shops, which are the businesses which come up when you search for luggage lockers in the vicinity of wherever you want to store your stuff. They’re fine and good value.
posted by lokta at 4:54 AM on October 20
Best answer: Getting to Brighton is an easy-peasey thing to do straight from St Pancras. There might even be lifts for your luggage! As others have said, no problem with tickets.
You might not need to store your luggage to do some light tourism in the station itself. As the international rail station for Central London, St Pancras is also full of smart shops and nice places to eat and drink, alongside the more standard station fare. You won't waste an hour or two taking a look around. Take a look at the stores here.
In terms of food and drink, if you want to feel proletarian there's a Greggs (twenty-first century British fast food; ie sausage rolls and bacon buns, no sitting). If you want to go benighted (even gilded) American, there's the Gothic Bar and the Midland Grand. Both beautiful and used to accommodating luggage.
posted by einekleine at 7:30 AM on October 20
You might not need to store your luggage to do some light tourism in the station itself. As the international rail station for Central London, St Pancras is also full of smart shops and nice places to eat and drink, alongside the more standard station fare. You won't waste an hour or two taking a look around. Take a look at the stores here.
In terms of food and drink, if you want to feel proletarian there's a Greggs (twenty-first century British fast food; ie sausage rolls and bacon buns, no sitting). If you want to go benighted (even gilded) American, there's the Gothic Bar and the Midland Grand. Both beautiful and used to accommodating luggage.
posted by einekleine at 7:30 AM on October 20
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From Victoria the train to Brighton is about an hour. Trains go fairly regularly. Playing with the journey planner at National Rail, there don't seem to be any advance fare options. Probably because this is seen as a commuter line not intercity. You can use that site to buy a ticket in advance which will give you a barcode on your phone you can scan at the ticket gates, or there are rows of machines at Victoria that will sell you a paper ticket that you put in the machine
posted by el_presidente at 11:45 PM on October 19