The 9 Best Day Trips from Brighton
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 9 good day trips from Brighton, United Kingdom, led by London, Reading, Southend-on-Sea. The closest is Croydon, about 1 hr 10 min by car. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 9 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Brighton
- 1
London, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car76 km north of BrightonKnown for Cyberdog.
- 2
Reading, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car91 km north-west of Brighton - 3
Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north-east of Brighton - 4
Southampton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car89 km west of Brighton - 5
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north of Brighton - 6
Luton, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km north of Brighton - 7
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km west of Brighton - 8
Le Havre, France
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car149 km south of Brighton - 9
Croydon, United Kingdom
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car62 km north of Brighton
A sample day: Brighton to London
- 08:30Leave Brighton
- 10:00Arrive in London (1 hr 30 min drive)
- 10:15Cyberdog
- 12:15Lunch
- 13:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
- 16:00Head back to Brighton
- 17:30Home in Brighton
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Brighton?
- The best day trips from Brighton are London, Reading, Southend-on-Sea, Southampton, Milton Keynes. The closest is Croydon, about 1 hr 10 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Brighton?
- Croydon is the closest, 62 km north of Brighton, roughly 1 hr 10 min by car. Best as a full-day trip.
- What is the biggest city near Brighton for a day out?
- London is the largest city in day-trip range, 76 km north of Brighton and about 1 hr 30 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Brighton?
- For a weekend away from Brighton, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Le Havre (149 km, 2 hr 20 min), Milton Keynes (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Luton (118 km, 1 hr 50 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Brighton?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Le Havre at 149 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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