Many of us need to use public transport during the Christmas and New Year period of the year. Most articles will tell you if bus services are running during Christmas in Brighton, but at WeLoveBrighton.com we went one step further to cover buses, coaches, and trains and provide information on both Christmas time and New Year’s Eve and Day. Read on to find out everything you need to know about travelling around Brighton by bus and to and from the city by train or coach during the festive season.
All You need to know about buses, trains, and coaches in Brighton for your Christmas and New Year travel
Read on to find out more information about each of the services and whether they’re running or not on specific days…
Buses
Christmas Period
| Date | Information |
| Saturday 23rd December | Normal Saturday service. |
| Christmas Eve (Sunday, 24th December 2023) | Sunday service until approximately 22:00. Night routes will not operate. |
| Christmas Day (Monday, 25th December 2023) | Special timetable on routes 1, 1A, 5B, 7, 12, and 49. Special timetable from around 8 am to 7 pm. Night buses will not operate. |
| Boxing Day (Tuesday, 26th December 2023) | Special timetable on various routes. Night buses will not operate. |
Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th December
- Saturday service, with some exceptions.
New Year’s Period
| Date | Information |
| New Year’s Eve (Sunday, 31st December 2023) | Normal Sunday service with additional journeys on specific routes. Night buses N1, N5, N7, N12, N14, & N25 will operate. |
| New Year’s Day (Monday, 1st January 2024) | Sunday service. |
| Tuesday 2nd January | Normal Monday to Friday school term timetable resumes. |
Additional Bus Services
The Big Lemon (52 Bus Service)
- Operates throughout the Christmas Holiday period except on Christmas Day (25th of December), Boxing Day (26th of December), Monday the 28th of December, and New Year’s Day (1st of January 2024). Find out more here.
City College and University of Brighton Bus Services
- Not running during the holiday period. Services resume on Monday the 4th of January.
Santa Bus and Coaster (route 12)
- This service will run on Christmas Day.
National Express Coaches
- Christmas Day: Some National Express coaches will run – often at a more budget-friendly price than train tickets.
National Express Coach (817 – London to/from Brighton)
- This service will run throughout the festive season, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
- Stops at London Victoria Coach Station, Gatwick Airport, North Terminal, Gatwick Airport, South Terminal, and Brighton, Pool Valley Coach Station.
Trains
Christmas Period
| Date | Information |
| Christmas Eve (Sunday, 24th December 2023) | Train services run as usual but may end a bit earlier. |
| Christmas Day (Monday, 25th December 2023) | No train services. |
| Boxing Day (Tuesday, 26th December 2023) | No train services, except for a few airport transfer services. |
New Year’s Period (New Year’s Eve 2023 and New Year’s Day 2024)
| Date | Information |
| New Year’s Eve (Sunday, 31st December 2023) | Train services run as usual but may end a bit earlier. Trains will operate on most lines, but the last train may be earlier than usual. |
| New Year’s Day (Monday, 1st January 2024) | Train services run as usual but may start a bit later than usual. Some trains may start running later in the day than usual. |
Conclusion on Christmas & New Year buses, trains, and coaches in brighton
Make sure to stay safe during the winter period, keep an eye on your travel apps for any cancellations or delays if travelling, and enjoy your festive travels from or to Brighton and beyond!
