Brighton Railway Station

I hope this review will be able to Brighton your day a little bit.

Brighton understandably has a massive railway station that dates back to 1840, and it's been increased many times in terms of volume and capacity, partly because 17 million passengers a year makes Brighton number 7 on the list of the most busy stations in the country - not including the many many busy ones in London itself.

It's huge and has a big old Victorian roof that will remind you of a London Station. It's one of only 70 grade two listed buildings, partly because people absolutely love it.

It's a massive modern hub, but also part of History. It's hard not to love the station and I really do.

It's also the southern terminus of many national trains, although trains don't really stop here without having to then turn back on themselves, which is interesting.

It's been made to look mostly white and blue - kind of like the Pavilion - so it does have a little local Seaside feel, and The Concourse has been completely redesigned so now it looks totally modern, and honestly you would think you were in London sometimes.

The blue motif pushes it over the edge, and it's easily five stars - in fact if I could give six stars the station would get six.

Brighton railway station is on Queens Road in the centre of town, it is a fairly small station in terms of facilities offered, yet with 8 platforms all being fairly close to each other for convenience. It managed by Southern Rail, so of course, you'll see most Southern Rail staff manning the station's concourse, and most services coming from Southern as well as other railway franchises and routes they operate: Gatwick Express and Thameslink.

The main station serving the City of Brighton and Hove, Brighton Station is the 7th busiest train station in the UK outside of London, in which it provides multiple services to, the quickest being a 57 minute Gatwick Express route into Victoria, the cheapest being the slightly longer route via Southern, with services from Thameslink going into St Pancras International and London Bridge. The only other operator to run services from the station is Great Western Railway, who run routes to the likes of Bristol or Cardiff.

If you're travelling to a major city probably further north than London, odds are unless it's the likes of Cambridge, you probably will need to change in London. It is a shame Brighton isn't on much more longer routes going up north, meaning I had to take two trains back to Manchester and a tube after coming to the city to watch my team, Manchester City lift the Premier League for the second time in a row.

Brighton Station has a few shops to grab to go food and beverages and miscellaneous including WHSmith which is basically found at every station, a PRET which is the only place you can sit down with a coffee and perhaps a snack (mainly to go food, and a limited menu), and Superdrug.

It is a real shame there is a lack of places to grab something to eat before travelling here, as one would expect from a large station, with very little choice other than PRET, unless you fancy the 10 minutes or so walk (or 5 minutes on multiple buses) into the main city centre. Of course, you could get lunch with the to go food section, perhaps at M&S, but I found here to be overpriced and have a limited selection for me as a coeliac, requiring a gluten-free diet. Separate reviews for all of these businesses to come, folks!

The station does seem a mess on match-days, with trains going into Falmer to serve the Amex Stadium being messy with a long and winding gating queuing, which you actually have to leave the station and enter it again to start the queue, which prolongs things and could be thought out a lot better.

I didn't notice a lot of ticket machines at the station either.

The station staff seemed really friendly, so well done to Southern for that, and the ceiling of the station was really impressive and cool.

This station is okay but it just feels like it is trying to be as basic as possible that they can get away with.

2*

Brighton Station is a compact train station located near the Brighton city center. Inside the station, there are a few retail outlets including Pret A Manger, Superdrug, Cards Galore, and M&S Simply Food.

Amenities at this station are simply inadequate. There are public toilets available, but they're not well maintained, so using them was an unpleasant affair. Because there are only two food options, the lines for both can get really long, which makes it hard to grab something before your train starts to board. There are also only four sets of benches, so it is unlikely you will be able to sit down while you wait to board your train. The platform for our train was announced only 5 minutes before departure, so it was a bit of a mad rush to get on the train in time.

However, the station staff are all lovely and there are a decent amount of self-service ticket machines available for use. The platforms are also quite compact, so it is easy to know where you are going, unlike London Victoria.

Another railway station that I have the opportunity to review, though I haven't gone as far as reviewing every single metro/underground station that I visited (which is probably what I will be doing next time, if there is a next time). Anyway, there is nothing particular about this station that stands out, it is your typical English industrial era station. Unlike the ones on the continent it comes across a somewhat more practical than anything else. Form here you can pretty much catch trains to most places along the coast, or at least in the local region. The other thing is that there are numerous stations that means that you can get to other parts of Brighton, and the adjoining towns. The Thameslink and Gatwick Express also terminate here. As for facilities, well, there your standard facilities as well.

I utilized this train station many times during my study abroad at University of Sussex. It is the closest train station that will take you into London.

The staff here are all very nice. I have asked several staff on numerous occasions on stuff like which track is the one I need to go to and how to purchase tickets, etc.

The train station itself has a historic feel to it and it has a lot of natural lighting coming in. Very clean and spacious.

The trains are usually on time and I have yet to experience a delay.

MIND THE GAP.

Every time I've been, it's been clean and well-maintained. There are plenty of staff around to help and a variety of shops to relieve the boredom if your train is delayed ;)

I think the piano, open for anyone to play, is a very lovely idea. It could do with some more seating though.

Five and nine! The Brighton line! Toot toot!

So goes the bingo call for the number 59. Today, a variety of train companies will deliver to this little bijou town on the south coast and is one of the rare occasions when privatisation of the rail industry has led to consumer choice rather than the imposition of a private rather than public monopoly

You'll arrive in a nice Victorian station with high ceilings admitting a lot of natural sunlight. It's not the biggest in terms of facilities but there's a toilet (fee required), a newsagent and some places for coffee and a snack. Limited seating is available

However, you're only steps from the fun of Brighton as the station is conveniently located close to the centre of town. So, walk on through into town

The staff were helpful with information when I clarified which trains I could catch with my off peak saver ticket

Toot toot!

I hate to get all romantic on your asses but catching the train from Brighton Station always makes me think of Brief Encounter.

I know that was filmed at Carnforth Station not Brighton but there's something about the arched ceilings, the grand architecture and the freezing platforms that conjures images of heartache and heartbreak. In the summertime, the station is usually jam-packed with tourists and weekenders flocking to Brighton for a few days of sunshine. The rest of the time however, it always feels quite a emotive place with hundreds of strangers passing through looking for love, lust or company.

Decent and bright railway station with wifi. A few coffee shops inside and enough ticket machines that you don't have to really wait that long. Trains were on time, and the platforms were pretty logically laid out (unlike London Victoria).

It's easy to find the train you need, there are always 3 or 4 nice National Rail guys in fluorescent jackets to point you in the right direction if not.

The station building is impressive, Victorian and huge.

There's a new waiting room! (well heated, like actually warm) complete with tables and chairs, a bar and even salt and pepper should you for some reason decide to eat your main meal here. I've never been in a better waiting room. It's so handy if you have friends that are always late or don't have a boyfriend into the frost bitten and mucousy look.

Much like other big stations there's a piano. However the performers are classic brighton; 6 year old boys in anime tshirts improving jazz to old chaps playing As Time Goes By to people like me who, when a little tipsy, will play the first 20 seconds of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton then walk away smuggly while the station groans.

The M and S is handy. Toilets are 20/30p and v clean indeed. Bit pigeony but then they're not seagulls so really who cares.

It takes 10 minutes to walk to the centre and the route couldn't be easier; walk out of the station, you can already see the sea. Just walk straight down the road in front of you towards the sea. Unless you're here for the beach, in which case obvs keep walking, you'll meet a clock tower (see picture). You're kinda in the centre here.

I always feel excited when I'm walking from my train into Brighton station. Dinner dates, nights out and lazy days on the beach. It's the best.