Getting Around the South Downs - Bus and Rail
The South Downs are well served by public transport, why not leave your car at home and take to the countryside by train or bus. You'll see more, have more fun, you won't be tied to only visiting carparks, and if everyone does it the South Downs will stay beautiful forever.
This page contains general information on public transport and details of ticket deals to look out for, for more detailed bus routes, frequency, and contact numbers visit: www.visitsouthdowns.com
Southern Railway operate a Brighton mainline between Brighton & London Victoria, East Coastway between Ashford International, Eastbourne, Newhaven and Lewes to Brighton & London Victoria, West Coastway between Southampton, Portsmouth, Chichester, and Worthing to Brighton and London Victoria. www.southernrailway.com
South West Trains operate services from London to Portsmouth, Winchester and Southampton. www.southwesttrains.co.uk
First Capital Connect operate between Brighton, London and Bedford. www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
First Great Western operate between Brighton, Bristol & Worcester (twice daily). www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
For further UK wide travel information and special tickets contact National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk. National Rail Enquiries Textphone: 0845 60 50 600. Traveline provides journey planning information about all public transport services - buses, coaches, trains, ferries, trams, metro and underground www.traveline.org.uk (telephone 0871 200 2233), and www.transportdirect.info provides this service also.
Downlander lets you loose on the Downs! An exciting new bus and rail ticket the Downlander gives travel across the Southern Railway network and onwards on services provided by Brighton and Hove Buses, Eastbourne Buses, Cuckmere Community Bus and also East Sussex County Council Rider bus services. The South Coast Downlander is £10 and the All Network Downlander which allows wider railway travel £12.50 (children aged 5-15 travel for £2.50 on either ticket). Click on the link below for suggested days out by bus and rail, a map showing the bus area and great discounts to attractions, shops and restaurants with a valid ticket! Not to be missed! www.southernrailway.com/downlander
Explorer, the Ticket - To venture further afield, an Explorer ticket is ideal. Allowing one day's travel across most counties along the south coast for one day, it gives you the freedom of local bus network in the area and allows travel on Stagecoach, Arriva, Brighton & Hove, Compass Travel, Eastbourne Buses, First, Metrobus, Countryliner, Solent Blue Line and Wilts & Dorset. Buy your ticket from the driver of any of the above companies' buses within the region. (Prices may vary across companies.)
Megabus offers discounted bus travel between Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and London. www.megabus.com
Megatrain offers discounted train travel between London and Southampton and other routes. www.megatrain.com
Pick up a Railcard if you are aged 16 to 25 years, over 60 years, a full time student, travel with children or disabled. www.railcard.co.uk
The Downs without a car? It's a Breeze from Brighton! Yes it's more than possible to get out to the 'Downs on your Doorstep' without a car - in fact it's not only easy but surprisingly cheap, on Breeze buses 77, 78 and 79 to Devil's Dyke, Stanmer Park & Ditchling Beacon. These bus services operate on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays all year round, with the Devils Dyke bus (77) also operating daily for most of July & August. www.buses.co.uk
Useful Links:
Public transport maps can be viewed at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/publictransport for East Sussex;
www.westsussex.gov.uk/passengertransport for West Sussex;
www.hants.gov.uk for Hampshire;
www.buses.co.uk for Brighton and Hove.
- Visit the South Downs on Brighton's famous Breeze Buses
