England · getting around

Getting around The South Downs

We have not yet assessed getting around The South Downs. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Facts last checked Oct 25, 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Without a car

Getting here

By train

The National Park Authority says regular trains from London Waterloo and London Victoria reach the park in 60 to 90 minutes. Lewes is on the lines to London Victoria, Brighton and Eastbourne; Southease, Berwick, Seaford and Eastbourne are useful for the eastern Downs. Midhurst has no station: Stagecoach buses link it with Chichester and Haslemere. 1

South Downs National Park: public transport (opens in new tab) · National Rail Enquiries (opens in new tab)

By bus

The South Downs Discovery ticket gives a day's unlimited travel on most bus operators in East and West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and East Hampshire: £10 for an adult, £8 for a child and £20 for a family of up to five. Brighton & Hove's Breeze buses run to Devil's Dyke, Stanmer Park and Ditchling Beacon, and its Coaster buses link Brighton and Eastbourne along the coast. Stagecoach runs Midhurst to Chichester (60) and Midhurst to Worthing via Petworth (1). 2

South Downs Discovery ticket (opens in new tab) · Brighton & Hove Buses: Breeze to the Downs (opens in new tab) · Stagecoach (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

Walk the South Downs Way

The National Trail runs the length of the park. In the east it passes the Long Man of Wilmington, Alfriston and the Seven Sisters between Exceat and Eastbourne.

Buses with a Discovery ticket

One day ticket covers most local bus operators, so you can walk one way and ride back. Plan the connections with Traveline.

Take care on the cliffs

The National Trust warns that the chalk cliffs are fragile and can collapse without warning: stay well away from both the edges and the bases.

Stops near each area

From our area guides (The South Downs): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Lewes and the Seven Sisters
  • Lewes: Southern trains. Lines to London Victoria, Brighton and Eastbourne
  • Southease: Southern trains. A walk of about 1.5 miles along the river to Monk's House (National Trust)
  • Coaster 12, 12X and 13X: Brighton & Hove buses. Brighton to Eastbourne; the National Trust says buses call at East Dean for Birling Gap

Lewes and the Seven Sisters: getting there

Midhurst and Petworth
  • Midhurst bus routes: Stagecoach 60, 70 and 1. To Chichester, Guildford via Haslemere, and Worthing via Petworth (Wikipedia)
  • Haslemere: Trains to London and Portsmouth. Stagecoach 70 bus to Midhurst
  • Chichester: National Rail station. Stagecoach 60 bus to Midhurst (Wikipedia)

Midhurst and Petworth: getting there

No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

By car

The National Park Authority warns that roads in the park become congested at busy times and encourages public transport. The A27 runs along the foot of the Downs past Lewes; the National Trust's Birling Gap car park, south of the A259 between Eastbourne and Seaford, is pay and display. 3

General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from The South Downs to other regions
To or fromStraight lineFastest train (National Rail)Notes

Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.

Stations in our data

90 stations and stops (The South Downs)

OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Overpass API. Fetched 2026-11-03. This is the list behind the near-me page, not a complete list of stations.

  • Aldrington (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Amberley (rail)
  • AMEX Stadium Bus & Coach Interchange (bus)
  • Angmering (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Aquarium (station)
  • Arundel (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Balcombe (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Barnham (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Beech Hurst Miniature (heritage)
  • Berwick (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Billingshurst (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Bishopstone (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Black Rock (station)
  • Bognor Regis (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Bosham (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Brighton (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Brockham (station)
  • Burgess Hill (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Buxted (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Chichester (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Christ's Hospital (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Commercial Square Exit/Entry (metro)
  • Cooksbridge (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Cragside (station)
  • Crowborough (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Durrington-on-Sea (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • East Worthing (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Eastbourne (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Emsworth (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Eridge (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Falmer (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Faygate (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Fishbourne (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Fishersgate (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Ford (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Glynde (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Goring-by-Sea (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Hadlow Down (station)
  • Halfway (station)
  • Hampden Park (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Haslemere (rail), South Western Railway
  • Hassocks (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Haywards Heath (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Holycombe Junction (station)
  • Horsham (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Horsham Bus Station (bus)
  • Horsted Keynes (heritage), Bluebell Railway
  • Hove (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Isfield (heritage), The Lavender Line
  • Lancing (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Lewes (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Liphook (rail), South Western Railway
  • Liss (rail), South Western Railway
  • Littlehampton (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Littlehaven (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • London Road (Brighton) (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Market Place Exit/Entry (metro)
  • Mewsbrook Park (station)
  • Midhurst Bus Station (bus)
  • Moulsecoomb (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Newhaven Harbour (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Newhaven Town (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Norfolk Gardens (station)
  • Nutbourne (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Perrymount Road Exit/Entry (metro)
  • Petersfield (rail), South Western Railway
  • Plumpton (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Polegate (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Polegate Oaks (station)
  • Pool Valley Coach Station (bus)
  • Portslade (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Preston Park (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Pulborough (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Seaford (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Sheffield Park (heritage), Bluebell Railway
  • Shoreham-by-Sea (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Southbourne (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Southease (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Southwick (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Stopham Road (station)
  • Storrington Bus Station (bus)
  • Tinkers Lane (station)
  • Uckfield (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Uckfield Bus Station (bus)
  • Warnham (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • West Worthing (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Windy Ridge (station)
  • Wivelsfield (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)
  • Worth Halt (heritage), The Lavender Line
  • Worthing (rail), Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern)

Official links

More on The South Downs: The South Downs guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around The South Downs without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around The South Downs. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in The South Downs?

We found no charging or low emission zone for The South Downs in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.

Sources

Fetched and read on Oct 25, 2026. Rules, prices and schedules change: check the source before you rely on it. Where a page blocked automated access we say so and link it.

  1. South Downs National Park: public transport (opens in new tab), southdowns.gov.uk
  2. South Downs Discovery ticket (opens in new tab), southdowns.gov.uk
  3. South Downs National Park: driving (opens in new tab), southdowns.gov.uk