Compare Brighton car hire

Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the closest major airport to Brighton, and a prime place to pick up a car. Most major car hire brands have branches here, including Avis, Hertz and Enterprise. Compare prices on car rental and you can bag some really cheap deals. It’s an easy 45-minute drive to the centre of Brighton.

There are two terminals at Gatwick (North and South) with a free shuttle that ferries you between the two in a matter of minutes. Most of the car rental offices are located just outside the South Terminal arrivals hall, but there are a couple of rental options at North Terminal, including a second Hertz branch.

Car rental companies operating at Gatwick Airport in 2020 include:

• Enterprise (Tel: +441293 609090)
• Hertz (Tel: +44843 309 3030)
• Avis (Tel: +44344 544 6001)
• Sixt (Tel: +44844 499 3399)
• Europcar (Tel: +44371 384 3408)

Brighton's narrow streets and one-way systems can make navigating tricky if you’re unfamiliar with the city, though you can always fall back on the universal rule of seaside towns: heading downhill will bring you to the sea. Away from the tightly-clustered streets of the town centre things are relatively simple, with Preston Road/London Road and the A270 providing the main arteries out of town. They'll carry you out into the South Downs, and also connect to the A27, the fast road running east-west across the south coast.

Parking in Brighton is plentiful but car parks and pay-and-display options can be expensive and quickly fill up, especially on weekends. Cheaper parking by the sea can be found outside the central zone if you go past Yellowave Beach Sports or west of Hove Street. If you don’t fancy finding parking spots in Brighton itself, there’s a free Park-and-Ride option at Withdean Sports Complex (signposted from the A23).

Driving into Brighton on the A23 during peak times and on weekends (Saturdays in particular) can be stressful and you can expect lots of traffic. That goes double for summer weekends. It’s best to avoid driving at these times or consider parking further out.

Arundel Castle

Driving time: 50 minutes

This majestic building dates back to the 11th century. Beautifully restored and remodelled, it regularly hosts historical re-enactments and events such as the summer Jousting and Medieval Tournament Week. If you want to see another Sussex castle, try Hever Castle (famous for its connection to Anne Boleyn, one of Henry VIII's ill-fated wives). It's a little further afield on the northern edge of High Weald National Park.

Camber Sands

Driving time: One hour 30 minutes

Brighton’s pebbles may be pretty but if you prefer a softer stretch of beach, Camber Sands makes the ideal day trip. It’s just over 50 miles (80 kilometres) east, past Eastbourne and Hastings, but is well worth the drive as it’s the only place you’ll find proper sand dunes in East Sussex. Perfect for a walk in winter or a sunbathe and swim in summer, it’s also close to charming Rye, whose historic centre includes a former home of the author Henry James.

Lewes

Driving time: 25 minutes

If you came to Brighton for the independent cafes, shops and art galleries, you'll love Lewes too. It's surrounded by the scenery of the South Downs, and packed with winding alleys and historical sights, including the ruins of Lewes Castle and the former home of Anne of Cleves (yet another of Henry VIII's wives). The town also boasts legendary Sussex brewery Harvey's, whose ales are on sale at many of Lewes’s pubs.