New mega-cheap bus route connects London with UK's best seaside cities
Forget the idea that coaches are just for seniors and students - travelling across the UK by coach is about to get a significant boost this summer with the introduction of more affordable fares.
FlixBus, with its distinctive green buses, is expanding its UK network, which already spans over 80 destinations, including Brighton. As of June 13, new coach services will connect Cambridge, London, Gatwick Airport, and Brighton, operating twice daily.
Prices are extremely competitive, with tickets between London and Brighton starting at £4.49 and those between Gatwick and Brighton available from £3.49. The journey from London to Brighton takes approximately two and a half hours - an hour longer than the train - but at a fraction of the cost.
FlixBus is also introducing a direct service between Cambridge and London, running four times a day, to cater to the growing demand for tourism.
Andreas Schorling, Senior Managing Director of FlixBus UK, expressed his enthusiasm for the new services: "Brighton is such a vibrant, inclusive city, especially during the summer, and we can't wait to offer passengers the chance to visit for the first time on our network."
"The people of Brighton will now have a fantastic service to central London, Cambridge and Gatwick. Known for its dedication to sustainability, it's a perfect match for FlixBus.
"Londoners now have even more affordable, sustainable, and reliable travel options for weekend getaways, airport connections, and visiting friends and family this summer."
Brighton has been named as one of Time Out's top 50 cities in the world to visit in 2025, boasting attractions such as the iconic pier, the Royal Pavilion and its beach.
FlixBus has been busy throughout spring 2025, rolling out its largest expansion yet, adding new destinations including popular holiday spots like Bournemouth, Newquay and Truro.
The company now operates over 200 coaches across England, Scotland and Wales, providing nationwide travel that is sustainable, reliable and affordable. Tickets can be purchased at www.flixbus.co.uk or via the FlixBus app.
With a fleet of 200 coaches, FlixBus' business is thriving, generating a turnover of £1.7 billion from 81 million passengers worldwide each year.
"This feels like a new golden age for coach travel", says Schorling. "Over five million UK passengers have travelled with us since we launched three years ago and they keep coming back. By next summer, we'll have over 200 vehicles on the road, more than twice the size of the Megabus network at their peak."
According to TimeOut, FlixBus has managed to achieve something that Megabus couldn't. It writes: "It's made getting a coach - dare we say it - chic?".
"It would seem unlikely that a bus could build and sustain a place in pop-culture" says Eglantina Becheru, Director of Brand & Creative at FlixBus. "But against the odds, Flix has created one."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
RAF jets alerted to escort plane after 'sonic boom'
A sonic boom has been heard over London after two RAF jets intercepted a private plane above the city. The Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby were scrambled near Peterborough at 11.40am today. A Bombardier Global Express flying from Nice, France, had lost contact with the ground triggering the emergency response. The jets intercepted and then escorted the plane to London Stansted Airport. But Londoners as well as people living in Kent and Essex reported hearing a 'sonic boom' like an 'explosion' as the jets took to the skies. More Trending The RAF said: 'We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control. 'Communications were re-established and the aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons are returning to base.' One person from Dartford said: 'Heard and felt it, shook my whole building.' Another added: 'It livened up the Zoom call I was on when I said 'what the f*** was that loud bang?!'' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: My 'biohazard diarrhoea' cancelled an entire flight – this is what caused it MORE: Woman charged with assault and migrant arrested after he 'walked into her flat' in London MORE: Manchester Airport flights grounded after easyJet planes 'clip wings' on runway
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow travellers warned of severe delays at major airport
Travellers have been warned that they may face disruption if they are flying to or from Gatwick Airport in England. The Sun reported that the travel hub is bracing for severe delays as baggage screeners are set to strike over a pay dispute. Unite the Union said workers will walk out at two different times this month. The first strike action will take place from August 22 to August 26. Further action will take place from August 29 until September 2. During the strikes, all flights out of Gatwick Airport are expected to face disruption. READ MORE: Major airline to axe busy route from Glasgow Airport READ MORE: Major airline with Glasgow Airport flights announces big change Due to the walkouts, Scottish holidaygoers who are flying to or from the airport, or catching a connecting flight, could be impacted by the action. Currently, four airports in Scotland fly directly to Gatwick. These are: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness. However, only passengers who are checking in luggage will be impacted by the strikes. This is because ICTS staff are those responsible for screening luggage for the hold of planes. Despite this, anyone travelling over the strike dates has still been urged to prepare for huge delays. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "ICTS has more than enough money to offer these workers a fair pay rise. "Not doing so is just corporate greed. "ICTS' Gatwick workers will receive Unite's complete backing for as long as it takes during their strikes for fair pay." Unite regional officer Ben Davis added: "ICTS is entirely responsible for the disruption that will be caused to Gatwick passengers during the strike action. "It can well afford to put forward an acceptable pay offer, and that is what needs to happen. "Despite performing a critical role, these workers are amongst the lowest paid at the airport. "Gatwick should be stepping in and pressuring ICTS to put an improved offer forward." A London Gatwick spokesperson said: "We are working with our suppliers to avoid any impacts. "We expect to operate a normal summer holiday flight schedule for our airlines and passengers on these dates. "Of course, we hope ICTS and their union can reach a resolution before then."
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
I don't want to buy a home — and it's nothing to do with money
When 24-year-old Piper Phillips moved to New York City, she knew one thing would be true: she wouldn't be buying a home. At the moment, Piper doesn't have any desire to get on the property ladder in the Big Apple. She's largely accepted that, for the career opportunities it affords her, she's happy to foot the bill to live in a prime location. 'Homeownership is the American Dream, and it's been shoved down our throats for as long as we can remember,' Piper, a full-time content creator and digital entrepreneur, tells Metro, noting that her priorities are her 'career' and 'lifestyle.' At the moment, Piper and her boyfriend live in a one-bedroom flat in Manhattan. It costs them $5,000 (£3,727.42), with Piper contributing $2,000 (£1,490.97) towards the monthly payment. And while the couple are now looking for a two-bedroom apartment so that she can have her own home office, and have increased their budget to do so, they're not looking to buy. 'I'm paying for my life in New York City, and that's worth it because I enjoy it. The high rent in NYC is your membership you use to be able to live in the city that has the best opportunities for your career in the world,' she adds. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Piper also loves the 'freedom' of being able to try out new places, in a similar way that many young Londoners do, too. 'Living in New York is so fun, you get to explore new neighbourhoods and that really just marks different chapters of your life,' she reflects. 'I do love the fresh energy of coming into a new place. When my toilet breaks or something happens, I just call my repair person, and they come and fix it for me. It's incredible.' She feels that there's a hidden luxury to renting, as she wouldn't be able to afford to buy the type of home she's living in. In fact, she'd rather just rent and 'not deal with the hassle.' 'I don't think that homeownership is the same badge of approval or stamp of success as it was once was,' she says. 'It used to mean that you were stable, but rent is so expensive in these metropolitan cities, it is more glamorous and sometimes, it's equally as impressive to live where you want, even if you're renting.' This isn't just an NYC thing: many in the UK have similar sentiments. While her friends around her rush to get on the property ladder, 25-year-old Kathryn Loosley still isn't convinced. Kathryn loves her life in London, and though she's currently paying £1,100 for her room in Tooting, she's not sure if buying is entirely worth it. 'My boyfriend and I want the freedom to move around. We'll really need to think hard about whether it's worth it or not,' Kathryn tells Metro, noting that seeing her peers struggles to buy have put her off. Kathryn says that renting currently affords her a decent amount of disposable income, which gives her the freedom to enjoy her lifestyle 'without feeling the financial burden of homeownership,' something she feels is important for 20-somethings. 'We're tied into rent as you would be with a mortgage, but we don't have any overheads in repairs. We know what's going out each month and can allocate the rest to enjoying London, whether that's eating out, fitness classes, or escaping for a European weekend break,' she adds. 'I'm so happy we're not being tied into a house at this age.' According to a survey conducted by SpareRoom in March 2025, while 62% of under-30s expect that they will buy a property at some point in their lives, 11% don't think they will. And, amid the uncertainty – and inaccessibility – of the housing market, 28% are unsure either way. For much of the younger generations, plain 'hard work' isn't enough anymore. While grandparents recall stories of saving up for a house relatively quickly, prospective homeowners these days are often having to rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad, a privilege that those from working-class families often cannot access. Breaking from the debate entirely, though, is a group of people who, like Kathryn, don't want to buy a home at all and refuse to buy into the idea that homeownership is the ultimate housing goal. Of those who feel they won't ever get on the property ladder, SpareRoom's findings showed that 11% actively said that they prefer renting, while 15% need the flexibility to move at short notice, So, why is the UK so obsessed with the holy grail of homeownership in the first place? In 2021, one YouGov study suggested that owning isn't universally valued globally. While 62% of Britons said that it was a goal they'd already accomplished, it was hardly a number one priority in places like Germany, where housing policy has often encouraged people to rent. Here, two in five (42%) had no intention of buying at all. Dr Marc Schelhase, a lecturer in the Defence Studies Department at King's College London, explains that the British fixation on home ownership is actually a relatively recent development. After the Second World War, government housing policy focused on universal access to quality housing where communities could thrive – seen in the vision of the prefab homes, many of which were given as social housing to returning soldiers. Then came Right to Buy under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, which saw tenants in social housing encouraged to buy their own homes. And of course, the many challenges of the UK rental system have some people desperate avoid landlords. The Renters' Rights Bill is designed to make things better for tenants, but it's been in the works for years and won't become law until 2026. Focusing on ownership isn't always a helpful mindset though, as it can distract from the government's responsibility to build and maintain social housing – and potentially underplay the idea that some renters might just not be interested in buying. We just need a fair rental market that works. As Marc von Grundherr, director of Benham and Reeves, tells Metro, it's an increasing trend we're seeing in renters – and it's not just Gen Z, but a number of demographics. More Trending 'Flexibility has become a significant priority, with many choosing to rent as it offers the freedom to relocate for career opportunities or personal reasons without the commitment and potential restrictions that come with owning a property,' Marc shares. And while getting on the property ladder is generally interpreted as a positive financial commitment, Marc feels that not everyone sees it that way. 'With the cost of living, inflation, and the unpredictability of the housing market, some see renting as a way to maintain financial fluidity and avoid long-term debt,' he concludes. 'This trend isn't restricted to younger generations either; we're seeing it across a range of age groups, from professionals who value mobility, to those nearing retirement, who want to avoid the financial burdens that often accompany homeownership.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: Londoners are flocking to my beloved hometown — but there's one problem MORE: What I Own: We paid £125,000 for our London houseboat — we charge our lodger £1,200 a month MORE: MPs being landlords would be comical if it wasn't so offensive
