Seven Sisters Cliffs walk – day trip from Brighton

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Last Updated: February 2022

Visiting the Seven Sisters Country Park has been on my wish list for a while. It’s a nice day trip from London and perfect on a sunny day. We visited it on a bank holiday and were really lucky with the weather.

We decided to use public transport on this trip, but you can also book an organised tour with transport in a bus.

We took a train from London St Pancras Intl to Brighton at 07:40. The journey takes 1,5 hours. The train is really comfortable with tables and wifi. From Brighton we made our way straight to the bus stop. We can take 12, 12A or 13 x from Churchill Square.

The bus takes around 1 hour. I strongly recommend downloading the B&H app from here. If you purchase a networkSAVER ticket in the app you can travel unlimited for a day for £5.00 on all Brighton & Hove buses. This price is only if you buy your ticket ahead of time in the app. On the day the same ticket cost £7 from the driver.

South Downs National Park, the Seven Sisters Country Park is made up of 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, meandering river valley and open chalk grassland.

There is a lot to do in the area. You can go hiking, cycling, kayaking or SUP paddleboarding. The Cuckeme River is one of the best UK kayaking trip destinations. The company Buzz Active offers some great watersport activities in the area. Their kayak trip to Alfriston is a lovely paddle with nice wildlife and gorgeous views to Litlington White Horse. They also offer kayaking and SUP taster sessions, where you can get to know these sports if you haven’t tried them before. A great kayaking experience near London! There is a convenient parking area, next to the river. It is an ideal spot to launch your own inflatable kayak.

This weekend however we decided to do the Seven Sisters Cliff Walk. We hiked from the visitor centre to Birling Gap which is a 4 miles hike up and down on the cliffs. It’s not a too steep or difficult hike. We had nice views along the way looking at the sea, cliffs, sheep and horses. There is greenery everywhere you look. It’s nothing like London. Birling Gap has a cafe, beach and visitor centre, so it’s a nice place to have a rest!

I really wanted to see Beachy Head as well with it’s lighthouse. The hike would have been another 2,2 miles and we wanted a rest and leave some time to explore Brighton as well early evening. We decided to take the 13 x bus. It saved us some precious time and energy as well!

The views to the lighthouse were great. I scared my mum to death a few times when I stood too close to the edge according to her. Just be careful, as it’s a long drop down there and there’s no fence or anything like that. The hiking trail continues all the way to one of the many charming English towns: Eastbourne. However, we decided not to go any further.

After a few pictures we got on the bus again and made our way back to Brighton, where we still had some time to explore the city. I showed my parents the pier, the Pavilion and finished the day with a nice burger at VBites! They have some awesome stuff. Everything is vegan, but I enjoy food there as a meat eater! 🙂

We took at train at 8 pm and we were in London by 9:30. If you love the outdoors and looking for some greenery I strongly recommend doing this day trip!

There are many fantastic day trips you could do from London. Don’t miss your chance to visit these places on your trip.

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How to get from Brighton to the Seven Sisters by bus

Brighton & Hove Buses run three routes along the coast road (A259) to the Seven Sisters Country Park stop at Exceat. That is the visitor centre stop and the main start of the Seven Sisters cliff walk. The routes changed on 19 July 2026. Here is how they work as of November 2026:

• Route 12: the all-stops bus. It runs every 15 minutes between Brighton, Seaford and Chyngton from Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on to Exceat, East Dean and Eastbourne. On Sundays and public holidays it runs every 20 minutes. The old 12A has been merged into this route.
• Route 12X: the faster option. It skips most stops between Brighton and Seaford, then runs along the A259 through Exceat and East Dean to Eastbourne, up to every 12 minutes. This is usually the quickest bus to Seven Sisters Country Park.
• Route 13X: the scenic bus. It follows the 12X as far as Exceat, then climbs over the Downs to Birling Gap and Beachy Head before dropping into Eastbourne. It is the only bus that serves Birling Gap and Beachy Head. It runs on Sundays and public holidays (every 15 minutes since July 2026) and on extra days in the peak summer season. The November 2026 Sunday timetable shows about 57 minutes from Brighton Station to Exceat, 68 minutes to Birling Gap and 70 minutes to Beachy Head.

Where to catch it: all three routes run through central Brighton. The 13X starts at Brighton Station. Use the Brighton & Hove Buses app or website to find the nearest stop and live times.

Fares and day tickets: Brighton & Hove single fares are capped at £3 until at least March 2027, so each way costs no more than £3. If you want to hop on and off, for example Exceat to Birling Gap and back to Brighton from Beachy Head, a networkSAVER gives unlimited travel on Brighton & Hove buses for the day. It is usually cheapest in the app, and a family day ticket costs £12.50 in the app. Check the current adult day price in the app before you travel, as prices are reviewed every year.

East Dean: if you're on a day when the 13X doesn't run, take the 12 or 12X to East Dean. From there you can walk roughly 1.5 miles (2.3 km) down to Birling Gap.

Getting to the Seven Sisters by train (via Seaford)

If you'd rather walk the whole cliff path, take the train to Seaford instead of the bus. Southern runs trains from Brighton to Seaford via Lewes and Newhaven. They take just over 30 minutes and run about every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday, and hourly on Sundays. From London Victoria you change at Lewes, and the journey takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. Fast trains from London Victoria to Brighton take about 57 minutes, and Thameslink from St Pancras takes about 1 hour 18 minutes. At the end of the walk, Eastbourne has direct trains back to London Victoria.

The Seven Sisters cliff walk: route and distances

The classic Seven Sisters walk goes from Seaford to Eastbourne along the South Downs Way and the coast path. You can do all of it or any section, using the buses to get back.

Crossing the Cuckmere: there is no bridge where the river meets the sea at Cuckmere Haven. If you start in Seaford, walk inland to the Exceat bridge on the A259. Don't try to wade or swim across. At high tide the river can be 6–7 m deep with strong currents.

Shorter options: Exceat to Birling Gap with the 13X back is the most popular half-day route. On days without the 13X, walk on to East Dean for the 12 or 12X. There is also an easy-access trail from the visitor centre along the Cuckmere valley, which suits pushchairs and wheelchairs. See the South Downs National Park website for details.

Cliff-edge erosion: stay safe at the Seven Sisters

The Seven Sisters are soft chalk, and they erode fast. Large cliff falls happen with no warning, often after heavy rain or frost. The edge is unfenced, and grass can overhang the drop. Follow the official advice:

• Stay on the path and at least 5 metres back from the cliff edge. Also keep at least 5 m away from the base of the cliffs if you walk on the beach.
• Never sit on the edge or lean over it for photos. Keep children and dogs close.
• Check the tide times before going down to the beach, so you don't get cut off.
• In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Facilities: visitor centre, cafés, toilets and parking

• Seven Sisters Country Park (Exceat, BN25 4AD): the park is run by the South Downs National Park Authority. The visitor centre is open daily 10:00–17:00, or 10:00–16:00 from late October to March, alongside a Grab & Go kiosk. The toilets are open 7:00–18:00 in winter. There are two pay-and-display car parks: up to 2 hours costs £3.50, up to 4 hours £5 and over 4 hours £7. You can pay by coin, card or RingGo. The car parks are locked overnight, at 18:00 in winter and 21:00 in summer.
• Birling Gap (National Trust): there is a café, a shop, toilets and a staircase of about 50 steps down to the shingle beach. Opening is 10:00–16:00 in winter. Parking costs £2 for 1 hour, £4 for 2 hours and £8 for longer, and National Trust members park free. Dogs on leads are welcome on the beach and in the café.
• Cuckmere Inn (by Exceat bridge) and the Beachy Head pub are handy refreshment stops on the full walk.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Brighton to the Seven Sisters?

Take Brighton & Hove bus 12, 12X or 13X to the Seven Sisters Country Park stop at Exceat. It takes about an hour, and the 12X and 13X are the quickest. Single fares are capped at £3. You can also take the train from Brighton to Seaford (just over 30 minutes) and walk east along the cliffs.

Which bus goes from Brighton to the Seven Sisters cliffs and Birling Gap?

Only the 13X goes to Birling Gap and Beachy Head. It runs on Sundays and public holidays (up to every 15 minutes) and on extra days in summer. The 12 and 12X go to Seven Sisters Country Park and East Dean, but not to Birling Gap. On other days, walk to Birling Gap from Exceat or East Dean.

How long is the Seven Sisters cliff walk?

From Seven Sisters Country Park (Exceat) to Birling Gap is about 4 miles (6.5 km) and takes about 2–3 hours over the hills. The full Seven Sisters hike from Seaford to Eastbourne is about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) and takes a full day.

Is the Seven Sisters hike difficult?

The Exceat to Birling Gap section is moderate: the path is clear, but it climbs and drops steeply over each of the "sisters". The full Seaford to Eastbourne walk is hilly almost the whole way. You need good shoes, water and a windproof layer, as there is no shelter on the cliff top.

Is it safe to walk along the Seven Sisters cliffs?

Yes, if you keep to the path and stay well back. The chalk cliffs collapse without warning, so stay at least 5 metres from both the edge and the base. In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Is there parking at the Seven Sisters?

Yes. Seven Sisters Country Park at Exceat has two pay-and-display car parks (from £3.50 for 2 hours to £7 for over 4 hours), locked overnight. Birling Gap has National Trust parking, free for members. Both fill up quickly on sunny weekends, so the bus from Brighton is often easier.