The short answer
Helicopter charter Brighton uses Brighton City Airport at Shoreham-by-Sea, a helicopter, turboprop and light-jet airfield with a 1,031 metre runway. All visiting aircraft need prior permission. Shoreham to Gatwick takes about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter and 34 minutes by road; Shoreham to central London takes about 25 to 30 minutes against 1 hour 23 minutes.
Flying from Brighton? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- Brighton City Airport, Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea (EGKA / ESH)
- Hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- Mon to Fri 08:00 to 20:00; Sat 09:00 to 20:00; Sun 09:00 to 19:00; closes at 18:00 from 1 Nov to 28 Feb if no planned movements
- Prior permission
- All visiting aircraft; out-of-hours movements prohibited without a pre-arranged extension (24 hours notice)
- Customs and immigration
- By arrangement: immigration 3 hours notice, Special Branch 12 hours, GAR via sGAR
- Runway
- 02/20, 1,031 m x 18 m asphalt; seasonal grass runways April to November
- Aircraft types
- Helicopters, turboprops and very light jets; not jets generally
Where Brighton flights start and end
The map shows Brighton City Airport, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Brighton City Airport is at Brighton City Airport, Main Terminal Building, Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Open it in Google Maps.
Brighton City Airport (Shoreham)
Choose a place
Hover, or tap, a pin for the details
Sites that serve Brighton
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Brighton City Airport (Shoreham) EGKA / ESH
- Address
- Brighton City Airport, Main Terminal Building, Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat 09:00–20:00; Sun 09:00–19:00 (local). 1 Nov–28 Feb the airport closes at 18:00 if there are no…
Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat 09:00–20:00; Sun 09:00–19:00 (local). 1 Nov–28 Feb the airport closes at 18:00 if there are no planned movements. Extensions need 24 hours' notice- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice (immigration 3 hours' notice; Special Branch 12 hours; GAR via sGAR)
- Runway
- 02/20 – 1,031 m × 18 m asphalt; seasonal grass runways (April–November)
Helicopter charter Brighton: the airport at Shoreham
Brighton City Airport lies on the River Adur at Shoreham-by-Sea, a few miles west of Brighton and Hove. It is the oldest licensed aerodrome in the UK, with a 1,031 metre asphalt runway and grass strips in the summer months. It cannot take business jets; it is a helicopter, turboprop and very light jet airfield, and it is well placed for work to Brighton, Goodwood and the Sussex coast.
Every visiting aircraft needs prior permission, and out-of-hours movements are prohibited unless an extension is pre-arranged with 24 hours' notice. In winter the airport may close at 18:00 if no movements are planned, so tell us your latest return time when you book.
Journey times from Brighton City Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwood | 17 nm (20 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 34 min (24 mi) | 16 min |
| London Gatwick | 19 nm (22 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 34 min (29 mi) | 16 min |
| Epsom Downs | 29 nm (33 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 57 min (47 mi) | 34 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 37 nm (43 mi) | 20 to 30 min | 1 h 23 min (73 mi) | 58 min |
| London | 38 nm (44 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 23 min (63 mi) | 55 min |
| London Heathrow | 39 nm (44 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 21 min (72 mi) | 53 min |
| Southampton | 41 nm (47 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 10 min (56 mi) | 42 min |
| Oxford | 71 nm (82 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 13 min (116 mi) | 1 h 33 min |
| Silverstone | 79 nm (91 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 31 min (134 mi) | 1 h 46 min |
| Cambridge | 84 nm (97 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 23 min (123 mi) | 1 h 38 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 88 nm (102 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 21 min (127 mi) | 1 h 31 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 93 nm (107 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 58 min (150 mi) | 2 h 08 min |
| Bristol | 97 nm (112 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 3 h 08 min (139 mi) | 2 h 18 min |
| Birmingham | 111 nm (128 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 09 min (169 mi) | 2 h 11 min |
| Cardiff | 120 nm (138 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 58 min (201 mi) | 2 h 55 min |
| Norwich | 125 nm (144 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 30 min (181 mi) | 2 h 27 min |
| Manchester | 168 nm (193 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 53 min (250 mi) | 3 h 28 min |
| Liverpool | 177 nm (204 mi) | 80 to 95 min | 4 h 59 min (268 mi) | 3 h 31 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 186 nm (214 mi) | 80 to 100 min | 5 h 01 min (276 mi) | 3 h 31 min |
| Leeds | 189 nm (217 mi) | 85 to 105 min | 5 h 05 min (272 mi) | 3 h 30 min |
| York Racecourse | 189 nm (218 mi) | 85 to 105 min | 4 h 58 min (274 mi) | 3 h 23 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Helicopter against road from Shoreham
Brighton's road links to London and the rest of the south are slower than the map suggests, and the helicopter advantage is clear.
- Shoreham to Goodwood: about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter, 34 minutes by road.
- Shoreham to Gatwick: about 15 to 20 minutes, against 34 minutes.
- Shoreham to Epsom: about 20 to 25 minutes, against 57 minutes.
- Shoreham to Heathrow: about 25 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 21 minutes.
- Shoreham to central London: about 25 to 30 minutes, against 1 hour 23 minutes.
- Shoreham to Oxford: about 35 to 45 minutes, against 2 hours 13 minutes.
Figures are typical and the road times are free-flowing. Our Gatwick page explains why many Brighton clients connect to a flight there by helicopter and car.
Why Brighton clients charter by helicopter
Brighton and Hove has a strong digital, creative and conference economy, and the Brighton Centre hosts national conferences and events. Staff and clients who need to be at a London meeting and back, or to reach an airport for a long-haul departure, gain most from the saving.
The city is also home to a Premier League club: for matchdays see helicopter charter to the Amex Stadium. The Goodwood estate is a short hop east for the Festival of Speed and Glorious Goodwood. For country-house stays around Sussex, see our Goodwood page.
Customs, paperwork and international flights
If your flight arrives from abroad, customs and immigration are by arrangement rather than permanently staffed. The airport asks for three hours' notice for immigration, 12 hours for Special Branch and a General Aviation Report. We file the paperwork. Many passengers who are going abroad take a helicopter to Gatwick instead; see airport transfers by helicopter.
Booking from Brighton
Send us your date, passengers, weights and destination. We confirm hours and permission, choose the helicopter and send one quote. Arrive 10 minutes before departure; soft bags are best where the hold is small. Landing at a Sussex estate or hotel is subject to landing permission and site suitability. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. The wider area is on our South East England region page, and the Isle of Wight page covers the island to the west.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Brighton City Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do helicopters land in Brighton?
At Brighton City Airport in Shoreham-by-Sea, a few miles west of the city centre. Landing elsewhere is subject to landing permission.
Can I charter a jet from Brighton City Airport?
No. The 1,031 metre runway takes helicopters, turboprops and very light jets. For a jet, use Gatwick or another airport and a helicopter transfer.
How long is the helicopter flight from Brighton to Gatwick?
About 15 to 20 minutes, against 34 minutes by road in free-flowing traffic.
When does Brighton City Airport close?
As published, 20:00 Monday to Saturday and 19:00 on Sunday, closing at 18:00 between 1 November and 28 February if no movements are planned.
What notice does customs need at Shoreham?
Three hours for immigration and 12 hours for Special Branch, plus a General Aviation Report. We file these for you.
Can you fly from Brighton to Goodwood?
Yes, in about 15 to 20 minutes against 34 minutes by road. Event landings depend on the organiser.
