Two journeys from Eastbourne to Gatwick by bus

Tuesday 12th May 2026 I travelled by bus from Eastbourne to Gatwick Airport last Thursday. It took three hours and 41 minutes using three buses. I made the same journey yesterday afternoon when it took two hours and 24 minutes using just one bus. That’s thanks to new bus route 500 introduced on Sunday by Metrobus in partnership with both East and West Sussex County Councils and Gatwick Airport. Here’s how it was last week for an intrepid airport bound passenger living in Eastbourne not wanting to use the train…. I caught the 10:10 route 54 departure in Eastbourne’s town centre, a stone’s throw from the railway station. It’s the route Brighton & Hove took over after Stagecoach lost interest in it last September. It links Eastbourne with Hailsham, East Hoathley, Halland and Uckfield. It’s an hourly service across an extensive span of the day (05:40 to 22:45 from Eastbourne) and two hourly on Sundays. The three Eastbourne depot based buses used on the route were a bit ‘off brand’ on…