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ESH · medium airport

Brighton City Airport

Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Airports
ESHmedium airport

Brighton City Airport

Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Explore Brighton, East Sussex city guide Navigate to this airport
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Routes out
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Destinations
EGKA
ICAO
7 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

Sussex's general aviation gateway serving the Brighton area.

Opened
1910
Location
Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom
Brighton City Airport, known by its IATA code ESH and ICAO code EGKA, is a small general aviation airport located in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, near Brighton, England. It is one of the oldest licensed aerodromes in the United Kingdom and has historically served light aircraft, private flights, and limited scheduled services. The airport has faced significant challenges in sustaining commercial airline operations, with scheduled services having largely ceased in recent years. It remains active for general aviation, flight training, and private charter operations. Despite its small size, the airport holds historical and heritage significance, featuring an iconic Art Deco terminal building constructed in the 1930s that is a Grade II listed structure and a landmark of British aviation architecture.
Terminals
The airport has a single terminal building, its iconic 1930s Art Deco structure, primarily serving general aviation and private passengers.
Getting to & from
The airport is accessible by road via the A27 and is served by a nearby railway station, Shoreham-by-Sea, on the Coastway West line connecting to Brighton and beyond.
Airlines here
No major commercial airlines currently operate scheduled services from Brighton City Airport, which is used primarily for general aviation and charter flights.
Notable facts
  • ›The terminal building, opened in 1936, is a Grade II listed Art Deco structure and one of Britain's most architecturally significant airport buildings.
  • ›The airport is one of the oldest operational aerodromes in the United Kingdom, with flying activity dating back to around 1910.
  • ›A fatal air show accident occurred at the airport in August 2015 when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the A27 road, killing 11 people.
  • ›The airport is officially located in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, though it markets itself under the Brighton name.
  • ›The airport has been used extensively for film and television productions due to its historic terminal building.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
A compact gateway connecting Sussex to the skies above England

Brighton City Airport, formerly known as Shoreham Airport, is one of the oldest licensed aerodromes in the United Kingdom, with origins dating back to 1910. Located at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, it primarily serves general aviation, private flights, and occasional charter operations rather than scheduled commercial airlines. Its iconic Art Deco terminal building, Grade II* listed and constructed in 1936, is widely regarded as one of the finest aviation heritage structures in Britain.

Terminals
  • Art Deco Terminal — The historic 1936 Grade II* listed building serving general aviation, private charters, and airport administration.
Ground Transport
  • Taxi services available from the airport forecourt
  • Local bus routes connecting Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton and Worthing
  • Car rental available in the surrounding Shoreham-by-Sea area
  • Train access via Shoreham-by-Sea railway station approximately 1 mile away
Nearby Hotels
  • Travelodge Brighton Seafront
  • Hotel du Vin Brighton
  • Premier Inn Brighton City Centre
  • Jurys Inn Brighton
Dining

The airport has limited onsite catering given its small general aviation focus, with a modest café serving basic refreshments for visiting pilots and passengers. A wider range of dining options, from traditional British pubs to seafood restaurants, is available in nearby Shoreham-by-Sea and along the Brighton seafront, roughly 8 miles east. Lancing and Worthing town centres also offer convenient dining stops for those departing from or arriving at the airport.

Traveller Tips
  • The Art Deco terminal building is a heritage landmark worth photographing even if you are not flying.
  • Allow extra travel time as public transport connections are limited and taxis may need to be pre-booked.
  • Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is the most reliable public transport link to the wider rail network.
  • Check flight availability carefully as scheduled commercial services are extremely limited at this airport.
Official website

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

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Brighton City Airport
Encyclopaedia

Brighton City Airport, also commonly known as Shoreham Airport, is located in Lancing near Shoreham by Sea in West Sussex, England. It has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.

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