About this bus lane
This bus lane operates at any time — there is no off-peak period when other traffic may use it. The council does not publish hours per lane, but its sealed consolidation order does, and every bus lane on this road sits in the order’s "Bus Lanes At Any Time" table.
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cyclists and motorcycles may use it — this is one of the few Brighton bus lanes that admits motorcycles. The southbound A23 lane runs from Carden Avenue to the Preston Road boundary, a little over a kilometre, and Tongdean Lane is on that stretch.
Transcribed from the Brighton & Hove (Bus Lanes) Consolidation Order 2018, Schedule 1 Part 1.1 "Bus Lanes At Any Time" (tro.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/TRO/Brighton%20and%20Hove/488-Brighton-Hove-Bus-Lane-Consolidation-Order-2018.pdf).
Who can use it
- Buses
- Taxis
- Private hire vehicles
- Pedal cycles
- Motorcycles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Lorries
Where exactly is it?
London Road at Tongdean Lane (Southbound), Brighton. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the London Road bus lane?
The London Road at Tongdean Lane Bus Lane in Brighton & Hove operates at any time. Outside these hours, general traffic may use the road normally.
How much is the fine for driving through the London Road bus lane?
Brighton & Hove City Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the London Road bus lane?
Buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, pedal cycles and motorcycles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans and lorries.
Can I appeal a PCN from the London Road bus lane?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Brighton & Hove City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Brighton & Hove City Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. The grounds that win here are that your vehicle was not in the bus lane during its operating times (24/7), that it was an exempt vehicle, or that the signage did not make the restriction clear. It is worth doing: Brighton & Hove City Council accepted 13% of the 6,785 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 418 that went on to the tribunal, 83 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.