Items left on trains are held by the operator that ran your service — Southern and Thameslink run most routes, with GWR on the coastway — so contact them and quote your route, date and time. Brighton station is the main place to check.
Lost property in Brighton
Lost something in Brighton? Here’s how to get it back.
A quick guide to where lost property goes in Brighton — on the trains and Brighton & Hove buses, and around the city — plus a calmer way to report a lost or found item and arrange a safe return.
Where lost property goes in Brighton
In most cases, lost property is held by whoever runs the place or service where you lost it — so it’s worth knowing who to contact first:
On buses, lost property is held by the operator for the route you were on (Brighton & Hove Buses runs most of the network). For a licensed taxi or private hire, contact the operator or the firm you booked with and keep your receipt or booking reference.
For the Lanes, a bar on West Street, a gym, a university or a venue, ask reception or the duty manager. Valuables and documents found in a public place can be reported to Sussex Police; hand-ins are usually kept for a set period.
Report it on Pinglo — and let the city help
Official lost property offices only work if someone hands your item in. Pinglo adds a second route: a live, local feed where anyone who spots your item can tell you straight away — and a safer way to hand things back.
1
Post your lost item with a clear description, rough area and time — keeping proof details private so the public post never gives everything away.
2
Get a ping the moment someone nearby spots it or posts a matching found item.
3
Start a private chat and use claim checks, so both sides can be sure it’s the right match before sharing anything.
4
Arrange a safe return with public-meetup guidance, and confirm the handover in the app.
Where things go missing in Brighton
Phones, keys, wallets, bags, laptops, headphones, documents and jewellery tend to go astray at Brighton station, along the seafront and the Palace Pier, around the Lanes and North Laine, on a night out on West Street, on campus at Sussex and Brighton universities, and at the Brighton Centre. Pinglo works for any of them, right across the city.
Questions people ask
How do I report something lost on a train or bus in Brighton?
Lost property is held by whoever runs the service. Items left on trains are kept by the operator that ran your service (such as Southern or Thameslink) — Brighton station is the main place to check — while items left on buses are held by Brighton & Hove Buses for your route. Alongside that, post the item on Pinglo so anyone who spots it nearby can let you know instantly.
Is Pinglo free to use in Brighton?
Yes. Pinglo is free to download on iPhone and free to use in any browser at pingloapp.com/app. You can report a lost item, post a found item, and arrange a safe return at no cost.
I found something in Brighton — what should I do?
Hand valuables and documents to the venue, transport operator or police where possible. You can also post the item on Pinglo as a found report so the owner can find it, start a claim, and prove it is theirs before you arrange a safe handover in a public place.
Can a Brighton venue, campus or workplace run its own lost and found?
Yes. Universities, venues, stations and workplaces can run a private Pinglo community with their own safety feed, hand-in points and member chat. See Partners.