Haywards Heath is a vivid, picturesque town in the eastern part of West Sussex. The town has been described by many to have a large collection of Edwardian and Victorian houses, many of which you can still see today in the area.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]1 Gatwick Airport (LGW IATA) is the nearest airport with a direct Gatwick Express train to Haywards Heath every 30 minutes. Many frequent Southern and Thameslink services also stop at Haywards Heath.
By train
[edit]- 2 Haywards Heath train station. The station has 4 platforms with services from many towns on the south coast, including the city Brighton. There are also Thameslink and Southern trains going north towards Bedford and London Victoria respectively. Additionally, Gatwick Express trains call at the station every 30 minutes from M-Sa, allowing for greater flexibility when choosing an operator.
By bus
[edit]There are a multitude of bus services from East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Uckfield.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]
There is an overlooking view on the southdowns.
- 1 Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, RH17 6TN, ☏ +44 1444 894066, [email protected]. National Trust 16th-century country house and a mainly 20th-century garden, managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is home to the UK's largest decorated Christmas tree, a giant redwood lit with around 1,800 fairy lights from Advent to Twelfth Night.
- 2 Nymans House and Garden, Handcross, RH17 6EB, ☏ +44 1444 405250, [email protected].
- 3 Borde Hill Garden, Borde Hill Lane, RH16 1XP, ☏ +44 1444 450326, [email protected].
- 4 Ouse Valley Viaduct (Balcombe Viaduct). Described as 'probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain', this picturesque railway bridge spots 37 semi-circular arches spanning a total length of 450 m.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]There are lots of wonderful shops in the town centre such as Jullion Graves and Mark & Spencer: lots of nice places to go shopping. There is also a leisure centre there called the Dolphin and is very inexpensive.
There is also a large Sainsbury's supermarket near the train station.
Eat
[edit]The Broadway has a host of great restaurants, with independent restaurant Safari Pizza being particularly popular. South Road also hosts many coffee shops and bakeries. Hart Country Stores provides a great spot for a cake or light lunch.
Drink
[edit]Haywards Heath benefits from a wide range of great drinking spots, Savannah and Orange Square on The Broadway cater for younger crowds. Grape and Grain is a local wine bar, Bar 42, The Tap on South Road and local craft brewery the Hop Sun offer a great range of craft beers and cider. There are several pubs near the town centre as well, including The Star, the Burrell Arms and the Heath Tavern. The surrounding area also has many small breweries and vineyards, including Wobblegate Cider Tap and Brew House in Bolney, Hairy Dog Brewery at More House Farm and further afield, the famous Harvey's brewery in Lewes.
Bolney Wine Estate has produced wine for almost 50 years; vineyard tours available.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Birch Hotel, Lewes Road, RH17 7SF (not too far away from the hospital), ☏ +44 1444 451565. 51 room hotel in an 1874 country house. from £110.
- 2 Premier Inn, Perrymount Rd, RH16 3DN. Dependable budget chain. from £59.
Connect
[edit]As of Feb 2023, Haywards Heath and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.
Go next
[edit]- South to Burgess Hill
- East to Uckfield
- North to Crawley and Gatwick Airport
- West to Horsham, Wiston and the South Downs
| Routes through Haywards Heath |
| London ← Crawley/Gatwick Airport ← | N  S
|
→ Brighton and Hove |