Haywards Heath

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

By plane

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

• 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. (updated Oct 2024)

By bus

There are a multitude of bus services from East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Uckfield.

See

Balcombe Viaduct brick piers

There is an overlooking view on the southdowns.

• 1 Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, RH17 6TN, ☏ +44 1444 894066, wakehurst@kew.org. 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. (updated Jan 2017)
• 2 Nymans House and Garden, Handcross, RH17 6EB, ☏ +44 1444 405250, nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk. (updated Jan 2017)
• 3 Borde Hill Garden, Borde Hill Lane, RH16 1XP, ☏ +44 1444 450326, info@bordehill.co.uk. (updated Jan 2017)
• 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. (updated Jan 2022)

Do

• Truckfest South East celebrates heavy haulage and monster trucks, at South of England Showground in Ardingly in August. Similar events are held at seven other locations across Britain.

Buy

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

The best place to eat is Pizza Express because it has the best proper pizzas or Euphesas kebabs, who said that typical British fayre is fish and chips has never been here. Kebabs and Indian are in here.

For those wanting to splurge a bit more, the Broadwalk is packed full of up-market and trendy restaurants.

Drink

While nightlife in Haywards Heath isn't exactly bustling or the best in the area, there a few pubs in the town center, such as The Star and The Burrell Arms. Also is the Priory, that has bar nun for a dance bar, its not swamped with people but gets fairly busy Friday and Saturday, but best bet maybe between the Star and Burrell arms, about 8 to 10 bar/restaurant/cafes there. Stays pretty busy with people.

Bolney Wine Estate has produced wine for almost 50 years; vineyard tours available.

Sleep

• 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. (updated Nov 2023)

Connect

As of Feb 2023, Haywards Heath and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.

Go next

• 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