Crawley
Crawley has firmly established itself in a great location. It’s on a direct route between London and Brighton, it’s got Gatwick International Airport and the M23 to keep its business and residential communities well-connected, and it’s got the glorious countryside of West Sussex and Surrey on its doorstep when you need to take a break. Crawley has kept the old market town centre at its heart as it’s grown into its role as a new town, and an important centre for industry and employment between the capital and the coast.
City links
The M23 delivers you straight up to the M25 and from there, you have easy access to central and Greater London, to the M20 for the east coast and to the M3 and M4 for the South West. For commuters, train services to London Bridge and London Victoria take about 45 minutes. If your journey takes you in the opposite direction, you can be in Brighton in about half an hour. Other key routes in and out of town are the A264 to Horsham and East Grinstead, the A23 down to Brighton, and the A24 from Horsham up to Leatherhead as an alternative route to connect with the M25, the A3 and Guildford. Most of the town’s bus services are operated by Metrobus, and there’s an additional Fastway bus network linking the town with the airport.
Town centre
Crawley’s town centre has local, independent and high street stores. They are all within easy walking distance of each other. You can enjoy the atmosphere of Crawley Market which takes place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, bringing produce, craft and general stalls to town. The County Mall shopping centre, the High Street, Church Walk and Queens Square are the main central shopping areas. Out of town retail parks and superstores complete the picture. The pedestrianised high street piazza is the focal point for pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Out and about
Parks in town and country parks out of town will give your family green spaces on the doorstep. The Tilgate Forest on the southern edge of town has a nature centre, recreation centre, a lake and Go Ape Crawley is there too. The Buchan Country Park covers 170 acres, just off the Crawley to Horsham Road, and the Wakehurst country estate has woodland, lakes and gardens, only 20 minutes away. To the west you’ve got the South Downs National Park, to the east you’ve got the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and to the south you’ve got the energy and excitement of Brighton and the south coast.