Horsham HOTspot

from First Time Buyer February/March 2023

20 QUESTIONS Coralie Phelan With

Horsham is perfectly placed for buyers wanting to dip a toe into country life while maintaining their connections to the capital. The past few years have seen many more house hunters making the move south to Sussex and, notably, to Horsham. We explore why this West Sussex town is regularly rated one of the UK’s best places to live

Under The Spotlight

Horsham, 30 miles south west of London and 18 miles north west of Brighton, is surrounded by farmland, with the river Arun running through it. The modest market town came fourth in the Halifax’s recent Quality of Life Survey (2020), an in-depth review which compares local authority areas, considering 26 factors including happiness, wages, properties and even rainfall!

Horsham began to gain its identity in the Middle Ages, when it was known for its annual fairs. It ourished during the Victorian era and early 20th century and remained a prominent brewery town until 2000. Horsham’s population has grown by 11.8% since 2011, to 146,800 in 2021; higher than the increase for the South East overall (7.5%) – testament to both the popularity of the town and the investment in new homes.

Its key industries are nancial services, pharmaceuticals and technology. It’s also a popular commuter town serving London, Gatwick and the South East coast. The commuter appeal is clear – there are up to 286 trains a day from Horsham to London, with an average travel time of 1h 16m. Gatwick is just 12 miles away and Horsham is close to main road routes, the A24, the A264, the M23 (east) and the A29 (west).

Horsham is also well-served by local buses running a circular route from Horsham to Crawley. Cyclists can reach Guildford and Shoreham via the Downs Link, a long- distance bridleway and cycle route which passes through Southwater, south of Horsham – the perfect way to explore the Sussex countryside.

The town is a popular choice for those looking to relocate from the south London suburbs as you get a lot more for your money, and is ideal for young professionals and families alike. It is worth having a mooch around the area as there are distinct districts with their own appeal.

Out And About

The cobbled Carfax area (derived from the Latin quadrifurcus, via the French carrefour, both meaning “crossroads”) is the focal point for many of Horsham’s events. With authentic gas lighting, you will find a space here to relax, dine al fresco, or enjoy one of the many musical attractions that frequent the Bandstand through the year.

You will also find Horsham Markets here on Thursdays and Saturdays, offering fresh local produce, street food, and an impressive range of boutique shopping. The Horsham general market also runs on Saturdays in the Bishopric area, which derives its name from the Archbishop of Canterbury who owned the land in the 15th century and received a charter to hold regular markets. There is also a local vegan market and an Artist and Makers market, each of which are held monthly, in Piries Place.

including –a social club with a gym and

The Roffey area to the north east of the town is home to a large number of newer developments. Crawley Road runs through the centre, providing access to Horsham in one direction and to Crawley in the other. Holbrook also consists mainly of residential housing – both older style properties and newer estates. It is very much a community in its own right with a parade of shops including a post of ce, convenience store, cafe and hairdresser, a popular local pub – The Sussex Barn – and a social club with a gym and sporting facilities. Littlehaven has a strong appeal to commuters as it boasts its own railway station, just one stop from the main Horsham station, which also runs directly into London throughout the day.

Horsham’s High Street and Swan Walk, the main undercover shopping centre, have all the usual offerings you would expect from a town of its size, including John Lewis, Marks & perfect for buying There are also parks locally with

Spencer and a large Dunelm store –perfect for buying everything to get your new property really feeling like home.