Welcome to Haywards Heath

Haywards Heath

Hamptons offers you a warm welcome to Haywards Heath

Congratulations, if you are house hunting in Haywards Heath, you have already won. A home in this great area with all it offers, automatically makes you the envy of many. Now in order to make your transition as smooth and hassle free as possible Hamptons have put together this great guide which will help you choose the best schools, learn a little about planning and building control, read tips on where to shop, eat and lot’s more, all packed into one little guide with clickable links. Perhaps most importantly we have researched some of the leading local professionals and experts who can help you add value and personalise your soon to be new home. A big WELCOME and enjoy.

A little bit of history

Haywards Heath was an important battle site during the first English Civil War in 1642. Legend has it, the town was later named after a local highwayman called Jack Hayward, and much of the town grew up along the railway which arrived in 1841. In recent years there have been a number of regeneration projects to improve the functionality of the town, such as around the railway station where there is a new Waitrose supermarket, and to create new housing. Highlights include the impressive Southdowns Park development and the popular Bolnore Village area.

There are also a wealth of historic houses nearby such as the Edwardian and Hatchlands Park, thought to date back to Tudor times, both of which are owned and maintained by the National Trust.

Why move to Haywards Heath?

The town itself is a prime setting for families, with excellent schooling in and around the town, a fantastic community feel and the beautiful countryside of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the doorstep for country walks and leisure pursuits including riding, cycling and golf. One key highlight of town life is the opportunity to participate in the annual Haywards Heath ‘Town Day’, a celebration of the local area which concludes with a firework display in Victoria Park.

Haywards Heath is a fantastic place to live where property prices are significantly lower than those in central London, but the commute is manageable by road or rail. In the town centre there are a great many Victorian terraced homes which sprang up to house the workers that came to build the railways. school, The Beeches at Sandrocks and Greenhill Gardens.

Fantastic transport links make Haywards Heath a hot spot for commuters. Despite the glorious West Sussex countryside being just on its doorstep, London can be reached in less than two hours by car via the A23 and M25, while Brighton is about half-an-hour down the A272 and A23. Chichester is just over an hour away, and Gatwick airport is only 30 minutes up the road. The town’s railway station forms part of the Brighton main line and is served by regular direct trains to both London Victoria and London Blackfriars, getting you to the capital within an hour. Trains to Brighton are only 20 minutes, and run throughout the day. Despite these major towns being within easy reach, Haywards Heath’s positioning on the edge of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty means that country walks in rolling hills are also just a stone’s throw away

Running through the middle of the town is South Road, a bustling area that forms the main shopping district. Here there are a number of high street shops such as a Boots, a WH Smith and a Waterstones, as well as the Orchards Shopping Centre, which makes Haywards Heath a haven for fashion lovers. This town will spoil you for choice with places to eat, with there being a wealth of both chain and independent restaurants. There are also plenty of pubs to choose from, as well as many good family run cafés. The Broadway district of Haywards Heath is renowned for its buzzing nightlife with an eclectic selection of popular bars, and Clair Hall hosts a variety of events throughout the year including live music and stand up comedy.

A selection of supermarkets means that you won’t have to go far afield for your food shop, including a brand new Waitrose conveniently situated next to the station. There are also numerous hairdressers, barbers, banks and pharmacies, plus three doctors surgeries and churches of varying denominations. Haywards Heath Golf Club sits on the outskirts of the town, offering a 19-hole course set in stunning countryside.

www.greatbritishlife.co.uk

FAMOUS RESIDENTS

Haywards Heath and the surrounding area has been a home to rockstars, celebrities, athletes, academics, artists and common or garden members of the upper-crust for generations. Here are a few notable names you may or may not know..

Daley Thompson, Olympic decathlete Greta Scacchi, Actress

Natasha Bedingfield, Singer/Songwriter Tamzin Merchant, Actress Sophie Cookson, Actress Richard Osman, TV presenter Brett Anderson, Suede Singer/Songwriter Rebecca Daly, Filmmaker Mathew Bose, Actor Kaya Scodelario, Actress/Model Lawrence Osborne Novelist and Writer Robert Kazinsky. Actor Matthew Waterhouse. Actor David James. Author, Politician and Adventurer Tommy Cook. England footballer Graham Moseley. Footballer. Goalkeeper Robert Slade Lucas. Cricketer Anna Sewell, Writer Frank Reginald Carey, War hero Leslie Ash, TV Personality