Haywards Heath move

marswheatunderground · 01/08/2023 15:40

Not a place I've ever warmed to personally. Used to work in that area until recently. Very dull and soulless town, town centre always felt a bit run down, not that friendly either in my experience. The best secondary is probably Warden Park in my opinion. It has got good transport links to Brighton, Crawley and London, hence it having a rapidly growing population.

lindaillusion · 01/08/2023 15:47

Haywards Heath is a bog standard commuter town, nothing particularly stands out about it. The phrase 'dull as ditchwater' always comes to mind. I think it has a lot of traffic. It's not a terrible place to live by any stretch of the imagination but I'd prefer to live in one of the nice villages nearby like Lindfield.

tfloodwebchickenwing · 01/08/2023 16:57

As rough as a badger's bum. My brother used to live there and his neighbour was sent to prison for horrific crimes, his car was broken into after 3 weeks, and his house was continually egged.

theveryjammydodger · 01/08/2023 17:07

I live in Haywards Heath and its okay - its not very pretty but its quite functional. One complaint I have with it is that I feel that for a town of its population it doesn't have enough facilities. The schools aren't too bad but I'd avoid Oathall - my children go to warden park but I have heard some very bad things about Oathall recently. I wouldn't describe it being 'as rough as a badger's bum' like @tfloodwebchickenwing said - there isn't an awful lot of crime here but I have noticed that some of the parks attract street drinkers and drug users at times which is annoying. I would avoid around Bentswood Crescent, America Lane, Penn Crescent area though (although they're probably not that bad compared to other places but they are seen as the undesirable areas of the town.)
It's a decent place to live with good transport links and it does have some lovely villages nearby. Good luck.

irratinglyboredmum · 01/08/2023 17:21

You couldn't pay me to live in Haywards Heath. The place is vile. And I don't use that word lightly. It's surrounded by beautiful little English villages like Cuckfield and Lindfield, live in those and not the town itself is my advice. Its very unfriendly and depressing, even Burgess Hill would be a better choice.

XVGN · 02/08/2023 11:53

I liked HH when I lived there.

This is unfair but still shows on google maps

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.0014733,-0.0865259,3a,34.4y,127.68h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1FoEQNyJ16b2YUFjrZZ_3w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

Before you continue to Google Maps

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.0014733,-0.0865259,3a,34.4y,127.68h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1FoEQNyJ16b2YUFjrZZ_3w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

MoreCoffeeAndCake · 02/08/2023 11:57

theveryjammydodger · 01/08/2023 17:07

I live in Haywards Heath and its okay - its not very pretty but its quite functional. One complaint I have with it is that I feel that for a town of its population it doesn't have enough facilities. The schools aren't too bad but I'd avoid Oathall - my children go to warden park but I have heard some very bad things about Oathall recently. I wouldn't describe it being 'as rough as a badger's bum' like @tfloodwebchickenwing said - there isn't an awful lot of crime here but I have noticed that some of the parks attract street drinkers and drug users at times which is annoying. I would avoid around Bentswood Crescent, America Lane, Penn Crescent area though (although they're probably not that bad compared to other places but they are seen as the undesirable areas of the town.)
It's a decent place to live with good transport links and it does have some lovely villages nearby. Good luck.

I used to live in Haywards Heath and echo a lot said by @theveryjammydodger

It's a bog standard commutter town. I would have stayed but couldn't afford to after divorce.

theadvisor · 02/08/2023 11:58

I used to live there as a teenager and it wasn't my favourite place - it's dull as others have said but it's easy enough to escape to more exciting places. I attended Oathall which wasn't good back then but don't know what it's like now. I used to live near Gravesend and I think that Haywards Heath is quite a bit nicer! I'd avoid America Lane and around that area though because it's seen as the 'rough' part.

superwoman11 · 02/08/2023 12:08

I live in Haywards Heath - it's perfectly nice but very expensive. I haven't got much to say really, the other replies have pretty much told you all you need to know. I agree that it doesn't have enough amenities considering its population because in the last 20 years everyone has flocked here from London because of the train links. It's fine for daily shopping though, but Crawley and Brighton are around if you want bigger shops.

Notamum12345577 · 02/08/2023 12:11

tfloodwebchickenwing · 01/08/2023 16:57

As rough as a badger's bum. My brother used to live there and his neighbour was sent to prison for horrific crimes, his car was broken into after 3 weeks, and his house was continually egged.

Depends what area. Some roads are a bit rough, most are pretty expensive and middle class

Notamum12345577 · 02/08/2023 12:13

movingtosussex · 01/08/2023 15:35

Hi, just wondering has anyone got an idea of what haywards heath is like to live in? I have lived in Kent for about 10 years (Gravesend) and am thinking of moving to haywards heath as it seems to tick a lot of boxes. Does anyone know what the secondary schools are like as well?
Thanks in advance

It’s not cheap as it has good rail links to London (and Brighton). Warden Park is a good secondary school by all accounts (in Cuckfield, next village along)

thelioness22 · 02/08/2023 12:42

I used to live on America Lane and it wasn't a nice experience to say the least - lots of anti social behaviour. I'd avoid all of that area - bentwood crescent, Penn crescent, Washington road, etc. The rest of the town is mostly fine.

Jazzybean · 02/08/2023 12:46

I wouldn’t touch the maternity services at PRH with a barge pole if babies are on your horizon.

Roselilly36 · 02/08/2023 12:47

I quite like HH, definitely favoured by commuters, as quick to get to London. Property prices are quite expensive though, in nice areas, due to this. Has some decent shops and quite a few restaurants.

Notamum12345577 · 02/08/2023 13:39

XVGN · 02/08/2023 11:53

I liked HH when I lived there.

This is unfair but still shows on google maps

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.0014733,-0.0865259,3a,34.4y,127.68h,82.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1FoEQNyJ16b2YUFjrZZ_3w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

What is funny is that this was used by an estate agent trying to sell a house there as their link to view the house and street 🤣

MrsApplepants · 02/08/2023 14:15

I used to live in HH. Thank god I don’t now. Overpriced and incredibly boring. The villages like lindfield albeit prettier, are also incredibly boring. The best thing the place has is the train line out.

Snorkers · 02/08/2023 17:28

Moved there in 2021 from one of the small villages surrounding - a ridiculous lockdown move that I am still not clear on how or why we did it. HH is a shit hole, I did my shopping there previously and thought it was ok, but living there - NO, regretted it almost immediately.

Loads of boys and adult baby men old enough to know better in cars with exhausts zooming around the wholeplace 24/7, neighbours with no sense of acceptable social behaviour doing REALLY loud DIY at 7am on a Sunday, strimming gardens at 10pm, other horrrendous nouveau riche chav neighbours partying with motorbikes and megaphones all weekend.

Almost no green space, no sense of community as almost all the pubs have shut down, town centre Broadway area is grim (except the lovely deli/cheese and wine shop). We escaped late last year thank fuck.

Snorkers · 02/08/2023 17:32

Burgess Hill is nicer and cheaper...

PurposefulBear · 02/08/2023 17:47

I know HH well, also used to live in the area. I actually can’t believe it’s so bad that people are saying BH is nicer, it always used to be the other way around.

Echo comments above re the town and SOME of the people (mostly the ones who grew up there and went to Oathall…?). I went to WP as well, and the villages are definitely nicer. Cuckfield, Ardingly, Lindfield, even Wiveslfield. Some areas of HH are ok, mostly those on the way out of town on the Balcombe side where you’ll find some of the bigger houses and a bit more space, but it’s all melding into one as they’re filling in space with loads of new estates… without increasing the facilities available. Victoria Park in centre of town has always attracted rough crowd esp at night and it’s the only green space. Bars on the Broadway are v hit and miss. You can find yourself in trouble quite easily. I’ve never wanted to go back there for many reasons.

overall it’s ok, it’s not the worst if you know what you’re getting, pick a good road and are prepared for the pitfalls. I can’t imagine it’s a nice place to grow old though if you’re planning staying for long.

XVGN · 02/08/2023 19:31

Snorkers · 02/08/2023 17:32

Burgess Hill is nicer and cheaper...

OK. Now we know you're trolling! 😆

KathieFerrars · 02/08/2023 20:01

@PurposefulBear , I wonder if I taught you?

orangesealblackberry · 02/08/2023 20:08

I would have laughed if 20 years ago you told me Burgess Hill would be nicer than Hayward Heath. It does seem that's the case now. I live in Burgess Hill for the last 4 years having moved from Haywards Heath and I do enjoy it far more, it's cheaper, friendlier and there's less anti social behaviour (in my experience anyways.)
HH is definitely the least friendly place I've ever lived - so many people living there have a huge sense of entitlement and are very arrogant. I also felt it was unloved for and run down, there's literally no green space, a quarter of the shops are empty (or it feels like it.)
Pub fights also seemed quite common - I'm not into that sort of thing but on the rare occasion I did go out there seemed to be trouble constantly. I think the street view photo sums it up - it is not a nice place at all. If it wasn't so close to London it would be cheap as chips.

usernamechangedforthisthread · 02/08/2023 20:17

If you're moving to West Sussex OP I wouldn't look at Haywards Heath - I'm usually quite positive but it's overpriced and overrated. Burgess Hill is cheaper but again not the best place. A friend used to work at Oathall and she claims its the worst school she's ever worked in - and she's worked in several schools that have been rated 'Inadequate' so I think that speaks volumes. I don't have any experience with it though. One positive I can think of with haywards heath is that it's got a good train station, but I'd still rather live in a nearby place even if I had to regularly commute to London or wherever.

PurposefulBear · 02/08/2023 20:53

KathieFerrars · 02/08/2023 20:01

@PurposefulBear , I wonder if I taught you?

It’s a small world 😉!

thesussexdragon · 02/08/2023 21:52

Snorkers · 02/08/2023 17:28

Moved there in 2021 from one of the small villages surrounding - a ridiculous lockdown move that I am still not clear on how or why we did it. HH is a shit hole, I did my shopping there previously and thought it was ok, but living there - NO, regretted it almost immediately.

Loads of boys and adult baby men old enough to know better in cars with exhausts zooming around the wholeplace 24/7, neighbours with no sense of acceptable social behaviour doing REALLY loud DIY at 7am on a Sunday, strimming gardens at 10pm, other horrrendous nouveau riche chav neighbours partying with motorbikes and megaphones all weekend.

Almost no green space, no sense of community as almost all the pubs have shut down, town centre Broadway area is grim (except the lovely deli/cheese and wine shop). We escaped late last year thank fuck.

This. I'd never think of returning to Haywards Heath. It's a horrible place, I used to live there. On paper it's good because it's meant to be quite affluent but in reality it sucks the life out of you and isn't nice to live in ultimately.