Is Haywards Heath Nice?

[LoftyOP]

We're thinking about moving to Haywards Heath as it's cheaper than SW London where we are currently and are just wondering whether it's a nice place? Are the schools (secondary) any good? Thanks

If your budget can stretch to it have a look at Hurstpierpoint/Hassocks. Lovely villages a bit closer to Brighton and Hassocks station is on the mainline. I went to the secondary in Hassocks which was brilliant but I did finish there in 2005…
Haywards Heath is a nice town though.

It is ok. Has a range of facilities and greenspace but lacks character. Fast trains to London.

Nice enough, but lacks the charm of some of the market towns nearby. Possibly better for commuting than some.

It's fine. It's a bit of a bland dormitory town but has useful shops and a reasonable array of bars and restaurants.

I grew up near there and if I’m honest find it very dull. There is nothing actually wrong with it though. It has some alright restaurants now, some nice pubs around and near some nice countryside. There just isn’t much character as pp mentioned. It’s definitely a commuter town. I’d look at Lindfield, Hurstpierpoint or Hassocks.

It's okay but very bland. I prefer Burgess Hill which is a bit cheaper

No

I believe it has a David Lloyd gym, seem to remember going there once en route to somewhere else. Gym was very nice.

No its an awful dump with nasty undertones and Burgess Hill is even worse. HH must be the dullest place on earth. I used to work there.

I like HH, typical commuter town.

It's fine

I live in Haywards heath and grew up in a village about 10 minutes away. Me and my husband lived in Brighton for 5 years but moved back to Haywards heath to be nearer family when we were expecting our first child.

It's a pretty boring town to be honest but you're so close to Brighton/coast/London it doesn't really matter. The town itself lacks charm but has everything you need and is gradually getting some nicer cafes etc . A number of people I know who moved from London having no idea about Haywards heath really like it here and are very happy living here.

I would say it's quite expensive property wise. If you don't need to commute as easily I would probably look at somewhere like Horsham or even East Grinstead which are much nicer towns. I certainly wouldn't move to Burgess hill and Hassocks is expensive with very little there. The villages are expensive around here and have very poor transport links aside from Balcombe which is on the train line to London/Brighton.

Feel free to message me directly if you want information on the area of Haywards heath you are looking at etc.

No, but I wouldn't say it's unpleasant either. It's just ok but charmless without anything that's particularly good or bad about it

No

It's a typical commuter town, quite boring and bland. Decent connections though

It's a bit characterless. How about Lewes? Really nice county town with lots going on and a nice community feel, and good rail and bus connections.

I live there. It's OK , if you can afford Lindfield, Cuckfield they are nicer. Burgess Hill has gone downhill, avoid there

The villages outside are nicer but it's decent enough. I like East Grinstead more, but don't think it's as well connected

I used to live there years ago and unless it's change it's perfectly alright but not great. As for schools, Warden Park was meant to be pretty good but Oathall seemed to have a worse repuation. No experience with either though, sorry

I used to live near there, I like it. It's got reasonable shopping, cafes and restaurants. Its a nice, quiet, safe town. You can get to Brighton in about 20 minutes, and there is loads to do there if you want a night out, and obviously London is accessible as it only really exists because its a commuter town. Hence the perceived lack of character. You do pay a bit more for property, but that's because of the railway links to London.

I used to work there and it isn't somewhere I would choose to live. I suppose the best you can say is that it is well located, being between London and Brighton and close to the south downa.

I commute from hh but live in a village. It's train connection is great and handy for London or Brighton. It's got a waitrose next to the station and a big sainsburys. It is a bit souless but is safe and has taxis etc. Horsham has more character but finding a cb is almost impossible and the train line is slower and the parking worse.
I grew up in East Grinstead and its a lovely town but the train stops everywhere. Most people seem to buy in Lindfield or Cuckfield and the schools seem good from what friends say.

Live in Horsham and agree with this. We also have fab schools at both secondary and primary, and a very good 6th form college.

That said, kids from the villages outside Horsham (eg Southwater) had problems trying to get in to Horsham secondaries for the past few years. It's also super siluper catchment based for both primary and secondary.

secondary schools are Warden Park in Cuckfield, Oathall in HH ( has it's own mini farm)and some kids choose Chailey which has a focus on languages. All 3 schools have good reputations.

Chailey no longer focuses on languages but offers the EBAC and a good curriculum. It's a great rural secondary school - no sixth form so kids go to Lewes or Haywards Heath for that.