Where to live under one hour drive from Gatwick airport

[mumma24]

Looking for a town or large village to move to that’s under one hour drive to London Gatwick airport where our son works. We love old houses, not far to walk for from the house to open countryside, views, etc we love nature, must have at least 5 shops, pub, coffee shop etc
any suggestions please?

Lindfield or Cuckfield - both on the outskirts of Haywards Heath. Lots of countryside, pubs, boutiques etc.

Sevenoaks? Edenbridge? East Grinstead?

Lewes, so pretty!

Plenty of lovely pubs & independent cafes and shops. Right next to the South Downs if you're into nature, not far from the beach, or from Brighton if you need some city life.

A direct train to Gatwick too, if you ever need to leave the car at home. And easy to get to London.

37 mins drive to Gatwick according to Google.

Lewes, Ditchling, maybe Southsea although that’s more 1 hr 20 ish better beaches than Brighton though and better value

Oh! I forgot to say, the reason Lewes is so pretty is because of all the historic houses.

Or if you want smaller than Lewes (not that it's particularly large!) Alfriston is absolutely stunning. Mentioned in the Doomsday book. Been a market town since medieval times. Has some gorgeous pubs. 45 mins drive to Gatwick.

Henfield. Small dole. Wareham

Smallfield, Horley, Horsham, Redhill

Was going to say Redhill but sadly it doesn't have old houses. But is functional

Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells

Ditchling

None of those are particularly quaint or have much older housing. Cuckfield, Ardingly, Lindfield, Henfield, Arundel, Slinfold, Shere, Forest Row, Petworth, Midhurst

What’s your budget?

Bolney, Faygate, Charlwood

Horsham is a good call (20 nins or so drive to Gatwick, plus trains and a bus), but there is a lot of newer housing stock (in amongst the older stuff). Somewhere like Cowfold might work, or one of the other larger villages near Horsham.

Maybe Arundel? That might bea good shout.

Horsham is a good call (20 nins or so drive to Gatwick, plus trains and a bus), but there is a lot of newer housing stock (in amongst the older stuff). Somewhere like Cowfold might work, or one of the other larger villages near Horsham.

Maybe Arundel? That might be a good shout.

That said... both Horsham and Arundel are a bit more expensive, so depends on budget.

Epsom has the best of all worlds, easy to get to London on the train,beautiful countryside on your doorstep and 25 minutes to Gatwick, which we used to call Epsom Airport.

Rusper, Barns Green, Colgate are also lovely places

Shipley is also nice

Steyning, bramber, storrington, Ashington, Thakeham

Villages near Uckfield (or Uckfield itself). Cheaper than Haywards Heath etc as the train line isn’t so good

Was going to say Lewes - lovely village with great transport links to Gatwick, Brighton and Eastbourne.

Or Billingshurst, Pulborough, or even Dorking.

Are you bothered about being under the flight path itself? If so I wouldn't choose Lingfield or Forest Row. Depending on the wind direction the planes are pretty much continuous.

Hurst pier point maybe or Henfield. Cowfold is too small, steyning would work too.