Moving to Haywards Heath: is it a nice place to live?

[ZingyAnt]

We're considering moving to Haywards Heath from East London to get closer to family and are wondering whether it's a nice area to live in? There are some previous threads on here but mostly from years ago so would be hoping for more update information. Schools aren't an issue as our children have left home. Is there lots of green space etc? Thank you in advance.

I grew up there and my family still lives there so I know it well. It is a generally affluent town. There are parks, woods and other green spaces. You will probably find it quite dull after East London - the High Street is very uninspiring. However Brighton is very close with plenty going on and it's very easy to get into Central London too. The surrounding countryside and villages are lovely. There are many gardens and National Trust properties nearby and it's not far from the South Downs.

It's a very dull town in all truth but there's some lovely countryside nearby.

It's pretty boring and has a reputation for being a commuter town with not much going on. It does have really nice villages nearby like Lindfield, Cuckfield and Ardingly. Lindfield is the best really, as walking distance (25 mins) from HH station and has the nicest high street and pubs. But ££££. However, if you're moving from London with a London budget, then could be fine.

HH is getting a new 4-screen cinema and cultural complex soon which will really improve it. In terms of green space it is very leafy and the parks are good. Fox Hill Village (part of HH) is very naice, with lovely houses. I'd happily live in Lindfield, HH at a push now I'm middle-aged, but when my parents suggested moving there when I was a kid/teen I nearly died inside. It did produce Suede though!

Bump

If you read the autobiography by Brett Anderson he is very negative about HH. But that's a teen pov.

It's within an easy distance of the downs, Ditchling, Brighton, Horsham for shops, Worthing for sea, lots of NT places.

It’s a nice enough place. Have colleagues who live there. As others have said, not a huge amount going on there, so depends what you’re looking for. I’m moving out of South London / Surrey this summer and moving to a town in the North West. 20 mins to one city, 25 min to another city, but the town itself is lovely and quiet, which is exactly what i’m looking for. Only 5 mins drive to a retail park too, but lovely river walks on my doorstep.

I think that the Lindfield side of the town is better- you can walk to the station but also to the the pubs and restaurants in Lindfield. The surrounding villages are better for green space, but expensive. Ashdown Forest is nearby as well as the South Downs. There is a hospital which is useful. The GP practices do not have a good reputation. The High Street is not awful, at least there are not many empty shops. If you don't mind hills Lewes is a nicer town and not far away.