Visitor\u2019s guide to Haywards Heath

A short, practical guide for visitors: getting here, getting around, and the best things to see within a short taxi ride.

Where is Haywards Heath?

Haywards Heath is a market town in Mid Sussex, ~15 miles north of Brighton and ~40 miles south of central London. It sits on the main London \u2192 Brighton railway line (Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express stop here), which makes it a popular base for exploring both London and the South Coast.

Getting to Haywards Heath

• From Gatwick Airport (LGW): 15 miles. Taxi is a fixed \u00a350, ~25\u201335 minutes. Train is fast (~15 min) and frequent, but you\u2019ll then need a taxi at the other end.
• From Heathrow: 55 miles. Direct taxi from \u00a3110, ~1h 20\u20132h. By train you\u2019d need to go via London (Heathrow Express + Victoria + Thameslink).
• From central London: ~45 minutes by Thameslink from St Pancras / Blackfriars / London Bridge, or Southern from Victoria. Tickets from ~\u00a312 off-peak.
• From Brighton: ~17 minutes by train, taxi ~\u00a338\u2013\u00a352.

Getting around town

Haywards Heath itself is walkable in the centre, but most attractions are spread across the wider Mid Sussex / High Weald area, and bus services are limited outside school hours. Taxis are the practical way to reach:

• Wakehurst (Kew\u2019s wild botanic garden) \u2014 ~10 minutes
• Sheffield Park & Garden (NT) \u2014 ~20 minutes
• Bluebell Railway (Sheffield Park station) \u2014 ~20 minutes
• Borde Hill Garden \u2014 ~10 minutes
• Nymans (NT) \u2014 ~15 minutes
• Lindfield village (the prettiest village pond in Sussex) \u2014 ~5 minutes

Best day trips by taxi

• Brighton \u2014 ~30\u201340 minutes. Lanes, seafront, Royal Pavilion. Pre-book your return for the evening.
• Devil\u2019s Dyke \u2014 ~25 minutes. Iconic South Downs view, brilliant on a clear day.
• Lewes \u2014 ~25 minutes. Castle, antique shops, riverside walks.
• Eastbourne & the Seven Sisters \u2014 ~50\u201370 minutes. White cliffs walk, then taxi back.

Practical tips for visitors

• Book your return ahead. Walking out of a country pub at 10pm expecting to hail a cab will not work in this area. Pre-book before you sit down for dinner.
• Use \u201cASAP\u201d for in-town trips. Drivers are usually 5\u201310 minutes away in central Haywards Heath.
• Save the booking page to your phone\u2019s home screen \u2014 it works like an app, no install needed.
• Carry a small amount of cash for tips and the occasional terminal hiccup, even though every car takes contactless.
• Mobile signal is decent in town but spotty in villages. Open the booking link while you still have signal.

If you\u2019re flying in late

For arrivals into Gatwick after midnight, pre-book a taxi before you fly out. Drivers monitor your flight, so a delay isn\u2019t a problem. The 45-minute free wait covers passport queues and bag reclaim.

Hotels in Haywards Heath

Popular choices around the town centre include the Birch Hotel, the Burrell Arms and several modern chain hotels around the station. Most hotels have a small drop-off bay; mention the hotel name in the pickup field and the driver will know where to wait.