East Grinstead is a picturesque market town in West Sussex. With a small population, it’s very popular with those who prefer a quieter life, away from a busy city. The town is well known for its wealth of architectural heritage and rich culture, and it’s surrounded by beautiful, scenic countryside.
East Grinstead is 27 miles south of London, so it isn’t too far away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. It’s also just 22 miles northeast of Brighton, so the coast isn’t far away either. There’s a range of public transport available for local journeys, as well as for longer trips into central London with trains taking just under an hour.
The road network is easy to access and navigate, making London commutable by car. In terms of holidays or travel further afield, Gatwick airport is easily reached as it’s only a short 10-mile drive away.
Education is well provided for with a good range of schools in East Grinstead, including both state schools and independents. There are seven primary schools as well as two state secondary schools. There’s also the private prep school Brambletye, which is a day and boarding school.
East Grinstead’s beautiful high street has the longest row of Tudor buildings in the country. The town centre has just the right amount of shops and cafes, so you can always get what you need. There are some high street names here as well as independent stores like The Bookshop and The Old and Curious.
There are chain coffee shops like Starbucks, as well as many independent cafes such as The Mug Tree Tea Room. When heading out for a drink with friends, there are lots of gorgeous pubs to choose from, like The Railway Pub and The Old Dunnings Mill. Many of these pubs serve great food, but the town also has plenty of restaurants. Paglia e Fieno is a good local Italian, and Restaurant 186 serves up contemporary British food using locally sourced ingredients.
Healthwise, there are plenty of GPs, pharmacies and dentist in the area, and there’s Queen Victoria Hospital.
East Grinstead has a lot of history much of which dates back to the 1800s, and there’s a lot that can be seen and explored here still today. For example, you can visit the famous Bluebell Railway line, and ride on a steam train to Sheffield Park station and explore the garden, engine sheds and museum. The town is also host to the National Trust’s Standen House and Gardens, which has great walks within its 100-acre grounds.
For fans of Winnie the Pooh, Ashdown Forest is well worth a visit as it’s the inspiration for the stories. There are great walks here (including two that take in sites from the Winnie the Pooh stories, like the bridge that pooh sticks were played on) and spectacular views to enjoy.
The famed plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe treated World War II burn victims within the walls of the Queen Victoria Hospital, which is still standing today.
Other places of interest include the country home of Sir Winston Churchill, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, Sackville College (which was built in 1609 and is where the carol “Good King Wenceslas” was written) and the fully refurbished East Grinstead Town Museum, with a great range of historic monuments.
