East Grinstead

East Grinstead is a town in West Sussex, in the South East of England. The town is on the Greenwich Meridian. It has many historic buildings, and the Weald and Ashdown Forest lie to the south-east.

Understand

East Grinstead is an ancient market town that was the capital of the old High Weald. It lies at the meeting point of the four counties of Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey.

The High Street contains one of the longest continuous runs of 14th-century timber-framed buildings in England. Other notable buildings in the town include Sackville College, the sandstone almshouse, built in 1609, where John Mason Neale wrote the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas". The college has sweeping views towards Ashdown Forest.

The Greenwich Meridian runs through the grounds of the historic 1769 East Court mansion, home of the Town Council, giving the visitor an opportunity to stand with a foot in both the east and west.

Visitor information

Get in

By car

The main roads into East Grinstead are the A22, which runs from the M25 down to Eastbourne and Brighton (as the A26), and the A264, which runs from Tunbridge Wells through East Grinstead to Crawley and Gatwick Airport.

By train

🌍 East Grinstead station is connected to London Victoria and London Bridge stations. Fare and timetable information is available from Southern, tel. 08457 484950.

By bus

Bus services in East Grinstead are more limited than that of other towns in this area. There are services to Haywards Heath and Crawley, with stops made on many villages in between.

Get around

The centre of East Grinstead is fairly small, and can easily be travelled on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well served by buses and taxis.

By bus

Metrobus is the main bus company that operates buses in East Grinstead. Timetables and fares are available on Metrobus. Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

There are also buses from Eastbourne Buses (No. 54) http://www.eastbournebuses.co.uk/bustimes.htm and No. 409 from London buses. Tandridge (Surrey) council Buses4You will transport you from Oxted or Surrey villages, to and from East Grinstead (but not during morning & afternoon school bus times).

By taxi

The main taxi rank is at the train station, although you can order a taxi by telephone to pick you up from anywhere.

  • Acorn Cars - +44 1342 410518
  • Ivy Dene Cars - +44 1342 835835
  • Raceline Cars - +44 1342 317555
  • Roadrunners - +44 1342 324444
  • Southdown Cars - +44 1342 317400

See
  • 🌍 Sackville College, ☏ +44 1892 770179, +44 1342 326561. Jun-Sep: W-Sa 2-5PM. A beautiful 17th-century sandstone almshouse, where the carol "Good King Wenceslas" was written. Adultys £5, children £1. (updated May 2016)
  • 🌍 Standen, West Hoathly Road, RH19 4NE, ☏ +44 1342 323029, . House: Mar-Oct W-Su 11AM-4:30PM (last entry at 4PM), and Mondays in July and August. Garden: Mar-Oct W-Su 11AM-5:30PM (last entry at 5PM), and Mondays in July and August; Nov-Dec F-Su 11AM-3PM. The National Trust's flagship Arts and Crafts country house, internationally renowned for its William Morris wallpapers, textiles and contemporary fittings. Also has extensive landscaped gardens. Adult £7.50, child £3.75. 
  • 🌍 St Swithun's church, Church Ln, RH19 3BB, ☏ +44 1342 325026. The church stands on the highest ground in the town and was rebuilt in the 18th century (the tower dating from 1789) to a perpendicular design by James Wyatt. The imposing structure dominates the surrounding countryside for many miles around. In the churchyard are commemorated the East Grinstead Martyrs, and in the south-east corner is the grave of John Mason Neale. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 🌍 East Grinstead Museum, Old Market Yard, Cantelupe Road, RH19 3BJ (just off the High Street), ☏ +44 1342 302233, . W-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 2-5PM. Free. 
  • The longest row of 14th-century timber-framed buildings in England lines the top of High Street.

Do
  • Check out the local Theatre & Arts Centre, Chequer Mead - one of the best purpose-built venues in the south, with a good range of professional and community-based events.

🌍 Bluebell Railway, Firbank Way, East Grinstead RH19 1QS (http://www.bluebell-railway.com/directions/), ☏ +44 1825 720800, . Daily Apr - Oct + weekends/holidays: between 3 and 7 trains per day. England's premier restored steam railway, has its Northern terminus located adjacent to main East Grinstead station. Trains steam 11 miles through the heart of the Sussex Weald throughout the year. The other terminus is close to Sheffield Park National Trust gardens. Museum, Shop, Restaurant, Locomotive shed. 30 steam engines!. £17 adult third class all-day ticket. £14.50 if booked 8 days in advance. (updated Apr 2015)

Go to the races at 🌍 Lingfield Park Racecourse, Racecourse Road, Lingfield RH7 6PH (B2028, half a mile east of Lingfield), ☏ +44 1342 834800. Unusually, this has flat-racing all year round, using artificial Polytrack in winter. Flat-racing in summer, and jumps races in winter, are on turf. Lingfield is 3 miles north of East Grinstead, with its own railway station. (updated Jan 2019)

  • Explore the wealth of walks and trails that lead from the town into the surrounding countryside. Several long distance trails pass through or near the town, such as the High Weald Landscape Trail and the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 21 passes through the town.
  • Climbing: on the Stone Rocks overlooking the Weir Wood Reservoir on the outskirts of the town. There is free access to climbing these rocks, which are suitable for most ages and levels of skills.

Eat
  • McDonald's, Wimpy and Starburger Express all have outlets in the town.
  • A few Italian chains like Prezzo and Pizza express have restaurants on the historic high street.
  • Cuisine Studio (in the town's Theater & Arts Centre, Chequer Mead). One of the best and least well-known to visitors (but not to locals!) 
  • Lots of take-away outlets in the town.

🌍 Taylors, 18 Railway Approach, RH19 1BP, ☏ +44 1342 321 587. Generally considered to be the best place for fish and chips, with queues stretching out onto the street at weekends.  There are also several Indian restaurants and Chinese take-away restaurant places.

  • Nizam Indian Restaurant. 
  • Shapla. Good takeaway. 

Drink
  • The Broadway (located on Railway Approach). Another large venue. 
  • Crows Nest. Live bands every week. 

🌍 The Dorset Arms, 58 High St, RH19 3DE, ☏ +44 1342 316 363. Gastropub. 

🌍 The Open Arms, 51 Railway approach (Between London Road and the Station), ☏ +44 1342 327727. 3-11PM. Micropub serving range of cask and real ales. (updated Dec 2018)

🌍 The Ounce and Ivy Bush, The Atrium, Little King St, RH19 3DJ (located on the ground floor of the Atrium Entertainment complex), ☏ +44 1342 335130. JD Wetherspoons. 

🌍 The Sportsman, 9-11 Cantelupe Rd, RH19 3BE, ☏ +44 7553 154 315. One of the smallest pubs in England. Hidden down an alley. Often full of crazy people. 

🌍 The Sussex Arms, 30 West St, East Grinstead RH19 4EQ, ☏ +44 1342 619 101. Very posh. 

Night clubs

The town also has 2 main nightclubs.

  • Tryst (previously Billy Rox) (in the Atrium). 
  • Bliss (previously Whitehall), Kings Street. 

Out of town

Sleep

Connect
  • East Grinstead and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Feb 2023, 5G has not reached this area.
  • The local weekly newspaper is East Grinstead Courier and Observer, and the community radio station is 107 Meridian FM.

Go next
Routes through East Grinstead
London ←  N  S  → Ashdown Forest → Uckfield


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