Best Areas to Live in Crawley

6th August 2024

With fantastic shopping, cultural attractions, restaurants serving mouth-watering delicacies, and easy access to London as well as beautiful villages in the vicinity, Crawley is a fantastic place to live. This vibrant West Sussex town has a total of 14 neighbourhoods, each with its own charm. In this blog, we’ve covered the best places to live in Crawley so you can find your perfect home.

Three Bridges 

Originally a small village, Three Bridges is home to one of Crawley’s main train stations offering services to Brighton, London, and beyond. There’s also the Fastway bus service offering excellent connectivity to areas such as Gatwick and Horley, whilst enjoying a relaxed pace of life in the countryside. 

For those with families, there are plenty of good schools in the area such as the Hazelwick School with an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’.  Three Bridges FC is a popular local team playing in Division One South East and a popular recreational pursuit. The housing market itself is quite diverse, featuring both studio flats and family homes catering to the varied needs of individuals.

Ifield

Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, Ifield is one of the most historic areas in Crawley. Following the development of the new town in 1947, Ifield’s housing came to feature a mix of modern and traditional properties having easy access to shopping and amenities. 

Iflield’s regular bus services offer excellent connectivity across town and the train station, similarly, on the picturesque Arun Valley line has connections to London Bridge and Horsham. One of Crawley’s most significant wetland sites - a 19th-century Mill Pond - is housed in Ifield, making this area a home for historical wonders. 

A sunny autumn day in a Crawley park

Maidenbower 

For those commuting on a daily basis, Maidenbower’s easy access to the M23 motorway and Three Bridges rail station, not to mention bus connections to Manor Royal and Gatwick, is ideal. Located on the southeast of Crawley, Maidenbower also boasts expansive green spaces including a 3G football pitch. 

The property market here features detached homes ideal for families as well as one to two-bedroom apartments for young adults. Educational and leisure opportunities are likewise diverse, with the area’s residents benefitting from a community centre. 

West Green 

West Green was built in the 1950s as part of the new Crawley town, although it ecompasses areas of the old town as well. The area features Victorian homes as well as modern properties and is home to West Green Park, Crawley Leisure Park, and Crawley Hospital. West Green is also close to the town centre making it ideal for London commuters due to easy transport links.

Horsham 

Less than 20 minutes from Crawley lies the historic market town of Horsham. This area offers the best of both worlds with Crawley’s fantastic amenities within easy reach. Additionally, residents can also take advantage of the nature trails in the area such as the West Sussex Literary Trail, the High Weald Landscape Trail, as well as the nearby St. Leonard’s Forest.

For those with families, the town offers a range of choices when it comes to schooling with top-notch state and private schools in the area. Horsham’s self-storage facilities, likewise, are beneficial to all residents. 

 

Horsham High Street on a sunny morning.

One of the perks of living in Crawley is the diverse areas one can choose from. From the historic charm of Ifield to the quality amenities in Three Bridges, there is something for everyone. If you’re based in the area or are considering a move, Make Space offers affordable and flexible self-storage facilities near Crawley