Summary
With its location in West Sussex, Crawley has developed significantly in recent years, mainly due to the proximity of Gatwick International Airport situated just a few miles north.
Historically, Crawley was a quaint market town comprised of smaller villages that are now incorporated as suburbs. The town offers parks rich in amenities and a town centre equipped with a wide variety of shops.
Crawley lies on the western edge of the High Weald, a long sandstone ridge that extends down toward the coast. This picturesque countryside is largely preserved as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, easily accessible from Crawley.
Visitors are encouraged to embark on short journeys into the High Weald, exploring magnificent gardens at Nymans and Wakehurst, both of which are maintained by the National Trust and Kew. Now, let us delve into the top attractions in Crawley:
1. Tilgate Park
Situated along Crawley’s southern border, Tilgate Park encompasses a former country estate that spans more than 2,000 acres of lush terrain within the High Weald.
Exploring the park on foot is pleasurable, as visitors navigate trails that meander through fragrant pine forests and alongside the expansive Tilgate Lake.
“Tilgate Park Watersports” offers equipment rentals for various activities, including kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, dinghy sailing, and rowing.
The remnants of the original estate can be found in the grand Walled Garden, which features a show garden, maze, café, and picnic space.
Among the park’s many facilities is a pay-and-play golf course located at the Tilgate Forest Golf Centre. Additionally, adjacent to the Walled Garden, one can find eight craft studios, many of which welcome visitors to observe skilled artisans at work.
2. Nymans
Located a few short miles south in the High Weald, Nymans serves as a National Trust property featuring a substantial yet intimate garden that surrounds the partial ruins of a Revivalist-style house.
The estate was acquired by the German Messel family in the 1890s, and the garden was cultivated over the course of the next six decades.
The house itself showcases an unusual melding of Regency and Medieval architectural styles.
A fire in 1947 resulted in part of the mansion falling into disrepair, while the remaining sections are inhabited by a descendant of the Messel family.
The sloped terrain of Nymans creates a unique microclimate that nourishes various hardy exotic plants, resulting in an array of hybrids—some intentionally cultivated and others occurring naturally.
While one could spend hours wandering through Nymans, the Walled Garden should be your initial destination, particularly in springtime when vibrant bulbs and enchanting summer borders prevail.
During the summer months, a family flower trail is available, alongside craft workshops and outdoor games such as skittles and giant Jenga.
3. Buchan Country Park
Experience tranquility within 170 acres of picturesque High Weald, located just minutes from Crawley’s Town Centre.
This Green Flag-recipients park includes a combination of birch woodlands, meadows, heathland, and a lake; visitors may be fortunate enough to spot roe deer if they tread softly.
During spring, the sounds of chiffchaffs and willow warblers can be heard, as these birds stop in the park during their migrations. This season also showcases breathtaking bluebells and sporadic patches of foxgloves throughout the woodland.
The park features a sculpture trail as well as a countryside center that hosts exhibitions focusing on local wildlife. A mobile barista serves visitors on Fridays and weekends.
4. Gatwick Aviation Museum
During the post-war era, the British aviation sector underwent significant expansion, with manufacturers such as Avro, Hawker, and Gloster producing early jets and achieving groundbreaking speed records.
The Gatwick Aviation Museum preserves the history of that dynamic period and, in 2016, opened a new facility.
Upon arrival, visitors encounter a propeller-driven Avro Shackleton Mk3 PH3 and a Percival Prince T1 outside, alongside prominent jets including the Hawker Hunter and Blackburn Buccaneer S1. Inside, an impressive exhibit showcases iconic jets, with highlights such as the twin-boom De Havilland Sea Vixen and Venom, along with a Hawker Siddeley Harrier—renowned as the first Harrier jump jet.
For enthusiasts of aviation machinery, the museum features a captivating array of engines from Rolls-Royce, de Havilland, Bristol, and Armstrong.
5. St Nicholas’ Church, Worth
While Crawley is categorized as a New Town, its surrounding villages contain significant historical sites.
To the east, Worth features one of the oldest churches still in continuous use within the UK, presenting a rare chance to appreciate authentic Anglo-Saxon architecture. The impressive chancel arch—recognized as the largest Saxon chancel arch in the country—and the apse date back to between 950 and 1050. Take a moment to observe the intricate lozenge pattern within the archivolts, while nearby lies a more recent 16th-century oak pulpit bearing exquisite carvings.
6. St Margaret’s Church, Ifield
The Ifield area, which was once a village located a few miles northwest of the town centre, features another historically significant church.
This Grade I-listed building includes a chancel that dates back to the 1200s, complemented by an unusual tower resulting from a Victorian restoration at the west end.
At the east end of the nave, you can observe intricately carved 14th-century recumbent stone effigies believed to represent Sir John of Ifield and his wife Lady Margaret.
Additionally, a Norman font from the 1100s, crafted from Wealden marble, stands out for its adorned stem, foliate capitals, and roll mouldings.
In the churchyard, a solemn Neoclassical table tomb—dating to approximately 1800—is embellished with reliefs and is crowned by an urn adorned with cherubic figures.
7. The Hawth
Situated a short distance from Crawley’s town centre, this performing arts complex resides within an exquisite area that includes nearly 40 acres of woodlands.
Operating since 1992, The Hawth primarily serves as a receiving theatre, offering a diverse program for its 855-seat main auditorium.
Theatregoers can enjoy a variety of performances, ranging from opera, classical music, and ballet to musicals, sing-along film presentations, classic rock artists, tribute acts, and beloved comedic performances.
Additionally, The Hawth frequently features live broadcasts from esteemed institutions such as the National Theatre, Royal Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Royal Ballet.
A resident theatre company, Pitchy Breath, produces an original piece annually.
8. Tilgate Nature Centre
Nestled within the scenic confines of Tilgate Park, a small zoo awaits, requiring a separate entry fee.
Tilgate Nature Centre is home to over 100 diverse animal species and engages in international breeding initiatives for Asian short-clawed otters and Utila spiny-tailed iguanas.
In 2018, a new Americas Zone debuted, showcasing the park’s macaws, capybaras, and intriguing axolotl salamanders.
For an additional fee, visitors can partake in the Meet the Meerkats experience, during which this sociable species will interact with you while learning about their behavior, diet, and welfare from a keeper.
9. Wakehurst
An essential outing from Crawley, Wakehurst features a stunning Elizabethan estate set amidst over 500 acres of meticulously curated botanical gardens.
Managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, visitors will enjoy leisurely strolls through enchanting landscapes.
The gardens encompass both native UK flora and exotic species; for example, the Southern Hemisphere garden showcases plants from South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, all organized by geography.
The Millennium Seed Bank, housed within modern structures, functions as the botanical equivalent of a gold reserve, with a goal of conserving 25% of global plant species by 2020. Additionally, the mansion at Wakehurst features period furniture and exhibits showcasing botanical art by renowned artists such as Sarah Drake, John Day, and the Bauer brothers, Franz and Ferdinand.
10. Wings Museum
The Wings Museum, set within a former barn that may be mistaken for a hangar, showcases rich aviation heritage.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is the complete fuselage of a C-47 Dakota, which participated in D-Day in 1944, and was also used for filming the HBO series Band of Brothers.
Dedicating itself to the legacy of the Second World War, Wings Museum features several aircraft presented as discovered at crash sites in eastern Russia.
The “Ghosts of the Tundra” section allows visitors to examine the twisted wreckage of various aircraft, including a Soviet-operated Hawker Hurricane, Douglas A-20, Bell P-63 Kingcobra, and a Japanese Nakajima B5N2 Kate.
Moreover, the museum displays piston engines, aircraft cockpits, simulators, uniforms, bombs, and a multitude of additional aviation equipment.
11. Crawley Museum
Launched in July 2018, Crawley Museum was established with help from a significant grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, welcoming visitors from Wednesday to Sunday.
Located within a combination of new and historic structures at “The Tree” on the High Street, the museum chronicles the rich history of Crawley.
Visitors can journey through time, exploring exhibits that cover the period from Prehistory through the Victorian era and into the 20th century, marking Crawley’s transformation into a New Town.
Two highlights of the museum include a Bronze Age sword and a unique three-wheeled 1903 Rex Forecar, which resembles a cross between a car and a motorcycle and was gifted to the town in 1907. The museum also maintains another site at the Ifield Watermill, reputedly the only working watermill in West Sussex, dating back to 1686.
12. Goffs Park
Conveniently positioned between Crawley’s town centre and Ifield, the Green Flag-awarded Goffs Park provides ample opportunities for a budget-friendly summer outing.
Archaeological excavations within this 50-acre park have uncovered two Iron Age furnaces, while the elegant Goffs Park House previously served as the location for the Crawley Museum.
From spring to autumn, visitors can enjoy an 18-hole pitch and putt course, while the park features a lake, woodland trails, a pub/restaurant, and a wildlife conservation area located in the northwest corner.
On Sundays, a light railway operated by dedicated volunteers runs from 14:00 to 17:00, offering another delightful summer experience.
13. Tulleys Farm
Located just beyond the eastern boundary of Crawley, Tulleys Farm offers a family-friendly attraction that evolves with the seasons.
Since its inception in 1998, the farm has typically featured a maize maze during the summer months, along with a puzzle park filled with engaging challenges for children to tackle.
In autumn, the farm transforms with Shocktoberfest, a Scream Park acclaimed as one of the UK’s premier Halloween attractions, offering a balance of spooky fun for children and more intense Night Frights for teenagers and adults.
Each year, nine live attractions are featured, ranging from a haunted hayride to nightmarish scenarios involving actors dressed as terrifying clowns.
Triumphantly, the farm is also home to three enjoyable escape room experiences suitable for groups of two to eight players, providing entertainment throughout the year.
14. Go Ape Crawley
Within the woodland of Tilgate Park lies a Go Ape location, renowned for its high ropes courses situated across the country.
Go Ape Crawley features circuits elevated high within the trees, including the Tree Top Adventure, designed for adults and children aged ten and above, as well as the Tree Top Junior course for younger children.
Harnessed for safety, participants can expect to navigate the 737-meter Tree Top Adventure over a duration of nearly three hours, crawling through tunnels, scaling rope nets, traversing wobbly bridges, and speeding down zip-lines.
It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes and gloves when visiting Go Ape.
15. County Mall
As a regional shopping hub, Crawley attracts numerous visitors on a daily basis, highlighted by the opening of County Mall in 1992, spanning 41,800 square meters next to the train station.
Whether searching for specific items or wishing to leisurely browse, County Mall boasts a comprehensive selection of shops commonly found on UK high streets.
Retailers such as Debenhams, Primark, JD Sports, Next, and River Island are featured among others.
If you are unable to find your desired items at County Mall, the surrounding town centre offers additional shopping options including stores like Lush, H&M, and Decathlon.
