East Grinstead

East Grinstead is a town in West Sussex, in the South East of England.

East Grinstead is an ancient market town that was the capital of the old High Weald, and lies at the meeting point of the four counties of Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey. The carol "Good King Wenceslas" was written at the town's Sackville College.

• 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. Aduls £5, child £1.
• 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. Contains the graves of the Sussex Martyrs.
• 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.

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. Aduls £5, child £1.

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. Contains the graves of the Sussex Martyrs.

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.

• 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 - 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..
• 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.
• 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.

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 - 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..

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.

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.

• 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. One of the best and least well-known to visitors (but not to locals!)
• Lots of take-away outlets in the town.
• Taylors. 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.

Cuisine Studio. One of the best and least well-known to visitors (but not to locals!)

Taylors. Generally considered to be the best place for fish and chips, with queues stretching out onto the street at weekends.

Nizam Indian Restaurant.

Shapla. Good takeaway.

• 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 Broadway. Another large venue.
• Crows Nest. Live bands every week.
• The Dorset Arms. Gastropub.
• The Sussex Arms. Very posh.
• The Sportsman. One of the smallest pubs in England. Hidden down an alley. Often full of crazy people.
• 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.

The town also has 2 main nightclubs.

• Tryst.
• Bliss, Kings Street.

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 Broadway. Another large venue.

Crows Nest. Live bands every week.

The Dorset Arms. Gastropub.

The Sussex Arms. Very posh.

The Sportsman. One of the smallest pubs in England. Hidden down an alley. Often full of crazy people.

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.

Tryst.

Bliss, Kings Street.

• Local weekly newspaper - East Grinstead Courier and Observer.
• Community radio station - 107 Meridian FM, on 107FM and online.

• Ashdown Forest is nearby, for walking, wildlife, llamas and Winnie The Pooh.