Discover Crawley: History and Nature

Crawley combines historical themes with landscaped parks, nature reserves and walking trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Crawley, your interests can guide your plans: would you like to focus more on local history, or put trails and green spaces at the centre of your visit?

History on the High Street

Crawley Museum is located in The Tree, the oldest surviving medieval house on Crawley's High Street. The High Street was first designated a conservation area in November 1986. These are two distinct points of reference: one is a single surviving building, the other is the street's status as a conservation area.

Worth Church dates from between 950 and 1050, that is, from before the Norman Conquest. This dating takes the historical perspective further back than the High Street's first designation as a conservation area in 1986.

Walks and natural spaces

Ifield Mill Pond is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. A 30-minute circular walk follows a boardwalk around the pond. A longer, 60-minute walk from Ifield Mill Pond passes Ifield Watermill, which has a working waterwheel. The difference is clear for planning your day: half an hour for the loop by the water, or an hour for the walk that passes the mill.

The landscapes of the nature reserves also vary. Tilgate Forest Local Nature Reserve includes coniferous woodland, broadleaf woodland, heathland and acid grassland. Willoughby Fields Local Nature Reserve covers 20 hectares and includes meadows, hedgerows and streams. You can combine a visit to Tilgate Forest Local Nature Reserve with a circular walk through Furnace Green; a visit to Willoughby Fields Local Nature Reserve can be combined with the Willoughby Wander.

Parks and activities

Worth Park offers a different focus from the designated natural areas: the park includes formal gardens, a Victorian fountain and an arboretum. Worth Park Wanders offers a guided walk through the restored garden. The walking programme may change, so check before travelling whether the guided walk is taking place on your dates.

At Tilgate Park, a tree trail highlights 30 particularly notable trees of their respective species. Tilgate Park Watersports offers rowing boat and pedal boat hire; Go Ape offers a Treetop Adventure there. The availability of these activities may change, so check the offerings before travelling. Tilgate Zoo is home to more than 100 different animals; the animal collection may also change over time.

A connection beyond Crawley

The Worth Way connects Crawley with East Grinstead and is part of National Cycle Network route 21. This makes it distinct from walks with set durations as a route extending beyond the town: the specific points of reference here are the connection between two places and its membership of the trail network.

Discover more destinations: Horsham, Westbourne, Trotton, East Grinstead, Chichester, Albourne, Merston, Hunston

For the main travel overview: West Sussex.