Getting around Crawley
Crawley is a town and borough in West Sussex, sitting between London and Brighton, with Gatwick Airport on its outskirts. It was designated a New Town after World War II, and its 14 residential neighbourhoods radiate out from the old market town core, separated by main roads and railway lines. That layout shapes how you get around: the centre is compact and walkable, while the suburbs and the airport are best reached by bus, train or taxi.
Walking
Within the town centre you can comfortably walk to the station, County Mall and the football stadium. The town is small enough that cycling can also get you to all ends of it, and the town centre has parking facilities for bikes. Cycle paths are marked and signed, but the town is essentially built for cars, and the Gatwick Airport area in particular is not meant for cyclists.
Rail
Three train stations matter for visitors: Crawley station, Gatwick Airport station and Three Bridges station. Crawley station sits at the southern end of the High Street, and Three Bridges is on the other side of town.
- From Crawley station, trains run north to London and Peterborough, and south to Horsham and Portsmouth.
- Trains run directly and frequently from Gatwick and Three Bridges to Brighton. Coming from Crawley station, you need to change at Three Bridges for Brighton.
- For services to Brighton and Haywards Heath from Crawley, take a train heading north towards London Victoria or Bedford and change at Three Bridges.
- Regular fast trains run direct from Gatwick to London Victoria, operated by a number of different railway companies.
- Fare and timetable information is available from Southeastern on +44 345 748 4950.
Buses
Local buses are run by Metrobus, with routes including 10, 20, 100, 281, 291 and 400. The Fastway services are managed by Metrobus. Crawley is also known for its Hydroliners, hydrogen-powered buses seen throughout the Fastway network and mainly operating on routes 10 and 20.
- To and from the airport, take the number 10 Fastway service, which runs almost always as a 24-hour service except on Sundays and public holidays. Routes 4 and 5 are alternatives for reaching the airport.
- Other bus routes serve the suburbs, such as Pound Hill and Northgate.
- Route information for these and all other routes is available at the Metrobus Travel Shop (+44 1293 449191).
- National Express coaches run to and from Crawley station and Gatwick Airport.
- Metrobus 273 links Brighton's Churchill Square with Crawley, crossing Sussex countryside.
Taxis and private hire
You can find taxis at the main railway stations — Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Crawley — or book in advance with private hire companies in the area, which include:
- Metro Cars, 41 High Street, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1BQ, +44 1293 415415
- Alpha Cars, +44 1293 400600
- Western Cars, +44 1293 300000, info@westerncars.co.uk
- Crawley Gatwick Taxis, +44 1293 222666
A taxi from the station to the airport takes about 10 minutes if there are no traffic jams, while the Fastway bus 10 takes about 20 minutes and costs considerably less.
Getting in from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport, a major international airport, lies on the outskirts of Crawley and has its own railway station, from which you can take direct trains to Crawley. The number 10 Fastway bus also connects the airport with the town, running almost around the clock except on Sundays and public holidays, with routes 4 and 5 as alternatives. Taxis are available at the airport station, and National Express coaches serve both the airport and Crawley station.
Arriving by road
Crawley marks the midpoint of the M23/A23, which links London to the north with Brighton on the south coast. The A217 leads north to Reigate, and the A264 heads east to East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells, and west to Horsham.