Haywards Heath is situated in the centre of the Mid Sussex District, with the green sweeping hills of the South Downs to the south acting as a dramatic backdrop to the town. Eastward lies the Ashdown Forest and to the north, the High Weald. Between these areas the whole town is surrounded on all sides by the lovely Sussex countryside, which is less than a five-minute drive in any direction from the town centre. Haywards Heath has a population of approximately 23,000, though this is due to rise in the immediate future with the development of 1,000 new dwellings.
The town is conveniently situated some 12 miles from Brighton and about 40 miles from London by road. It takes only 45 minutes by fast train to London, where a large number of residents choose to work. Others take advantage of local employment both in the town and in Brighton, Crawley and Croydon and of course at Gatwick Airport, which is only 15 minutes away by train.