St John's Church, Crawley, West Sussex (c) Richard Rogerson
St John's Church, Crawley, West Sussex
A bustling modern town with ancient roots, Crawley dates back to the Saxon period. It was a quiet market town until it became a stopover point for high society on their way between London and the popular resorts of the south coast.

Much more recently it has thrived as the nearest urban centre to Gatwick Airport, and there are a wide variety of accommodation possibilities in and around Crawley. Just outside the town is Buchan Country Park, a 69-hectare oasis of peace and quiet.