East Grinstead

East Grinstead is an historic town in north-east West Sussex in the UK near the East Sussex, Surrey and Kent borders, and only a few miles from Ashdown Forest. The town is within commuting distance of London and the shopping centres of Crawley and Tunbridge Wells as well as being within a short distance of Gatwick Airport.

The old market town contains a wealth of historic medieval half-timbered buildings and the greatest number of open hall houses in the UK. Other buildings include Sackville College, a sandstone almshouse built in 1609 where the Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas was written. On the outskirts of the town lies Standen, a country house containing one of the finest collections of Arts and Crafts movement furnishings and fabrics.

The town is located on the Greenwich Meridian. Local attractions include Winnie-the-Pooh Country and the Bluebell Railway, a preserved heritage line with steam locomotives.

The town is the site of Queen Victoria Hospital where Archibald McIndoe worked as a plastic surgeon treating patients who formed the Guinea Pig Club.