Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in West Sussex, England

The county of West Sussex

If you are looking for an area that has some of the most beautiful countryside in England, then you need look no further than the county of West Sussex. Eighty percent of the county is rural, and over fifty percent is designated as areas of natural beauty. A new national park is proposed, which will incorporate and protect the South Downs. An extensive network of public rights-of-way allows access throughout the county, ranging from the sandstone hills of the High Weald, across the patchwork of pasture and woodland that makes up the Weald, and over the rolling Sussex Downs to the Coastal Plain, with its wooded harbours and open beaches. The Weald, once an ancient oak forest, is still richly wooded, but much of the landscape is now agricultural. West Sussex has one of England's most beautiful and well looked after coastlines, dotted with traditional English seaside towns, which are full of historic architecture and Victorian charm. West Sussex is in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. The highest point of the county is Black Down, at 280m/919ft.

A brief history

West Sussex is full of history. The earliest archaeological finds of primitive flint tools used in fishing and hunting, together with evidence of woodland clearing denote that Mesolithic people lived in the area. At the time (8000BC) Britain was still connected to the continent. By 4100BC flint mines were being worked, particularly near today's Worthing, by Neolithic man. Tombs with some pottery and weapons have also been discovered. Iron Age Hillforts on the South Downs are reminders of the length of time people have been relying on chalk hills for their livelihood. Another industry that flourished at Wisborough Green, Loxwood and Petworth was glass-making, until it was destroyed by the prohibition of the use of wood fuel in 1615. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, obtaining separate county councils in 1888. When the Local Government Act 1972 came into force the Mid Sussex region (including Haywards Heath and East Grinstead) was transferred from East Sussex. The administration headquarters of West Sussex are based in Chichester.

Living in West Sussex

Whether you decide you'd like to live by the sea or in the countryside, you will find a good selection of properties for sale in West Sussex in varying sizes and types. You can choose from town houses in Chichester, brand new flats for sale in Shoreham-by-Sea, or detached houses in Wisborough Green. Other types of properties for sale in West Sussex include 1930's houses, country style cottages, Victorian cottages, and some listed properties dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. If you're not able to decide between living by the coast, in a bustling town, or in a rural situation, you might prefer to rent a house in West Sussex before making that important choice. There are plenty of estate agents with properties to rent listed on the Primelocation website.

Many people choose to move to West Sussex because it is within easy reach of London, but also retains an aura of tranquillity and a sense of being away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. If you don't want to live in an area that's too secluded, you might like to consider searching for properties for sale in Chichester. Chichester has its own university, and is famous for its shops with major high street names mingling with specialist independent shops; those seeking culture will delight in the 12th century Norman Cathedral and Chichester Festival Theatre. On the south side, the new Chichester Gate leisure complex offers an impressive mix of entertainments and facilities, including a health club, bowling centre and multiplex cinema. South Downs Planetarium, Petworth House and Park and Parham House and Gardens are all within easy reach and are popular venues for family days out. Families who are looking for property in West Sussex might like to consider Horsham, which has a good selection of schools, and a nice family environment. It is just an hour to London by train and is considered to be up and coming. Horsham has a large park in the town centre, local pay and play golf, a nature reserve and farm areas – making it ideal for those who enjoy walking, cycling, riding or golf. The shopping centre has plenty of choice between large high street chains (M&S, BHS, Next, Monsoon) plus some unique niche shops, including a cheese shop, antique shops and and antiquarian book shops. Crawley is another town worth investigating. It is halfway between London and Brighton and just one hour by train to Victoria. Gatwick airport is close by and Brighton is only a 30 minute drive away. There are lots of places to eat and drink, good leisure facilities and a selection of schools. With employment opportunities increasing, Crawley is considered to be a town for the future.

Travel and transport links in the county of West Sussex

If you are a regular traveller, West Sussex would be a good place to search for houses for sale. There is a rail network consisting of three parts - a coastal service running hourly, the London to Brighton main line with frequent services to central Sussex towns and Gatwick Airport, and the Arun Valley Line, with half hourly services serving many towns on the route from Portsmouth and Bognor. West Sussex residents living close to the Hampshire border, benefit from access to Portsmouth to Waterloo services. People searching for property in West Sussex who work in London will find it is possible to commute in under an hour from some towns such as Horsham, Crawley and Haywards Heath. For road access, the M23 connects to Gatwick Airport and other motorway networks, whilst the A24 provides access to Worthing, Brighton, and the A27 for coastal routes. West Sussex has its own airport - Gatwick, which is the 2nd largest airport in the UK (after Heathrow) and the 6th busiest international airport in the world.