Crawley: The Town That Refused to Die (And Keeps Getting Better)

Look, I’m not gonna lie to you — when most people think of Crawley, they probably think “oh yeah, that’s near Gatwick Airport” and then immediately forget about it. But here’s the thing: Crawley News been telling a different story lately, and honestly? It’s about time we all started paying attention.

Because Crawley, this supposedly boring commuter town in West Sussex, has been quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) transforming itself into something actually pretty remarkable. Not in that annoying “up-and-coming” way that estate agents love to bang on about, but in a real, tangible, “holy crap, when did this happen?” kind of way.

So here’s what got me thinking about all this. I was scrolling through Crawley Local News the other day (yes, this is what I do with my free time, don’t judge), and I stumbled across some stuff that made me go “wait, what?” Apparently, this town that everyone overlooks has been absolutely crushing it when it comes to regeneration.

Not really sure why this matters, but Crawley has managed to keep its town centre vacancy rate at just 8.6%, which is way better than the national average of 13.8%. I mean, have you seen some high streets lately? They’re like ghost towns with betting shops. Crawley’s actually got people wanting to open businesses there.

What’s Actually Happening in Crawley? (Spoiler: It’s Not Boring)

Okay, so here’s where things get interesting. Remember when I said Crawley was playing the long game? Well, they’ve been doing this since like 2016, which in town regeneration terms is basically forever. The council and their partners have been working on this massive plan to make the town centre not just somewhere you pass through on your way to the airport, but actually a destination in its own right.

The thing is, and maybe this is just me being cynical, but most town regeneration projects I’ve seen are basically just putting up some new benches and calling it a day. Crawley actually did the work. They proper invested in making the place better. The Queens Square regeneration alone attracted £30 million in private investment. That’s not a typo. Thirty. Million. Pounds.

The Memorial Gardens: Not Just a Bunch of Trees

Right, so I need to talk about Crawley Memorial Gardens, because this is where things get properly interesting. You know how most towns have that sad little park with broken swings and teenagers drinking cider? Yeah, this isn’t that.

The Memorial Gardens is like this little oasis in the middle of everything, and the council’s actually done something pretty smart with it. They moved this historic bandstand there — the one that used to be in Queens Square — and now it’s become this proper cultural hub. The Cure played there in 1977, which is mental when you think about it.

But here’s what I really love about this whole Memorial Gardens thing — it’s not just about making things look pretty. They’ve actually thought about how people use spaces. The new playground has equipment for kids with disabilities, which shouldn’t be revolutionary in 2024, but somehow still is. They’ve made it so you can actually see into the gardens from the street, which makes it feel safer and more welcoming.

And the events! They’ve got this “STEM in the Park” thing that apparently went down really well. I don’t know about you, but when I think “fun day out,” science and technology aren’t usually the first things that come to mind. But Crawley made it work. They made science actually appealing to families. That’s some kind of witchcraft, surely.

The High Street That Could (And Did)

Okay, so let’s talk about the actual high street, because this is where you can really see what’s happening. Remember when I mentioned that 8.6% vacancy rate? Well, here’s how they did it. Instead of just throwing money at chain stores and hoping for the best, Crawley actually thought about what makes a town centre work.

They’ve got this Business Improvement District (BID) thing going on, which basically means local businesses work together to make the area better. And it actually works! They’ve got street ambassadors who work with police and the council to deal with crime and antisocial behavior. You know, all the stuff that makes people avoid town centres.

1. The George Hotel: This place has been there since 1615 and it’s still going strong. The wooden structure outside? That’s a replica of the gallows that used to be there. Morbid tourism, but make it historical.
2. The Old Punch Bowl: Built around 1450, been everything from a farmhouse to a bank, now it’s a pub again. Because of course it is.
3. Ancient Priors: Once owned by boxer Alan Minter, now an Italian restaurant. Because nothing says “authentic Italian” like a medieval building in Crawley.
4. The Decathlon Store: Was Britain’s first ever superstore. Tesco coined the term “superstore” for this place. History, but make it retail.

What’s really clever about all this is that Crawley hasn’t just tried to be another clone town. They’ve actually embraced what makes them unique. The historic buildings aren’t just sitting there looking old — they’re being used. People are living in them, working in them, eating in them. It’s like the town found this perfect balance between preservation and actually being useful.

The Numbers Don’t Lie (But They Might Surprise You)

Right, so I know I’ve thrown a lot of numbers at you, but bear with me because this is where it gets properly impressive. Crawley town centre employs about 13,500 people across 450 businesses. That’s not just shops — we’re talking professional services, leisure, all sorts. And they get 1.2 million visitors every month. Every. Month.

But here’s the thing that really gets me — they’ve got over 100 independent retailers. In 2024! When every other town centre is becoming a depressing parade of charity shops and empty units, Crawley has actual independent businesses that are thriving. How did they manage that? Well, it’s not really a mystery when you think about it.

They’ve created an environment where small businesses can actually survive. The Business Improvement District helps with stuff like security and marketing, the regeneration has made the town centre somewhere people actually want to go, and they’ve got this mix of uses that means there’s always someone around. It’s not rocket science, but somehow most places still get it wrong.

What’s Next for Crawley? (And Why You Should Care)

So here’s where we get to the crystal ball gazing bit. Crawley’s got this “Town Centre East” regeneration plan that sounds properly ambitious. They’re looking at six key sites — including the old Marks & Spencer building (which closed after 56 years, RIP) — and they’re not just thinking “oh, let’s put some shops in there.”

They’re talking about mixed-use developments, which is planner speak for “places where people can live, work, and play without needing a car.” There’s plans for new homes, new commercial spaces, even new cultural facilities. Because apparently Crawley has decided that being a cultural desert is so last century.

The really smart thing about all this is that they’re not just thinking about buildings. They’re thinking about connections. How do people move between these sites? How do they connect to the train station? How do they link up with the Memorial Gardens and the rest of the town centre? It’s like they’re building a proper town, not just a collection of buildings.

And they’ve got this “Commercial Eastern Gateway” thing going on, which is basically them saying “hey, businesses! Come here! We’ve got lovely new offices and everything!” The new Create Building has 77,000 square feet of Grade A office space, which is apparently what businesses want these days. I don’t really know what “Grade A” means, but it sounds fancy.

The Real Reason Crawley Works (And It’s Not What You Think)

Here’s my theory about why Crawley’s regeneration actually works, and it’s probably not what the council would want me to say. It’s not just the money or the planning or any of that technical stuff. It’s that they actually seem to give a damn about making the place better for people who live there.

They’ve got this “One Crawley” economic recovery plan that runs until 2037, which is properly long-term thinking. Most places I’ve seen do regeneration projects that last about five minutes and then everyone forgets about them. Crawley’s been at this since 2016 and they’re still going. That’s nearly a decade of consistently trying to make things better.

Plus — and this is the really important bit — they’re not trying to be something they’re not. They’re not pretending to be Brighton or London or anywhere else. They’re just trying to be the best version of Crawley they can be. And weirdly, that’s working.

They’ve got all this history — the medieval buildings, the coaching inn heritage, the whole New Town thing — and instead of ignoring it or trying to cover it up, they’ve made it part of what makes the place interesting. The George Hotel isn’t just some old building, it’s the most famous coaching inn in the county. The Memorial Gardens isn’t just a park, it’s a cultural venue. Even the Decathlon store has historical significance as Britain’s first superstore.

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like there’s a lesson here for other towns. You don’t need to be trendy or cool or whatever. You just need to be authentic, invest properly in making things better, and actually care about the people who live and work there. Revolutionary, I know.

The Bottom Line (Because Every Article Needs One)

So there you have it. Crawley: the town that refused to die, the place that everyone overlooks but probably shouldn’t, the regeneration success story that nobody’s talking about but maybe should be.

Is it perfect? Of course not. They’ve still got challenges, and £120 million doesn’t solve everything. But compared to most town centres I’ve seen lately? Crawley’s actually doing alright for itself. More than alright, really.

The next time someone mentions Crawley and you start thinking “oh yeah, that’s near the airport,” maybe remember some of this stuff. Because while everyone else has been busy writing off town centres as dead and gone, Crawley’s been quietly proving that with the right approach, they can actually thrive.

And honestly? Good for them. In a world full of depressing news about high streets and town centres, it’s nice to see somewhere that’s actually making it work. Even if it is in Crawley. (Sorry, Crawley. I had to get one last dig in there. It’s been a long article.)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go plan a trip to Crawley. Apparently they’ve got jazz at the bandstand, and I suddenly feel like I need to see what all the fuss is about. Plus, I hear the independent coffee scene is actually pretty decent these days. Who knew?