Trains to Crawley

Rail arrived in Crawley in 1848 and, although it spelt the end of the coaching industry that served the London-to-Brighton road, it led to a sudden spurt in population as people flocked to the quaint Sussex settlement. Further population growths occurred in the 1950s and 60s as Crawley was awarded new town status, and the original station was subsequently replaced by the one that remains today, sitting at the bottom of a six-storey commercial development that funded the building. 21st-century Crawley is a popular commuter town and, as such, the station is a hive of activity, with trains zipping from the heart of the English countryside into London Victoria in just over half an hour. It's also a respected leisure hub, with the new K2 Sports Centre boasting an Olympic-length swimming pool and athletics track a short bus journey from the station.