I grew up in Burgess Hill and went to school/6th form in Cuckfield/Haywards Heath. That was 15 years ago.
There’s far worse places in this world. If you compare W. Sussex in general to the rest of the UK then I’d say it is one of the nicest places to live. Schools are good, people are well educated, unemployment low….
There’s not much wrong with Haywards Heath. A bit bland maybe, but otherwise it’s quite a tidy place.
Burgess Hill on the face of it is about the same, but there is a rough area. So raising kids there is a bit hit/miss. If they get in the wrong crowd then it’s a slippery slope.
No real biking though in either. You’ll be heading back towards Brighton for that.
P.S. I sat in the same chair as Brett Anderson in chemistry class – a few years down the line.