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Situated in the south-east of Sussex, within about 7 miles of the coast and between the well-wooded hills of the southern Forest Ridge and the undulating chalk countryside of the South Downs, Hailsham is surrounded by much attractive and unspoilt scenery.

It is ideally situated for ease of access to many of the larger towns of Sussex and the south coast, with their more extensive shopping centres and entertainment facilities, being centrally located within the Eastbourne/Hastings/Tunbridge Wells triangle. It is also within easy reach of airports, Channel ferry terminals, the Channel Tunnel, and the cities of London and Brighton.

Whilst being largely rural in character, Hailsham can still boast a variety of local and national shops, several supermarkets, a cinema, and a leisure centre with swimming pool, adult and junior gyms, children’s soft play and ten-pin bowling. Most of the major banks and building societies have premises in the town centre, and facilities for most popular sporting activities (whether participating or as a spectator) are available. Hailsham also accommodates the home ground of a senior County league football club.

Adequate educational needs are provided within the town, including evening classes for mature students and a Skills Academy Centre for young people from Hailsham and the surrounding areas.

Leisure facilities exist for people of all ages and all interests, whether educational, academic, or just pleasure. Many of these have given birth to clubs and societies that cater for specific pursuits and the interests of members and participants. Senior citizens, as well as the young people of the town, will find groups specialising in their interests and needs. Two (membership only) social clubs thrive, having excellent bar and snooker facilities, and regularly organised entertainment, and a local amateur theatrical group present productions of a high standard within the town.

Visually the town centre is a delightful mixture of the old and new, having two modern shopping precincts yet retaining some of the character of its past heritage with the fifteenth century Parish Church and buildings dating back to the sixteenth century. Glimpses of the town's intriguing past are to be found in photographs and artefacts at the Heritage Centre, Blackman’s Yard, which is run by members of the Hailsham & District Historical Society.

The imprint of time goes deeply in this part of Sussex. Standing on rising ground, Hailsham overlooks the historic Pevensey Levels where the Romans built a stronghold upon what was then an island (Pevensey Castle). William the Conqueror was able to make an unopposed landing as the Saxons temporarily unmanned this same fortress on that fateful day in 1066, because the fleet and militia guarding the south coast against invasion had been disbanded a few weeks previously.

Hailsham itself has a long but uneventful history. Many years ago it became the market town for the prosperous surrounding agricultural district and continues to be so although there are now many local light industrial undertakings.

Henry III granted the Market Charter in 1252 - 200 years before the discovery of America.