Northall C.P.C

Cricket at Northall isn't some grand county affair with hospitality boxes and strawberries. It's the real thing - a proper Sussex club where you'll find locals playing genuine competitive cricket on a well-maintained ground just outside Haywards Heath. The venue hosts matches throughout the season, from club games to occasional friendlies, and the whole setup has that welcoming feel that makes English village cricket so good.

You can walk the boundary, grab a spot in the pavilion if there's something on, and just settle in for an afternoon. The pitch is decent, the sight lines work, and there's something rather lovely about watching cricket where people actually care about the result without it turning into theatre. It's ideal if you've got a couple of hours to kill and fancy some fresh air without the drive to a major ground.

Family groups will find it relaxing rather than thrilling unless your kids are already into cricket - younger children might get restless after an hour or so. Real cricket enthusiasts, though, will appreciate the authenticity. Walkers exploring the area round Haywards Heath might time a visit to coincide with a match.

Being just a stone's throw from three cracking campsites - Wild Boar Wood, The Secret Campsite, and Hook Farm - makes it straightforward to build a club cricket afternoon into a weekend away. Check the website for the fixture list before you go. Admission details aren't always obvious, so ringing ahead saves a wasted trip.