Redhill was a hamlet before the coming of the railway to Brighton in 1841 when it was transformed into a Victorian railway town. Since the 1960's it has undergone rapid growth and transformation which has lead to it losing its Victorian character. Redhill is close to the M25, M23 and Gatwick Airport and has a modern shopping centre, the Belfry and a theatre/cinema complex, the Harlequin. It is surrounded by the natural beauty of the North Downs, and the surrounding area, especially at Nutfield, is important for deposits of Fuller's Earth. Many of the old local quarries have been flooded to make a country park, ideal for bird-watching.

The church of St. John is south-west of the town centre, on Redhill Common. It was built in 1843 with the south-west tower and spire being added in 1895, although it was largely rebuilt in 1889.

To the east of Redhill, along the A25 lies Bletchingley.The High Street is a mixture of houses from the 16th to 20th centuries - the Whyte Hart Inn being refronted in the late 1700's. Castle Hill, (the castle demolished in 1264), affords wide views south over the Weald.