It lies on the West Hoathly to Forest Row road 3.8 miles (6.2 km) south of East Grinstead.

Prior to its closure in 1958, the village was served by West Hoathly railway station at the north end of the tunnel.

The railway tracks were lifted in 1964/5 and the main station building demolished in 1967.

[1] Now that the railway has been extended to East Grinstead, the line could provide a useful public transport facility for the residents of Sharpthorne, but it would not be possible to build a new station on the original site because current HMRI regulations do not permit a "new build" on a gradient.

Any future station would most likely be located on the level stretch further north towards New Coombe Bridge which is further from the village.