"Uckfield", first recorded in writing as "Uckefeld" in 1220, is an Anglo-Saxon place name meaning "open land of a man called Ucca".

[3][4] A number of other places in the area also contain the suffix "feld", which may be an indication of land that contrasts with the surrounding woodlands of the Weald, including in particular Ashdown Forest immediately to the north.

The Eversfield family, who later became prominent in Sussex history, giving their name to the prime waterfront street of St Leonards-on-Sea, first settled in Uckfield from their Surrey beginnings.

[6] The family, who later owned the mansion Denne Park in Horsham, which they represented in Parliament, acquired a large fortune through marriage, real estate acquisition and iron foundering.

[13] Uckfield was previously represented at Westminster by Charles Hendry, Member of Parliament for the constituency of Wealden[14] from 2001 until he stood down at the 2015 general election.

Parts of Uckfield, owing to its location on the river, have been subject to extensive flooding on a number of occasions, the earliest recorded being in 1852.

[21] Due to the positioning of the river within Uckfield, any flooding is within the lowest part of the town centre and industrial estate, and so does not affect residential areas as these are all built on higher ground.

[citation needed] The West Park Nature Reserve contains a wide variety of habitats; it is located on the western edge of the town.

[23][24] It has several access points, and is a vestige of ancient parkland, containing herb rich uncultivated wet meadow, woodland, some thriving wildlife and the remains of Mesolithic settlement.

East Sussex County Council completed phase one of the Uckfield Town Centre Highway Improvement Scheme (UTC-HIS) in November 2014.

[32][33] In July 2015, Network Rail announced plans to upgrade the platforms at Uckfield railway station to accommodate trains with up to 12 carriages.

Until 1969, the rail link continued to Lewes; after it was closed, Uckfield became the terminus; the station building was rebuilt in 1991 to allow the removal of a level crossing.

Queen Elizabeth II made several unannounced low-profile visits to St Michael and All Angels Church, Little Horsted, which became widely known locally when the newsagent was asked to stock a copy of the Sporting Life.

Uckfield Baptist Church was founded in 1785 by seceders from nearby Five Ash Down Independent Chapel, and a new building opened at the top of the High Street in 1789 (rebuilt 1874);[45] it closed in 2005, but the congregation now meet at a school.

Uckfield was the last place Lord Lucan was seen, at Grants Hill House, the home of his friends Ian and Susan Maxwell-Scott.

[47] The singer Rag'n'Bone Man is from this town, winner of the Brit Award for Critics' Choice 2017, he had a number one single across Europe with the song "Human".

[48] The actor Roman Griffin Davis is from this town,[49] he starred in the acclaimed film Jojo Rabbit, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

In the summer of 2008, ITV's Trinny and Suzannah was filmed at the Bird in Eye studios when Mayor Louise Eastwood was the star of the show.

[55] As of 1 April 2022, the station expanded its FM coverage area to take in the neighbouring town of Crowborough, and has re-launched as Ashdown Radio.

The High Street is closed in the evening and local bonfire societies, sports teams, schools and businesses join a procession through the town.