Charming village with easy access from/to London, Brighton?

Rye, in Sussex. Easy train ride from Brighton.
See here for some info: http://www.visit1066country.com/explore-1066-country/rye

Rye is a good suggestion . We stayed at a comfortable and stylish B&B this spring and I attach link to them

http://www.haydensinrye.co.uk/Haydens/Home.html

There are plenty of nearby places to see including Dungeness with its miniature railway and Hastings with good art gallery and raffish air.

Can I suggest Lewes? It is a small (though administratively important) town, quite close to Brighton, which has a direct train service to London.

Bob's suggestion of Lewes is a good one for a small town. Just over an hour on the train from London and then only 15 minutes to Brighton. It's got a (small) castle, a couple of other sites, a brewery and a nice river walk.

Somewhere smaller, but equally convenient, is Ditchling. The Bull there does rooms and there site has some information about the area

http://thebullditchling.com/

London to Brighton slow trains stop at Hassocks and you'd then need to get a taxi, assuming you have too much luggage for the 30 minute walk from the station.

Alan

Croydon? (not)

Cranbrook in Kent. http://www.cranbrook.org/about.php
The nearest train station is at Staplehurst about five miles from Cranbrook.
Onward travel to Cranbrook is easiest by taxi.
Great little restaurant http://www.restaurant-apicius.co.uk/
Great little railway http://www.kesr.org.uk/
Great little castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle/
Great little garden http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/

Lewes, Rye, Cranbrook, all sound so interesting and I wasn't familiar with any of them! Thanks!

Ely in Cambridgeshire is an hour train ride from London and a lovely town with a magnificent cathedral.