Hastings

HASTINGS – EAST SUSSEX

In the middle of the summer in Europe and with many restrictions to travel, I decided to visit nearby places that were still unknown to me.

One place that was a great surprise was Hastings. Just two hours from London by train (London Bridge, St. Pancras, Victoria station) and approximately 90 minutes by car, you arrive in this picturesque and ancient town on the East Sussex coast.

Located between hills that reach the sea, “Hastings is an oyster that comes with its own grit” (as the locals say), where the smooth bustle of modern life rubs along with tradition. 

At the top of the hill, you can see the castle ruins watching over the city. The castle was built by William The Conqueror after the destruction of the Saxon castle.

Hastings got its name after the famous Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. William killed the last Saxon king of England – Harold Godwinson.

The five-kilometre waterfront stretches from the fishing fleet in the far east, passing through the bustle of arcades and amusement parks (very common on seafront towns), to the pier and the exclusive two-story walk through the Bottle Alley floors, built in the 1930s by the engineer Sidney Little – “The King of Concrete”), finally arriving at the beautiful Grosvenor Gardens.

Strolling through the little streets of the old town, you notice the age of this city.

The beach, like many in this area, is a pebble beach. It has a singular beauty with the hills and giant rocks on the slope, and they can be seen when the tide goes down.

With countless attractions for children and grown-ups, Hastings is undoubtedly a great choice for a day trip or holidays.

WHAT TO DO IN HASTINGS

1. Old Town – Stroll through the small streets of the old town. Antique shops are a separate attraction, enjoy a beer or two on one of the old pubs and Tudor-style houses.

2. Cliff Railways – Cable car to the top of the hill. There is a cafe and toilets at the top.

3. Alexandra Park – a wonderful and well-kept park with ponds, tennis courts, beautiful sculptures, gardens, playground for children and a café.

4. Hastings Fishermen’s Museum – a museum with videos of the stories of the famous Hastings Harbor era, replicas of old chips and historic old boats.

5. Warrior Square Gardens – An imposing square with the statue of Queen Victoria that has a hole due to a shotgun in the WWII. The Council has plans to highlight the hole with lights.

6. Blue Reef Aquarium – An aquarium with a tunnel well set up with numerous species.

7. Shipwreck Museum – A museum telling the story of shipwrecks.

8. Hastings Museum and Art Gallery – This museum is considered a hidden gem. It has an exclusive and rare collection of art from a very influential family – Brassey Family, with magnificent and unexpected artwork.

9. The True Crime Museum –  lots of games and interaction, all in a cave.

10. Smugglers Adventure – a space with lots of interesting videos for children and adults. Also inside a cave.

11. Follow in the footsteps of Foyle’s War – Famous English TV Drama filmed in Hastings

12. Hastings Pier – This pier has suffered, wars, conquests, property ownership’s fights. Now all renovated and won even the RIBA award for its slick and sustainable architecture. It’s an unmissable space.

by Carla Silveira; 

Carla Silveira is one of our travel consultants, specialised in personalised tours in London, in the UK and several towns in Europe.

Brazilian and living in London since 1993, Carla acquired vast experience in the tourism sector, working as flight attendant in Europe, for a major British airline.

Additionally towritting to our website, she also publishes a travel blog

@viajandolondon(Instagram) e @viajandomais (facebook)