Hastings (Sussex)
Hastings is a seaside town in East Sussex, in the south of England.
Understand
Hastings is most famous for the battle that took place there in 1066 between King Harold's English and William the Conqueror's Normans. The town lent its name to the battle...although the battle actually took place in nearby Battle (of all places).
Nowadays the town is a busy seaside town that, along with St Leonards on Sea, forms a fairly large urban area on the south coast of around 100,000 inhabitants. The town is largely geared towards day-trippers, and fish and chip shops vie for attention with gaudy arcades on the seafront. Parts of the town (not excluding the centre and the seafront) are quite run-down.
Get in
By car
Hastings is at the end of the A21, which links the town to the M25 and London. The A27 runs west along the coast to Eastbourne and Brighton, and the A259 runs east to Ashford and Folkestone.
By train
Hastings is at one end of the Hastings Line, which runs through Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks on the way to London Charing Cross. There is also a direct service via Eastbourne to London Victoria, but this takes 2 hours and 7 minutes, compared with 1 hour 30 minutes for the fastest Charing Cross services. There are also services to Ashford and Brighton.
Get around
See
- Hastings Castle - the first castle to be built in England after the Norman conquest.
- The Pier.
- The Stade - in the old town, the home of Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet, as well as the historic net huts.
- Smugglers Adventure - a set of caves (St Clements Caves) in the hills above the town
- Underwater World - an aquarium
Do
- Take a walk in Alexandra Park.
- Play crazy golf on the seafront.
- Take the East and West Hill Lifts - two funiculars - up to the cliffs above the town.
Buy
Eat
Fish and chips - there are hundreds of fish and chip shops. The Blue Dolphin is very popular, and is considered to be one of the best in Britain.
Drink
Sleep
Get out
- Visit the historical area surrounding Hastings, known as 1066 Country.
External links