Discover Hastings

If you’re looking for a hotel in Hastings, you can start by considering what you want your stay to focus on: architectural history, maritime culture or landscape. The town offers a range of places to explore, from the castle ruins on West Hill and museums with distinct themes to a nature reserve in a unique coastal landscape.

Castle Ruins and Architectural History

The ruins of Hastings Castle are on West Hill in Hastings, East Sussex. They include the keep and the outer bailey, two features that draw attention to different parts of the castle complex. Hastings Pier adds its own timeline to the historical picture: it was built between 1869 and 1872 to designs by engineer Eugenius Birch, and reopened on 21 May 2016. These two dates mark different events: the construction period and the later reopening. This makes it possible to consider the history of the castle complex and that of the pier as distinct historical topics.

Museums with Different Areas of Focus

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery gives you the opportunity to explore art, culture and history from around the world. Hastings Fishermen's Museum focuses on maritime history. It is housed in a former fishermen's church, built on the beach in 1854 for the local fishing community. Both the building’s history and its former function are therefore part of the museum’s context. At the museum, you can go aboard the Hastings lugger “Enterprise,” built in 1912. This experience may change, so check the latest information before your visit. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. As the admission policy may change, it is also advisable to check this before your visit.

Coastal Landscape and Gill Woodlands

Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve is part of a unique coastal landscape in the southeast. The reserve has three ancient gill woodlands: Ecclesbourne Glen, Fairlight Glen and Warren Glen. These names make the natural features more specific than the general term “coastal landscape” and give you three named areas to keep in mind as you plan your trip.

Hastings Country Park Visitor Centre is on Lower Coastguard Lane, opposite the main car park in the Firehills area of the park. The centre’s facilities may change, so check the latest information before your visit.

Two Lifts, Two Points of Orientation

The East Hill Lift is the steepest funicular railway in the United Kingdom and gives visitors easy access to Hastings Country Park. The West Hill Lift is distinguished by its tunnel route; its lower station is on the traffic-free George Street. The descriptions highlight different features: the East Hill Lift’s funicular railway and access to the park, and the West Hill Lift’s tunnel and the location of its lower station. This lets you tell the two lifts apart by their respective features without reducing them to the same kind of visitor experience.

Discover more destinations: Crowborough, Alciston, Peasmarsh, Eastbourne, Northiam, Mayfield, Chelwood Gate, Polegate.

For the regional travel overview: East Sussex.