Hastings in East Suusex has a fine mixture of ingredients which cater for almost anyone to enjoy.

On the one hand you have the ‘traditional’ seaside town flavours of Fun Fairs, Amusement Arcades etc., but you also have it being a centre for much natural beauty and some historical places as well.

The town is more or less split into two; the newer side with the Town Centre, a brand new Railway Station, the Pier and the Old Town with it’s uneven buildings, old Pubs, the Fishing Beach and a general ‘Bohemian’ atmosphere.

Hastings joins onto St.Leonards-On-Sea and Bexhill-On-Sea, sporting the famous ‘De La Warre’ Pavilion’ is just a few miles west.

Getting to Hastings is pretty easy. There are three railway lines going out of the Town; one to Eastbourne/Brighton, one to Ashford International in Kent and the mainline going up to Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and London Charing Cross.

Most major Bus Companies have services from London Victoria and local Buses also follow the above destinations with Folkestone and Dover as well.

By car, Hastings is reached by travelling – from London on the A20 (not the fastest of routes with few dual carraigeways Tunbridge Wells and south) and the A259 and A27 providing the coastal routes.

What’s What……

The Beach and Promenade
The beach is mainly shingle with some sand at low tide. The beach and promenade stretch the length of coast from the Old Town Fishing Port to the west side of St.Leonards – and it’s a walk of around 3 miles if you fancy it!
From the Old Fishing Port (where you’ll always pick up a bargain of freshly caught fish all year round)

you find many attractions including the Fun Fair, Miniature Railway, Boating Lakes and Mini-Golf etc. But whilst in the old part, visit the small but interesting Fishing Museum which shows many old relics and photographs of Fishermen past.
The Museum is tucked between the famous Net Drying houses, now an important monument to Hastings heritage.

From there to the Pier is the main ‘popular’ beach and during the summer this can be quite packed with visitors from all over the world.
After the Pier going westwards to St.Leonards and Bexhill, the Beach becomes less crowded as you’re further away from the main hussle bussle.
All the way along you’ll find Restaurants, Fish and Chip takeaways, Cafes inter-mingled with the now familiar ‘Kiss me Quick’ seaside souvenir shops.

Swimming can be a tad cold up til mid-summer when the sea has finally warmed up and you are advised not to swim around the old Town area due to unpleasant and dangerous tides due to the Ports breakwater.

Shopping
The newer part of Hastings has a recently built Shopping Center with all the usual Retailers fighting for position, but searching around you’ll find lots of little side streets and Arcades full of interesting shops ranging from Crafts to Charity/Second Hand.
The Old Town has a real Bohemian atmosphere and there’s a fine mixture of Antique, Craft and ‘Bric-a-Brac shops where you can buy just about anything from an old record to a Knights Armoured Suit! See left!
The larger Supermarkets are now out of town and this means hills! So a bus or car ride is recommended.

Entertainment
You have the White Rock Pavilion opposite the Pier where there are loads of summer and winter shows usually featuring some ‘famous’ person from some Soap or other!!!
But, if you are Folk, Rock, Jazzy orientated, Hastings is a buzz for music. Every night of the year you’ll find a live performance going on somewhere. There is even a Bar where they have guitars on the wall and you can strum and join in with others as much as you like!

Accommodation
Beside the usual Hotels, Guest Houses and B&B’;s, there are several Campsites and Caravan Parks around the town.
If you want the quieter one’s, I suggest going a little inland.
Prices in Hastings are not extortionate and you should find the right place and the right price fairly easily.
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