Things to do in Hastings

Activities, attractions and tours

Hastings featuring street scenes
Hastings featuring a small town or village and general coastal views
Great Dixter House and Gardens featuring a house and a garden
Blue Reef Aquarium showing marine life as well as an individual male
Hastings Castle featuring heritage elements and a ruin

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Top places to visit

1. Hastings Castle

Though only fragments of it remain, Hastings Castle is still tremendously atmospheric. Its splendid clifftop setting means it can be seen from most parts of town. Visitors are drawn here for its interesting and tumultuous history and for the incredible views it offers of the cliffs and coastline. Watch a video explaining the significance of the Norman fortress and peruse the evocative ruins.
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Hastings Castle featuring heritage elements and building ruins

2. Hastings Country Park

Hastings Country Park is spread across 660 acres (270 hectares) along the coast and encompasses a patchwork of terrain including ancient woodland, heathlands, grassland and dramatic sandstone cliffs. Walk coastal trails near the cliff edge and savor the incredible views. Look for rare birds flying overhead and insects crawling underfoot.
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Hastings Country Park which includes general coastal views, a park and a small town or village

3. East Hill Lift

One of the steepest funicular railways in the country, the East Hill Lift carries passengers up a steep and rocky cliff to Hastings Country Park at the top. Ascend the slope in the old-fashioned carriages and marvel at the views out to sea from the top.
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East Hill Lift

4. Alexandra Park

A well-kept and spacious recreational space, Alexander Park provides ample greenery as it runs through Hastings and St Leonards. The park has enough amenities to enthrall and entertain visitors for an entire day. Walk through immaculate formal gardens and past ancient trees, spot rare birds in the nature reserve, go boating on the lake and let the kids enjoy the play area.
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Alexandra Park featuring a garden

5. Smugglers Adventure

Smugglers Adventure is a popular interactive attraction that reveals tales from the smuggling trade’s heyday, when swashbuckling gangs transported contraband goods into Britain through the isolated bays of the Sussex coast. Explore atmospheric underground caves and discover more about the shady goings-on that took place here in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Smugglers Adventure

What to do in Hastings

Popular places to visit

Hastings Pier

Hastings Pier

4.5/5(4 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Hastings with a trip to Hastings Pier. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in the area.

Hastings Pier
Hastings Castle featuring heritage elements and building ruins

Hastings Castle

4/5(16 reviews)

Stir your imagination at the ruins of this once mighty clifftop fortress, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.

Hastings Castle
Hastings Country Park which includes general coastal views, a park and a small town or village

Hastings Country Park

Popular with dog walkers and exercisers, this expansive park provides a peaceful escape and coastal panoramas.

Hastings Country Park
East Hill Lift

East Hill Lift

Step aboard this historic funicular railway and enjoy views of the fishing fleet and rows of net shops on the seafront.

East Hill Lift
Smugglers Adventure

Smugglers Adventure

Venture inside a series of caves and caverns and learn about the exploits of the smugglers who once operated on the Sussex coast.

Smugglers Adventure
Blue Reef Aquarium showing marine life as well as an individual male

Blue Reef Aquarium

See tropical fish and sharks, encounter scaly-skinned reptiles and observe hungry rays being fed at this seaside aquarium.

Blue Reef Aquarium
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

This interesting museum covers an eclectic range of topics, including Native Americans and John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television.

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
Fishermen\'s Museum featuring interior views

Fishermen's Museum

Delve into the seafaring past of Hastings at this maritime museum, which pays tribute to the local fishing industry and community.

Fishermen's Museum

White Rock Theatre

4/5(1 review)

Get tickets for a show at White Rock Theatre, a popular theatre in Hastings. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in the area.

White Rock Theatre
Great Dixter House and Gardens which includes flowers

Rye

Photo by John Fitzpatrick

Battle

Photo "Udimore" by Simon Carey (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Simon Carey (CC BY-SA)

Udimore

Photo by Paul Devall

Pett

Frequently asked questions

Is Hastings worth visiting?
Renowned for its bars and pubs and fishing, finding awesome things to do in Hastings is a cinch. Make sure to add Winchelsea Beach to your trip itinerary while here.
How do I spend a day in Hastings?
Begin your day with a visit to Winchelsea Beach and Bexhill Beach. Then, check out different areas of Hastings for a quick bite and some shopping.
What is the top tourist attraction in Hastings?
Winchelsea Beach is one of the top tourist attractions in Hastings and deserves a place on every to-do list of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Hastings?
Three days will be plenty of time to tick off the leading city highlights, such as Bexhill Beach, Carr Taylor Vineyard and Blue Reef Aquarium. The average stay in Hastings is two days. If you feel the urge to extend your escape, Eastbourne isn't far away.
Is Hastings a walkable city?
With leading attractions like Blue Reef Aquarium nearby, Hastings is every bit a place to see on foot. Up for visiting some cool neighbourhoods a walkable distance from the city centre? Old Town Hastings is only 2 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Hastings with kids?
If you're searching for activities and sights for all the family, have a look at these terrific ideas for what to do in Hastings with kids.

What to do in Hastings for adults?
Carr Taylor Vineyard and Fishermen's Museum are just a couple of the things to do in Hastings. With plenty of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Hastings?
One of the simplest ways to discover free things to do in Hastings is to speak with a local tour guide. You'll get insider tips on cool neighbourhoods, parks and other top attractions you can visit without reaching for your wallet. Bexhill Beach is one place that doesn't charge an entrance fee.