Hastings

You'll battle for what to explore first in this ancient seaside resort!

Set between hills that reach to the sea, Hastings is an oyster that comes with its own grit, where the smooth bustle of modern life rubs along with the rough edges of tradition. Look up and you’ll see the ruins of the castle watching over the town, as they have in one guise or another for nearly 1,000 years. The three-mile seafront stretches from the fishing fleet at the eastern end through the hustle and bustle of the arcades and funfair rides, to the pier and unique double-decker promenade, arriving finally at peaceful Grosvenor Gardens. Two points of interest dominate the character of the bustling East Sussex town of Hastings – the sea and 1066. One of the medieval Cinque Ports, Hastings has long had a close relationship with the ocean, and it still lays claim to Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet. Take a ride on Britain's steepest funicular to the meandering alleyways of the Old Town, the Shipwreck Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium along with many galleries and museums.