Destination guides > Europe > England > Southeast England > East Sussex > Hastings
Hastings
For almost a thousand years this town's name has been associated with the Battle of Hastings, which took place in 1066 at nearby Battle. Hastings' attractions include the ruins of Hastings Castle plus other attractions that relate to the Hastings' seafaring past.
Practical information
Old Town Tourist Information Centre
The Stade, Old Town, Hastings
Tel (01424) 781111
Website www.visit1066country.com
Open Jan-Apr Sat-Sun 10am-4.30pm; May-Oct 10-4.30pm daily; Nov-Dec Sat-Sun 10am-4.30pm
Queens Square Tourist Information Centre
Queens Square, Priory Meadow, Hastings
Tel (01424) 781111
Website www.visit1066country.com
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-6.15pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm
Coming & going
Hastings' local bus service is run mostly by Stagecoach.
Explorer tickets allow one day unlimited travel in the southeast for £6. These passes are good value for sightseeing around town and making day trips to places like Pevensey and Rye.
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
East Hill Lift
The 102-year-old East Hill Life is the United Kingdom's steepest funicular railway.
Fare 90p
Open summer 10am-5.30pm daily; winter 11am-4pm daily
Fisherman's Museum
This museum is housed in a former church by the waterfront in the Old Town. It has displays that include fishing tackle, model ships and historic photographs.
Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings
Tel (01424) 461446
Admission free
Open Jan-Mar 11am-4pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am-4pm daily
Hastings Castle & the 1066 Story
Hastings Castle dates from William of Normandy's coronation but less than half the original structure remains. It has a rich history that is closely linked with the Battle of Hastings. The 1066 Story is a 20-minute audio-visual presentation that covers much of the castle's history.
Castle Hill Road, West Hill, Hastings
Tel (01424) 444412
Website www.discoverhastings.co.uk/hastings-castle-1066/
Admission £3.75; students £3.10
Open Jan-Mar 10am-3.30pm daily; Apr-Sep 11am-4pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-3.30pm daily
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
This museum has a range of exhibits that include a natural history section with fossils of dinosaurs and prehistoric crocodiles, Native American galleries and exhibits on local personalities John Logie Baird and Robert Tressell. The museum is noted for its excellent collection of exhibits relating to the Indian subcontinent, which consists of artefacts collected in the 19th century by the Brassey family.
Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings
Tel (01424) 781155
Website www.hmag.org.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm
Old Town Hall Museum
This museum in Hastings' old town hall has exhibits on local history with an emphasis on the Old Town. It has exhibits depicting history from the middle ages to the 1930s and includes displays describing the town's role as a Napoleonic garrison and its rise as a Victorian resort.
High Street, Old Town, Hastings
Tel (01424) 781166
Website www.hmag.org.uk/oldTownHall/
Admission free
Open Jan-Mar 11am-4pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct-Dec 11am-4pm daily
The Stade & the Net Huts
The Stade is the beachside neighbourhood in the Old Town that is home to England's largest beach-launched fishing fleet, which has been in operation for around a thousand years. This area is home to many unique maritime buildings including the net huts. These weatherboard and tar buildings were built in the 17th century and were designed so fishermen could dry their nets.
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