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Our favourites
The tall black net huts of the Stade below the East Hill and its cliff railway, Hastings, on a sunny morning

Beyond Brighton · about 1 h 10 east by direct train

Hastings & St Leonards: Our Favourites

Hastings and St Leonards, about 1 hour 10 minutes east of Brighton by direct train: the fishing fleet and net huts of the Stade, the Old Town’s twittens, the castle and the cliff railways, Hastings Contemporary and the seafront to St Leonards.

The back story

  1. Town guide

    Hastings: the back story

    Hastings·In depth

    A thousand years of fishing from the beach, a Norman castle on the cliff, French raids, a Georgian garrison and a Victorian seaside: the story of Hastings.

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  2. Town guide

    The Stade and the fishing fleet

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·In depth

    Britain’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet, its black net huts, its fish market and three museums on Rock-a-Nore.

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  3. Christmas

    Christmas in Hastings

    Hastings·In depth

    Snow White at the White Rock Theatre, lights over the Old Town High Street and a winter walk among the net huts of the Stade.

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Where to stay

  1. Walled garden

    The Old Rectory

    Harold Road, Hastings·Boutique B&B

    A boutique B&B on the edge of the Old Town, with designer rooms, a walled garden and wellness treatments.

    Harold Road, Hastings TN35 5NDExplore View on map

  2. Boutique guesthouse

    The Laindons

    High Street, Hastings Old Town·Bed and breakfast

    A luxury boutique guesthouse on the Old Town High Street, its rooms named for their colours.

    High Street, Hastings TN34 3EYExplore View on map

  3. On the seafront

    The White Rock Hotel

    White Rock, Hastings·Hotel

    A stylish seafront hotel opposite the pier, a short stroll from the town centre, with its own car park.

    White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JUExplore View on map

Where to eat

  1. By the fishing fleet

    Webbe’s Rock-a-Nore

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·Seafood restaurant

    A fish restaurant on Rock-a-Nore, beside the Stade and the net huts.

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  2. On the seafront

    Old Town Mezze and BBQ

    East Parade, Hastings·Turkish restaurant

    Turkish mezze and charcoal grills on East Parade, facing the sea.

    7 East Parade, Hastings TN34 3ALExplore View on map

  3. Seasonal cooking

    St Clement’s

    Mercatoria, St Leonards·Restaurant

    A neighbourhood restaurant in St Leonards, open for lunch and dinner later in the week.

    3 Mercatoria, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0EBExplore View on map

  4. Above the fish market

    Maggie’s

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·Fish and chips

    The Stade’s fish and chip restaurant, above the fish market on Rock-a-Nore; bookings by telephone only.

    Fishmarket Road, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DWExplore View on map

Cafés and tea rooms

  1. Since 1826

    Judges Bakery

    High Street, Hastings Old Town·Bakery

    One of the oldest bakeries in Britain, baking bread, pastries and cakes on the High Street since 1826.

    51 High Street, Hastings TN34 3ENExplore View on map

Pubs

  1. In the Old Town

    The Crown

    All Saints Street, Hastings·Pub

    A friendly local in the Old Town, for good food and drink.

    64–66 All Saints Street, Hastings TN34 3BNExplore View on map

  2. Origins in 1730

    The Albion

    Old Town seafront, Hastings·Pub

    A restored heritage pub on the seafront of Hastings Old Town, whose origins date from 1730.

    Hastings TN34 3AGExplore View on map

  3. Brews its own

    The First In Last Out

    High Street, Hastings Old Town·Pub and microbrewery

    A cosy Old Town pub with its own microbrewery, live music and a fireplace in the middle of the room.

    High Street, Hastings TN34 3EYExplore View on map

  4. Opposite the station

    The Seadog

    Station Approach, Hastings·Pub

    An independent pub opposite Hastings station, a proper boozer with a touch of Irish charm.

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What to see and do

  1. Built after 1066

    Hastings Castle

    West Hill, Hastings·Norman castle ruins

    The ruins of one of the first castles William of Normandy built in England, on the cliff above the Old Town.

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  2. Under the West Hill

    Smugglers Adventure

    St Clement’s Caves, West Hill·Caves attraction

    The smugglers’ story told in St Clement’s Caves, deep under the West Hill.

    St Clement’s Caves, West Hill, Hastings TN34 3HYExplore View on map

  3. With a visitor centre

    Hastings Pier

    White Rock, Hastings·Pier

    The town’s pier, with an open deck and a timber-clad visitor centre looking back over the bay.

    Explore View on map

  4. Up to the Country Park

    East Hill Cliff Railway

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·Funicular

    The cliff railway from the net huts up the sandstone cliff to the East Hill and the Country Park.

    Explore View on map

  5. On the Stade

    Hastings Aquarium

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·Aquarium

    An aquarium on Rock-a-Nore Road, beside the fishing beach and the museums.

    Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DWExplore View on map

Arts & Culture

  1. By the fishing beach

    Hastings Contemporary

    Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings·Art gallery

    A coastal gallery of contemporary art beside the fishing beach.

    Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DWExplore View on map

  2. On the Stade

    Hastings Fishermen’s Museum

    The Stade, Hastings·Museum

    The fishermen’s museum on the Stade, where Hastings’ fishing boats are still hauled up on the shingle.

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  3. Independent charity

    The Shipwreck Museum

    Rock-a-Nore, Hastings·Museum

    An independent museum of maritime history and sunken treasures, on the Stade.

    Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DWExplore View on map

  4. Opposite the pier

    The White Rock Theatre

    White Rock, Hastings·Theatre

    Hastings’ main theatre, facing the pier, with touring shows, comedy, music and pantomime.

    White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JXExplore View on map

Cinema

  1. St Leonards

    Kino-Teatr

    Norman Road, St Leonards·Cinema and arts venue

    A cinema and events venue on Norman Road in St Leonards.

    43–49 Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0EGExplore View on map

  2. Coffee, beer and cake

    The Electric Palace

    Hastings·Independent cinema

    A small independent cinema with freshly made coffee, local beer and home-made cake.

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Parks and gardens

  1. Cliffs and glens

    Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve

    East Hill to Fairlight·Nature reserve

    Sandstone cliffs, wooded glens and heath between Hastings and Fairlight.

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Walks

  1. High Street to All Saints’

    The Old Town twittens

    Hastings Old Town·Self-guided walk

    A walk through the narrow streets and twittens of the Old Town, between the High Street and All Saints’ Street.

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Shopping

  1. New and vintage

    A G Hendy & Co

    Hastings Old Town·Home store

    A home store in Hastings Old Town for new and vintage homeware and hardware.

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Property

  1. Between the hills

    Hastings Old Town

    Hastings·Neighbourhood

    Old houses and cottages in the valley between the East and West Hills, by the fishing beach.

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  2. Seafront terraces

    St Leonards-on-Sea

    Hastings·Neighbourhood

    Long white seafront terraces west of the pier, with Norman Road’s independent shops and Kino-Teatr.

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Share your Hastings & St Leonards tips

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