A car-free day trip to Hastings from London: Hastings is famous for the Battle of Hastings in 1066, but there's so much more to this quiet quirky seaside town full of independent shops, historic buildings, Museums with free entry, castle ruins, and its own funicular. It's one of my favorite day trips from London Bridge and I've done it several times.
If you're tired of English towns that look all the same, Hastings is calling your name. It reminds me a bit of Brighton but more "English" (Brighton is quite cosmopolitan) and with even more character.
Situated between hills that reach to the sea, Hastings may be small and quiet, but there is SO much to do: you can take a funicular ride, explore the ruins of Hastings castle, take coastal walks, stroll the quaint Old Town (which has lots of independent shops and cute pubs- I've included a photograph of my favorite pub in Hastings below), visit museums and more!
Suggested Itinerary
If you're using the Network Railcard discount, it can save you up to ⅓ off most rail fares (within a designated zone). However, on a weekday, you'll only be able to travel after 10 am (no time restriction for weekends and public holidays), something I've accounted for in the itinerary below.
- 10-1130 am: Train from London Bridge to Hastings
- 1130- 12: Walk to Old Town
- 12- 2: Lunch
- 2-3: Visit Hastings Museum
- 3-430: Explore the seafront, beach and maybe 1-2 more Museums OR walk to Hastings Castle
- 430-6: Explore the Old Town
Things to Do
Stroll through Hastings Old Town
George Street
You'll want to take out your phone and start photographing or videoing this gorgeous historic street. (Note that the Old Town is separate from the town centre, the latter being much less charming- mainly chain shops and uninspiring streets.)
The Old Town has narrow winding streets, quirky independent shops, vintage shops, art galleries, pubs, cafes and more.
The Beach
Hastings Beach runs all way from the Hastings town centre, fishing quarter and the Old Town in the East, past amusement arcades and the renovated pier, the quieter Marina area of St Leonards, to Bulverhythe, where you can spot a 200+ year old wrecked ship.
The West Hill Lift
This funicular is one of the more famous sights in Hastings.
I took it once 10 years ago- you get lovely views of the town, but it's not cheap!
Hastings Castle
The ruins of a Norman fortress, including dungeons, you'll get a great view of Hastings town here but the Castle itself does feel a bit neglected. (It reminds me a bit of Lewes castle, but is a little more out of the way to get to.) Personally I find the Hastings castle ticket a bit expensive for what you get.
You can reach the castle by taking the funicular to a nearby point then walking down a footpath to the entrance.
Visit Museums
Hastings Museum
Hastings museum is a little out of the way, but it is free entry and a good place to learn about local history.
Note that this museum is closed on Monday. Opening hours:
- Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
- Sundays: 11am - 4.30pm.
The True Crime Museum
A few minutes from the beach and Hastings pier, The True Crime Museum has information about how the police solved crime in the past, past criminals in the UK, and more.
Hastings Fishermen’s Museum
This museum is very small, but it's easy to get to from the Old Town or seafront, there's free entry, a cool boat inside, and it is a good place to learn about the maritime history of Hastings, so why not?
Colourful prints of Hastings (its beach, the boats, coastline) were on offer for 75 pence each. (They were prints from old calendars, but could easily be turned into framed prints.)
Shipwreck Museum
Another Museum with free entry, the Shipwreck Museum has interesting artifacts from the beaches around Hastings and the UK.
It's closed on Mondays and shuts at 4 pm (November- March) or 5 pm (April- October), depending on the season.
What to Eat
Since Hastings is a seaside town, I thought the sea food would be really good. However, when I had a fish filet in the Old Town, it wasn't great.
Albion Pub
The Albion Pub Pies, on the other hand, were pretty tasty- the Albion also has a great seafront location and pretty interiors.
I had the steak pie and the chicken and ham pie with red cabbage at the side. The chutney sauce added further flavour. However, although they were last, the chicken pie I had in Sevenoaks (when on my way to Knole Park) is the best I've ever had.
Note: The Albion has live music sessions on some days of the month.
The Seadog
If you're looking for a pub closer to the train station, you can try The Seadog, which always has delicious smells coming out of it.
it also has live jazz on some evenings.
Ye Old Pumphouse
This quaint old timber-framed pub is really popular: I've popped in at times to find it full!
It is dog-friendly and the low- beamed ceilings, dark interiors, with the open fire place gives it a cozy atmosphere.
Getting There
There's a direct train from London Bridge to Hastings: the journey takes about 1h 28 to 1h 42 minutes.
Hastings Railway Station is very big and modern: there are lifts from the platforms to the road level. The toilets are very clean, unlike Rochester: they were the cleaniest toilets that I have seen in England’s railway stations!
When you step out of the railway station, it's only a few minutes walk to the High Street and Old Town. (The station is next to East Sussex College Hastings, so it's not isolated.) There's also a Sainsbury right next to it if you feel peckish before your journey.
After a few minutes' walk, you'll reach a covered tunnel that leads to the town centre with the store “Primark” in sight. (The tunnel is quite short and it's well-utilized so it doesn't feel dodgy.)
Any questions about visiting Hastings from London? Let me know in the comments!
