Recently, I've been asked to suggest what to see in Hastings "apart from the obvious tourist attractions" - hmmm... the only way I think I can answer this, is to list a number of things/places that are mostly free, and if anyone else wants to add anything else in the comments below, please feel free to add, cheers! The comment was added to my blog about Hastings Castle, so I thought I'd say, to start with, the views from the West Hill (above, where the Castle is situated) and the East Hill are gorgeous! Can be a wee bit tiring walking up to the top of both, but they do both have lifts (not free), from George Street and Rock-a-Nore Road appropriately.
I'm, sort of, starting from east to west, but will go off at a tangent every now and then, eg here, when considering the 2 Hastings parks that recently won national awards (blog), ie Hastings Country Park Local Nature Reserve (above) and Alexandra Park. Hastings Country Park is accessed from the East Hill, running eastwards and along the top of the cliffs, though a deviation is sign-posted thanks to a landslip (I won't go into the politics of that here!), and great views and interesting wildlife! Alexandra Park, meanwhile, is situated further west just above Hastings town centre (blog).
Rock-a-Nore Road
Coming down from the East Hill (seen in the background in the photograph above the buildings to the left), you get to Rock-a-Nore Road, from here all the way down to the end of Rock-a-Nore, there is plenty to see and do! This is the heart of the local fishing industry, with the fish market a third of the way down to the right, the fishermen's huts to the right, and the Stade, the shingle beach from which the fishing boats are launched (Visit1066 website), and landed; if you turn up at the right time, depending on tides and weather, you could well see a boat coming in to land! As you'd expect, plenty of fish is available to buy, either from the shops to the left, and in front of the market to the right, or direct from the fishermen in huts in-between the road and the beach on the right.
The Stade
If you go down Rock-a-Nore Road, past the market, there is the Blue Reef Aquarium (website), which costs to visit, but well worth the visit! Opposite the Aquarium is the Shipwreck Museum (website), both on the right-hand side as you go down the road, and which is free to enter. And just before that is Hastings Fishermen's Museum (blog), which has great exhibits, and a wealth of knowledge about the local fishing industry and its history, this is also free to enter, and its outside exhibits start well before you reach the museum itself, with RX134 The Stacey Marie (I have to mention this and the blog again!) and a rather large anchor, right opposite the Dolphin Inn, which is below the cliffs in Rock-a-Nore Road.
If you go up the first turning to the left in Rock-a-Nore Road, ie All Saints Street, you will find a wonderful road with many medieval, and newer, delightful buildings. This leads up to one of Hastings two remaining Norman churches, All Saints Church (blog), not often open, but it could be worth checking when it is, as it is a delight inside.
Down in front of the church is the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (blog), the Hastings lifeboat at the time of World War II, and which went to help the evacuation of troops at Dunkirk, and is a great memorial. This is on the corner with Old London Road, and if you walk a little further up Old London Road, on the right, is another retired lifeboat (worked from Eastbourne, I believe), the Priscilla MacBean (blog). In addition, down by The Stade and beach you can visit the RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station (website).
If you cross the road, The Bourne (roughly above what was the old river Bourne), come back downhill and on the right is High Street (nearly opposite the Cyril and Lilian Bishop), another road full of wonderful buildings, though not as old as in All Saints Street, but most of the way down, just up a road to your right, Swan Terrace, is the other remaining Norman church of Hastings, St Clements (blog). Also, in this road, and in George Street, a little further down towards the seafront and on the right as you walk down the hill, there are a whole stack of shops full of interesting things to peruse!
But, if you want to explore above High Street and up to the West Hill, or back in All Saints Street and up to the East Hill, there are a maze of old lanes and alleys, which in Hastings are called twittens, another free delight, with a few dead ends here and there!
Coming back down to the front, obviously there are a couple of miles of promenade to enjoy, and below the castle up on West Hill there is St Mary in the Castle and Pelham Crescent, built nearly 200 years ago (blog). The restaurant below has access to the crypt (the toilets are there), now and then an exhibition is on in the crypt, and if you can get to visit the old church itself (eg if a concert is being played in there), it's well worth the visit, gorgeous building! Carry on westwards and you reach Hastings Pier, where you may promenade, or investigate, or have a drink or meal.
But before you walk too far, have a walk up Cambridge/Bohemia Road and you will reach Hastings Museum and Art Gallery (blog), well worth the visit!
Indeed, there are some amazing buildings along the front, not to mention in-between the Pier and Warrior Square Gardens (worth looking at) on the Lower promenade there is Bottle Alley (blog), quite a thrill to walk through there after dark with it's lighting display, which seems to begin as soon as dusk arrives! You are now at St Leonards (still Hastings Borough), and you reach the wonderful art deco/modernist Marine Court (website), built copying the design of the Queen Mary ship, this was the tallest apartment block in the country when it was built in the 1930s!
Carry on past Marine Court and you soon reach the Royal Victoria Hotel, turn right just after and walk up past the Freemasons Hall, and you reach St Leonards Gardens (blog), another beautifully designed oasis of peace to walk around!
Of course, in addition to all this and the shops, there are numerous restaurants, bars and pubs to enjoy, not to mention a fish & chip shop or twenty, and much more...
I trust this helps someone to enjoy the wonderful town that is Hastings!
If you cross the road, The Bourne (roughly above what was the old river Bourne), come back downhill and on the right is High Street (nearly opposite the Cyril and Lilian Bishop), another road full of wonderful buildings, though not as old as in All Saints Street, but most of the way down, just up a road to your right, Swan Terrace, is the other remaining Norman church of Hastings, St Clements (blog). Also, in this road, and in George Street, a little further down towards the seafront and on the right as you walk down the hill, there are a whole stack of shops full of interesting things to peruse!
But, if you want to explore above High Street and up to the West Hill, or back in All Saints Street and up to the East Hill, there are a maze of old lanes and alleys, which in Hastings are called twittens, another free delight, with a few dead ends here and there!
Coming back down to the front, obviously there are a couple of miles of promenade to enjoy, and below the castle up on West Hill there is St Mary in the Castle and Pelham Crescent, built nearly 200 years ago (blog). The restaurant below has access to the crypt (the toilets are there), now and then an exhibition is on in the crypt, and if you can get to visit the old church itself (eg if a concert is being played in there), it's well worth the visit, gorgeous building! Carry on westwards and you reach Hastings Pier, where you may promenade, or investigate, or have a drink or meal.
But before you walk too far, have a walk up Cambridge/Bohemia Road and you will reach Hastings Museum and Art Gallery (blog), well worth the visit!
Marine Court
Indeed, there are some amazing buildings along the front, not to mention in-between the Pier and Warrior Square Gardens (worth looking at) on the Lower promenade there is Bottle Alley (blog), quite a thrill to walk through there after dark with it's lighting display, which seems to begin as soon as dusk arrives! You are now at St Leonards (still Hastings Borough), and you reach the wonderful art deco/modernist Marine Court (website), built copying the design of the Queen Mary ship, this was the tallest apartment block in the country when it was built in the 1930s!
Carry on past Marine Court and you soon reach the Royal Victoria Hotel, turn right just after and walk up past the Freemasons Hall, and you reach St Leonards Gardens (blog), another beautifully designed oasis of peace to walk around!
Of course, in addition to all this and the shops, there are numerous restaurants, bars and pubs to enjoy, not to mention a fish & chip shop or twenty, and much more...
I trust this helps someone to enjoy the wonderful town that is Hastings!
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