What to do in Hastings

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Hastings

Types of activities

Hastings travel guide

Hastings featuring general coastal views and a small town or village

Great Dixter House and Gardens showing a house and a garden

Blue Reef Aquarium which includes marine life as well as an individual male

Hastings Castle showing heritage elements and building ruins

Hastings Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Hastings has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Hastings, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Hastings with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Hastings

Hastings is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Hastings, and make it a breeze to explore Hastings and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Hastings to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Hastings, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Hastings.

Hastings attractions

Hastings has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Hastings to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Hastings.

Looking for things to do in Hastings can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Hastings or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Hastings attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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Top places to visit

1. Hastings Castle

Though only fragments of it remain, Hastings Castle is still tremendously atmospheric. Its splendid clifftop setting means it can be seen from most parts of town. Visitors are drawn here for its interesting and tumultuous history and for the incredible views it offers of the cliffs and coastline. Watch a video explaining the significance of the Norman fortress and peruse the evocative ruins.

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Hastings Castle featuring heritage elements and a ruin

2. Hastings Country Park

Hastings Country Park is spread across 660 acres (270 hectares) along the coast and encompasses a patchwork of terrain including ancient woodland, heathlands, grassland and dramatic sandstone cliffs. Walk coastal trails near the cliff edge and savor the incredible views. Look for rare birds flying overhead and insects crawling underfoot.

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Hastings Country Park showing a small town or village, general coastal views and a garden

3. East Hill Lift

One of the steepest funicular railways in the country, the East Hill Lift carries passengers up a steep and rocky cliff to Hastings Country Park at the top. Ascend the slope in the old-fashioned carriages and marvel at the views out to sea from the top.

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4. Alexandra Park

A well-kept and spacious recreational space, Alexander Park provides ample greenery as it runs through Hastings and St Leonards. The park has enough amenities to enthrall and entertain visitors for an entire day. Walk through immaculate formal gardens and past ancient trees, spot rare birds in the nature reserve, go boating on the lake and let the kids enjoy the play area.

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5. Blue Reef Aquarium

Blue Reef Aquarium contains more than 30 themed habitats housing numerous remarkable aquatic creatures. Because of its convenient seaside location, this aquarium is a particularly popular rainy day activity for families, though the fascinating marine animals here make it a worthwhile visit even when the sun is shining. Learn about ocean habitats and the fish that inhabit them. Come face-to-face with creatures of the deep.

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Recommended things to do in Hastings

Number of things to do	5
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia	Sussex Heritage Coast - Online Self Guided Road Trip Plan: £13
Top 5 things to do	Up Cycling in Practice Take Home and Keep 1066 Battle of Hastings Guided Tour Owners vineyard tour and tasting at Oastbrook Camber Sands: Fat Tyre Ebike Hire Sussex Heritage Coast - Online Self Guided Road Trip Plan
Half-day tours	Up Cycling in Practice Take Home and Keep 1066 Battle of Hastings Guided Tour Owners vineyard tour and tasting at Oastbrook Camber Sands: Fat Tyre Ebike Hire
With kids	1066 Battle of Hastings Guided Tour

What to do in Hastings

Popular places to visit

Hastings Pier

4.5/5(4 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Hastings with a trip to Hastings Pier. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in the area.

Hastings Castle

4/5(16 reviews)

Stir your imagination at the ruins of this once mighty clifftop fortress, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.

Hastings Country Park

Popular with dog walkers and exercisers, this expansive park provides a peaceful escape and coastal panoramas.

East Hill Lift

Step aboard this historic funicular railway and enjoy views of the fishing fleet and rows of net shops on the seafront.

Blue Reef Aquarium

See tropical fish and sharks, encounter scaly-skinned reptiles and observe hungry rays being fed at this seaside aquarium.

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

This interesting museum covers an eclectic range of topics, including Native Americans and John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television.

Smugglers Adventure

Venture inside a series of caves and caverns and learn about the exploits of the smugglers who once operated on the Sussex coast.

Fishermen's Museum

Delve into the seafaring past of Hastings at this maritime museum, which pays tribute to the local fishing industry and community.

White Rock Theatre

4/5(1 review)

Get tickets for a show at White Rock Theatre, a popular theatre in Hastings. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in the area.

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