Updated: May 2026
There is something special about a traditional English seaside town — the sea air, the sound of gulls overhead, fish and chips by the promenade, and that relaxed feeling that time has slowed down a little.
Hastings gave me all of that… and more.
Of all the UK staycations I’ve taken so far, Hastings remains one of my favourites. It had history, atmosphere, wonderful seafood, beautiful coastal views, and plenty of small experiences that made the trip memorable.
Most importantly, it felt alive.
From strolling through the Old Town and riding the steepest funicular railway in the UK, to eating fresh seafood straight from the fishing boats, Hastings surprised me in the best possible way.
Why I Chose Hastings
I’m always drawn to places that offer a mixture of history, character, and experiences, and Hastings ticked every box.
As an English seaside town in East Sussex, Hastings is forever linked with the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066, when William the Conqueror defeated the English after arriving from Normandy.
But Hastings is much more than its history.
It is also a working fishing town and home to the UK’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet — something I found fascinating. Add in the famous cliff railways and the charming Old Town, and I was immediately interested.
Staying Right by the Seafront
Location is always important to me when choosing accommodation for a short break.
I love being able to walk everywhere and feel part of the atmosphere rather than constantly travelling back and forth.
Our hotel was perfectly positioned directly opposite the seafront and only a short stroll from the Old Town, promenade, restaurants, and attractions. It even had a small guest car park — an added bonus in a busy seaside town.
Once we arrived, we barely needed the car at all.
Seafood, Fish & Chips… and My Whelks Experience
One thing was certain, I could not visit a seaside town without eating fish and chips.
Thankfully, Hastings had no shortage of places serving them, with varying styles, prices, and quality. Naturally, I sampled quite a few!
But I also wanted to try the local seafood.
After doing some research, I booked lunch at a restaurant in the Old Town that was especially popular with locals and proudly claimed to serve some of the freshest seafood in Hastings — straight from the fishing boats nearby.
I already had my eye on a particular seafood dish I’d seen on their website, although I couldn’t remember its name. In the end, I simply showed the waiter the photograph on my phone and said, “That one please!”
I was not disappointed.
The seafood was absolutely delicious.
I enjoyed the restaurant so much that I later visited their sister restaurant in nearby Rye, where I had another memorable experience — my very first time eating whelks directly from their shells.
Now, I had eaten ready-prepared whelks before, but I had absolutely no idea how to remove them from the shell myself.
They arrived at the table with nothing more than a couple of toothpicks.
After several failed attempts, and a slightly puzzled waitress who also seemed unsure, I finally mastered the technique.
I felt ridiculously pleased with myself afterwards.
Another travel experience successfully unlocked!
Riding the East Hill Funicular Railway
One of the highlights of Hastings was riding the East Hill funicular railway — the steepest funicular railway in the UK.
The ride itself felt wonderfully nostalgic and surprisingly exhilarating as we slowly climbed the steep cliff overlooking the town.
There are actually two cliff railways in Hastings:
- The East Hill Lift, which takes visitors up to Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
- The West Hill Lift, which travels through a tunnel to Hastings Castle
Unfortunately, the West Hill Lift was closed during our visit, so we took the East Hill route instead.
And the views from the top were spectacular.
Exploring Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
The East Hill Lift brought us directly into Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve — one of the most beautiful parts of the trip.
The views from the cliff tops were stunning.
Below us, we could see the Old Town, Rock-a-Nore, the fishing boats, and the coastline stretching into the distance. We could even spot the ruins of Hastings Castle far away on the cliffs.
We spent hours wandering through the park and exploring the different paths.
At one point, we became slightly worried that we might lose our way back to the funicular railway! Looking back, bringing a map would definitely have been sensible.
Still, that sense of gentle exploration became part of the fun.
Wandering Through Hastings Old Town
I particularly loved wandering through Hastings Old Town.
The narrow streets and passages, known locally as “twittens”, gave the area so much character and charm. Independent shops, cafés, seafood stalls, galleries, and old buildings created an atmosphere that felt both lively and nostalgic.
George Street and Rock-a-Nore Road became my favourite areas to explore.
Rock-a-Nore especially had plenty to see and do, including:
- Hastings Fishermen’s Museum
- Shipwreck Museum
- Hastings Contemporary
- Fresh seafood stalls and fish markets
It was easy to spend hours simply strolling around and soaking up the atmosphere.
Seaside Walks & People Watching
One of my favourite things to do in any seaside town is simply walk.
Early evening walks along the promenade became part of the rhythm of the trip. Without even noticing, we eventually wandered all the way to neighbouring St Leonards-on-Sea.
That is the joy of seaside walking — you lose track of time completely.
I also enjoyed sitting quietly and people watching along the beach, harbour, and promenade.
I was amazed to see people happily sunbathing directly beneath the cliffs without seeming remotely concerned about falling rocks or debris!
Final Reflections
Hastings turned out to be everything I hoped for in a seaside staycation — relaxing, interesting, atmospheric, and full of small memorable experiences.
It combined history, scenery, seafood, coastal walks, and traditional seaside charm in a way that felt genuine rather than overly commercialised.
Most of all, it simply felt enjoyable.
Even now, when I think back on Hastings, I remember the cliff-top views, the Old Town atmosphere, the seafood restaurants, and the simple pleasure of strolling along the seafront with nowhere in particular to be.
It remains one of my favourite UK seaside escapes.
Combining Hastings With Rye & Camber Sands
We combined our trip to Hastings with neighbouring towns of Rye and Camber Sands.
If you are planning a three or four-day short break in East Sussex, combining all three destinations works perfectly, and gives you a lovely mixture of seaside charm, history, and beautiful scenery.
