Whether you’re a local resident wanting to know what’s on this summer, or one of our many customers from further afield who use Offerfair for their self-storage requirements and combine it with a trip to the south coast, here are some of our favourite things to do in Hastings and St Leonards in the summer:
- St Clements Caves – Deep in the heart of Hastings’ West Hill lies the Smugglers Adventure, acres of caverns that conceal the history of smuggling, and feature more than seventy life-size characters, interactive displays, eerie lighting, sound effects and dramatic recreations.
- Hastings Pier – Dating back to 1872, Hastings Piers runs for 280 metres into the English Channel. It was damaged by fire in 2010, and the subsequent renovation project won the coveted Stirling Prize for architecture in 2017. The pier houses a state-of-the-art exhibition in ‘the Deck’ visitor centre, a café with scenic view, plus family workshops, live music and street performers in summer.
- Hastings Castle – On the West Hill is the remains of Hastings’ Norman motte-and-bailey castle and which dates from the reign of Henry III in the 13th About a third of the structure is still standing, including a cloistered chapel and dungeons.
- Hastings Country Park – Just a short walk out of town to the east, albeit uphill, the Hastings Country Park has 660 acres of ancient woodland, cliffs and heathland and is also home to a Bronze Age fort.
- The Shipwreck Museum – A multisensory museum which charts some of the many thousands of vessels that have been shipwrecked off the south cost of South East England, including Anne, a 17th century warship from the reign of Charles II, and Amsterdam, a Dutch East Indianman wrecked in 1749.
- Cliff Railways – Hastings has two funicular railways travelling up and down its sandstone cliffs. The older of the two is 150 metre West Hill Lift, which opened in 1891, and serves Hastings Castle and St Clements Cave. The East Hill Lift, opened in 1902, takes you up to Hastings Country Park and claims to be the UK’s steepest funicular railway, with a gradient of 78%.
- Fishermen’s Museum – A small independent museum dedicated to the fishing industry and maritime history of Hastings, including visiting the deck of the last Hastings’ sailing lugger Enterprise, built in 1912.
- Fairlight Hall Open Gardens – Taking place on two weekends throughout the summer (25/26 June, 27/28 August 2021), this is an opportunity to visit Fairlight Hall gardens and its magnificent horticultural sites.
- Old Town Carnival Week – Running from 30 July to 9 August 2021, this is a week-long series of exciting events from open houses to walking routs, art shows to historical talks, live music, street parties and culminating in a Grand Carnival procession.
- St Leonards Festival – Taking place on 14 August 2021, a free family fun day by the sea has something for everyone, including street arts, market, live bands carnival parade and food.
These are some of our favourite things to do in Hastings and the surrounding areas, let us know what yours are!
Please check with individual attractions and events as to any changes to opening hours and restrictions on visiting during the ongoing Covid pandemic.
