Hastings, East Sussex. Famous for a battle and a castle… and that was about as much as I knew about the place until I swung by for a visit.
I discovered what must be one of the most distinctive seafronts in the UK. From the old net huts and fishing boats of The Stade to the Fishermen’s Museum and a historic funicular, there’s plenty to explore. The best thing is, you don’t need a full day to experience it all.
I had just one afternoon in Hastings, which turned out to be just enough time to explore this quirky corner of the town.
Come and explore with me.
The Stade
Fun fact to start with: Hastings is home to Britain’s largest beach launched fishing fleet. Unlike most fishing ports, there is no traditional harbour here, so boats launch straight off the shingle beach and are hauled back up after a day’s fishing.
The beach is known as The Stade, and that’s what gives this corner of Hastings its name. And then there are the net huts.
The tall, black wooden sheds that line the beach are what give this area its character. Built for storing fishing nets out of reach of the coastal weather and the sea, the weatherboarded and tarred design gives them a distinctive appearance. These historic wooden huts are the most recognisable feature of The Stade, a working fishing port unlike any other.
If you’re into seafood, this is the place to be. Come early and you’ll see the fishermen landing locally caught seafood. If you’d like to sample it for yourself, you can buy from one of the net huts that has been converted to sell the catch.
The Stade: One of the most unique and historic things to do in Hastings.
The Hastings Fishermen’s Museum
If you love a quirky, locally run museum as much as I do, you will love the Hastings Fishermen’s Museum.
The Stade is the place to see the current fishing fleet in action, this fantastic little museum housed in the former Fishermen’s Church of St Nicholas is the place to dive into Hasting’s fishing and maritime heritage.
The museum is packed with an eclectic mix of model boats, photographs, taxidermy and local maritime lore. This is the sort of place where everyone will find something to catch their eye. Highlights for me included:
- The star of the show , the Enterprise. A Hastings sailing lugger built in 1912. Walk around and then climb aboard for a glimpse at life on and below deck.
- The suit and story of the Winkle King. Almost 10,000 silver-painted winkle shells hand sewn onto a suit with matching hat, to be worn by the town’s Winkle King.
- The Albatross. Stuffed and framed. Wondering how you frame an albatross? I’ll say no more, plan in a visit to Hastings and find out. It’s like a seagull on steroids, terrifying and fascinating in equal measure.
The museum continues outside the chapel with a collection of boats, a net shed and the curious Half Sovereign Cottage; a tiny shelter built from half a boat. The Golden Sovereign was donated to the museum in the 1990s. Cut in half, the stern section became Half Sovereign Cottage while the bow was turned into a net shed, but now runs as home to a stall selling tiny houses made of driftwood.
The Hastings Fishermen’s Museum: A wonderful free thing to do when visiting Hastings (free entry, donations welcome).
The East Hill Lift
I love a funicular ride, I find them endlessly fun and charming. I was in luck here, because that’s another thing Hastings has bragging rights for: the town is home to two historic cliffside funicular railways, and the East Hill lift is the steepest of the pair. It’s also the steepest funicular railway in the UK.
A Hastings landmark since it opened in 1902, the East Hill Lift connects The Stade with the clifftop Hastings Country Park. From here, you can soak up the sweeping views across Hastings and the coastline, or opt to enjoy one of the several marked walking routes.
A Few Tips for Hastings
Fancy stopping for a drink by the Stade? Try the Dolphin Inn, an award winning, dog-friendly pub with a terrace perfect for a quick mid-walk drink, people watching or for a sun downer with views across Hasting’s historic net sheds.
Parking: There’s parking right by The Stade at the wonderfully named Rock-a-Nore carpark, but be aware there is a height barrier. We were in the van and so had to use on-road parking on the seafront. If you want to plan ahead, find details of council owned & run parking in Hastings here.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Le Havre: The French City I Was Wrong About
A Visitors Guide to the Wreck Museum, Terschelling
Travemünde: The German Seaside Resort You Shouldn’t Miss
Helen x
Yes, the battle and poor old Harold getting the arrow in his eye is pretty much all I knew too. Looks very quirky!
It’s nice to visit a place with no idea sometimes, and let it surprise you. Hastings certainly delivered!
The odd thing is that the Battle of Hastings didn’t take place here but in nearby Battle 😀
We have friends in Hastings and have been a few times. We always enjoy a walk by the Stade, and I agree about the quirkiness of the Fishermen’s Museum. But I’ve never yet been up either of the funiculars and I really should do that one day!
Everyday a school day!