Things To Do In Hastings – East Sussex
Hastings – East Sussex and the surrounding area and villages is positively brimming with fascinating evidence of some of the most dramatic and intriguing events in English history. There are a lot of things to do in and around hastings that will have everyone in the whole family absorbed with history and its twists and turns.
You cannot visit Hastings and the surrounding area, without finding yourself in the little village of Battle. In the year 1006, this was the site of probably the most dramatic battles of British history and would change England irrevocably. It was here that the Norman conquest of England came to a bloody end with King Harold II of England being convincingly defeated by Duke William of Normandy, who is now better known to the world as William the Conqueror.
Today you can visit the site of the famous battle and walk in the footsteps of the Norman and English soldiers. There are tours of the area where the battle took place that can relive the bloody day vividly for you and you will walk away and expert on British history. Following the victory Battle Abbey was constructed and the town grew up around it.
Another important historical site in Hastings is Hastings Castle, which was the first Norman castle built in England. A few miles from Hastings is Pevensey Castle, with its ancient history that is said to go back 16 centuries to Roman times when it was originally constructed as a Roman fort. Following the Norman victory, the new king’s half brother Robert took over and built a castle here incorporating some of the remains of the Roman fort into the design.
Nearby is Herstmonceux Castle, which was built in the 15th century by an ancestor of the actor Ralph Fiennes. This is the type of castle that you think of when you think “medieval” – with a moat to complete the picture. Surrounding the castle there are stunning Elizabethan gardens, which can be enjoyed in the warmer months.
A fun and fascinating attraction at Hastings, is to investigate the old St. Clements smuggler’s caves. In years gone buy the tunnels here were chiselled into the cliffs to store smuggled contraband that came across the channel from the continent. This is a spooky adventure that will have kids and adults alike mesmerized.
Hastings – East Sussex is a corner of England that is positively brimming with historical interest both within the town itself and in the near by area. There is plenty to fascinate visitors of all ages and is the key to developing a strong understanding of some of the highlights of British history.
Discover your next hotel in Hastings or select somewhere to stay from these UK hotels
