Bluebell Lodge, Hastings

The large historic town of Hastings offers a great mix of interesting places to visit, and is comprised of three parts, joined by the promenade. On one side is the Old Town, with narrow streets or ‘twittens’, attractive houses, Shipwreck and Fisherman’s museums, wonderful tall black net huts, a fresh fish market, seafood restaurants and cafés. In the middle there is a contemporary shopping centre and on the other side is St Leonards on Sea with its fashionable Norman Road with antique and vintage shops, art galleries, examples of Burton’s architecture (of Kew Gardens and London Zoo fame), Marine Court Art Deco flats designed in the shape of the HMS Queen Mary, and the remains of the Amsterdam, which is visible at low tide at Bulverhythe. West Hill in Hastings is home to the Smugglers Adventure and Pelham Beach, and East Hill offers the Hastings Country Park, 660 acres of ancient woodlands, grasslands and heathlands crossing five miles over cliffs and rugged terrain, plus East Hill can also be reached by taking the ‘lift’, the steepest funicular railway in Britain. Whilst exploring Hastings, visit The Stade and watch fishermen land their catch, plus why not take a trip to Blue Reef Aquarium and the remains of Hastings Castle? Pevensey Castle, dating from the 4th century, and the first Norman Church are twelve miles away. Further afield enjoy the NT properties of Bodiam Castle, Sissinghurst and Scotney Castle, the cinque port of Rye, the abbey at Battle or the beach and dunes at Camber Sands.