Hastings' town beach under the castle crag, shingle giving way to sand as the tide drops
In the shadow of West Hill and the ruins of Hastings Castle, Pelham Beach is the closest stretch of shingle to the middle of town. The Environment Agency’s rating for the water here is Good, based on tests run through the summer bathing season rather than year-round.
Like the rest of this coast, quality can drop for a day or two after heavy rain, as drains and runoff carry more into the sea, so it’s worth waiting it out after a proper downpour.
Backed by seafront terraces rather than open space, it works better as a convenient dip between sightseeing than a destination beach for the whole day. St Leonards a little further along the front is a quieter stretch if a full beach day is the plan, and Hastings station is a few minutes’ walk away either way.
