Photo of the beach and seafront at Hastings, East Sussex.

Photo Steve Payne / Unsplash

Places to explore near Hastings

An ancient Cinque Port on the East Sussex coast, Hastings lent its name to the battle of 1066, fought inland at Battle Abbey where the Normans broke the Saxon line. The old town's tall net huts and steep twittens sit below the ruins of Hastings Castle, the first Norman castle raised in England, and sandstone cliffs run east into Hastings Country Park. Beyond, the High Weald rolls north and the coast stretches on to Rye and the shingle of Dungeness.

95 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 4 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of Hastings Country Park, a country park in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Hastings Country Park

Country park near Hastings

Sandstone cliffs and gorse heath split by steep little glens, on the wild edge of Hastings

1.5 km E

Photo of the High Weald, a National Landscape in south east England.

High Weald

National Landscape near Mayfield

Wooded ridges, sunken lanes and deep stream valleys across the old iron country of the south-east

1.5 km E

Photo of Fairlight Glen, a cove near Hastings in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Fairlight Glen

Cove near Hastings

Wooded coastal glen in Hastings Country Park, dropping past a small cascade to a hidden cove.

5.3 km E

Photo of Battle Abbey, a ruined abbey in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Battle Abbey

Abbey near Battle

Ruined abbey on the 1066 battlefield.

8.9 km NW

Photo of Battle, a village in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Battle

Town built around the abbey marking the 1066 battlefield, its High Street running from the great gatehouse to the almonry garden.

9.3 km NW · East Sussex

Photo of Winchelsea, a village in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Winchelsea

England's smallest town, laid out on a medieval grid with surviving gates, a large church and wide quiet streets above the marsh.

12.2 km NE · East Sussex

Photo of Winchelsea town gates, a landmark in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Winchelsea town gates

Landmark near Winchelsea

Three medieval stone gates survive from the planned port of Winchelsea; the Strand Gate guards the eastern approach.

12.4 km NE

Photo of Tillingham, a restaurant near Peasmarsh in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Tillingham

Restaurant · With rooms near Peasmarsh

Vineyard restaurant with rooms near Rye, low-intervention wine and estate-grown food.

13.4 km NE

Photo of Camber Castle, an artillery fort near Rye, East Sussex, south east England.

Camber Castle

Artillery fort · Castle near Rye

Artillery castle and associated earthworks at Camber

14.3 km NE

Photo of Rye Castle Museum (Ypres Tower), a visitor attraction in East Sussex, south east England.

Rye Castle Museum (Ypres Tower)

Attraction near Rye

Smuggling and Romney Marsh history displayed inside the medieval Ypres Tower above Rye.

15.5 km NE

Photo of Rye, a village in East Sussex, south east England.

Rye

Hilltop citadel above the Rother marshes, its cobbled Mermaid Street climbing past timbered houses, antique shops and a Norman church.

15.5 km NE · East Sussex

Photo of Kent & East Sussex Railway, a visitor attraction near Bodiam in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Attraction near Bodiam

Heritage steam line running from Bodiam, near the castle, up the Rother valley toward Tenterden.

15.8 km N

Photo of Great Dixter, a Grade I registered house & garden near Northiam in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Great Dixter

House & garden near Northiam

A hall house from the Middle Ages, rebuilt by Lutyens, with a garden made internationally famous by one deeply opinionated gardener

15.8 km N

Photo of The Observatory Science Centre, a visitor attraction near Herstmonceux, East Sussex, south east England.

The Observatory Science Centre

Attraction near Herstmonceux

Hands-on science exhibits set among the former Royal Greenwich Observatory's green telescope domes at Herstmonceux.

16 km W

Photo of Bodiam Castle, a ruined castle in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Bodiam Castle

Castle near Bodiam

Moated fairy-tale castle reflected in its water.

16.5 km N

Photo of Herstmonceux Castle, a castle in East Sussex, south east England.

Herstmonceux Castle

Castle near Herstmonceux

Rare moated red-brick Tudor castle.

16.5 km W

Photo of Windmill Hill Windmill, a windmill near Herstmonceux, East Sussex, south east England.

Windmill Hill Windmill

Windmill near Herstmonceux

Largest post mill in Sussex, lottery-restored above Herstmonceux with its roundhouse, sweeps and machinery rebuilt.

16.6 km W

Photo of Pevensey, a village in East Sussex, south east England.

Pevensey

Roman shore-fort walls enclose a Norman castle, a single street of old cottages running past the medieval Mint House.

16.9 km W · East Sussex

Photo of Fuller's Pyramid, a folly near Burwash in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Fuller's Pyramid

Folly near Burwash

Fuller's pyramid mausoleum stands in St Thomas a Becket churchyard at Brightling, a landmark among his scattered follies.

17.3 km NW

Photo of Pevensey Castle, a ruined castle in East Sussex, south east England.

Pevensey Castle

Castle near Pevensey

Norman castle within Roman fort walls.

17.3 km W

Photo of The Sugar Loaf, a folly near Rushlake Green in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

The Sugar Loaf

Folly near Rushlake Green

A cone-shaped folly Mad Jack Fuller reputedly built overnight to win a wager about seeing Dallington church spire.

17.5 km NW

Photo of Camber Sands, a swimming spot near Rye, East Sussex, south east England.

Camber Sands

Designated bathing water near Rye

Broad dune-backed sandy beach.

17.9 km NE

Photo of The Tower & Observatory (Fuller), a folly near Burwash in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

The Tower & Observatory (Fuller)

Folly near Burwash

Fuller's domed observatory near Brightling, once fitted with a camera obscura, now a private house seen from the lane.

18.1 km NW

Photo of Brightling Needle, a folly near Burwash in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Brightling Needle

Folly near Burwash

A slender stone obelisk on one of East Sussex's highest ridges, part of Fuller's cluster of local follies.

18.5 km NW

Photo of Stone Cross Windmill, a windmill in East Sussex, south east England.

Stone Cross Windmill

Windmill near Stone Cross

Brick tower mill restored to working order, grinding flour again on open days near the Pevensey Levels.

19.8 km W

Photo of Batemans, a Grade II registered house & garden near Burwash in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Batemans

House & garden near Burwash

Kipling's Jacobean house and mill garden.

20.2 km NW

Photo of Stocks Mill, a windmill near Wittersham in the High Weald, Kent, south east England.

Stocks Mill

Windmill near Wittersham

The tallest post mill in Kent, on the Isle of Oxney above the Rother Levels at Wittersham.

20.6 km NE

Photo of Rolvenden Windmill, a windmill in the High Weald, Kent, south east England.

Rolvenden Windmill

Windmill near Rolvenden

Small post mill kept as a memorial in a garden at Rolvenden, an unusually complete survival.

22.3 km N

Photo of Pashley Manor Gardens, a garden near Ticehurst in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Pashley Manor Gardens

Garden near Ticehurst

Grade I manor with formal walled gardens and rolling borders, best known for its spring tulip festival.

22.4 km NW

Photo of Seaford to Beachy Head, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near East Dean in the South Downs, East Sussex, south east England.

Seaford to Beachy Head

SSSI near East Dean

Beachy Head's chalk face, the highest in Britain, with a lighthouse at its foot and downland walking either side

22.9 km SW

Photo of the South Downs, a National Park in south east England.

South Downs

National Park near Fittleworth

A chalk ridge rolling from Winchester to the sea cliffs at Beachy Head.

23.3 km SW

Photo of the Sussex Heritage Coast, East Sussex, south east England.

Sussex Heritage Coast

Heritage Coast near East Dean

Chalk cliffs and dry valleys sheared off by the sea, linked by the switchback path between Seven Sisters and Beachy Head

24.1 km SW

Photo of St Augustine's, Brookland, a church in Kent, south east England.

St Augustine's, Brookland

Church near Brookland

Marsh church with a detached candle-snuffer bell tower and a rare Norman lead font showing the labours of the months.

24.2 km NE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo along the King Charles III England Coast Path, a 2,700-mile National Trail in England.

King Charles III England Coast Path

One path around a whole country — beach, clifftop and seawall the entire way round England's coast, opening stretch by stretch.

0.2 km SE · spans 24 counties

Photo of Pelham Beach, a swimming spot near Hastings, East Sussex, south east England.

Pelham Beach

Designated bathing water near Hastings

Hastings' town beach under the castle crag, shingle giving way to sand as the tide drops

0.9 km E

Photo along the Saxon Shore Way, a 160-mile long-distance path running from Gravesend to Hastings, south east England.

Saxon Shore Way

Long-distance path

Around Kent's Roman-era coastline from Gravesend to Hastings — a shore the sea has since abandoned for miles at a stretch.

1.3 km E · Kent & East Sussex

Photo of Alexandra Park, Hastings, a Grade II* registered house & garden in East Sussex, south east England.

Alexandra Park, Hastings

House & garden near Hastings

Hastings' big Victorian park, laid out in a valley with a lake and mature trees, a short walk from the station

1.4 km N

Photo of St Leonards, a swimming spot near Hastings, East Sussex, south east England.

St Leonards

Designated bathing water near Hastings

A coastal swimming spot with excellent water quality.

1.6 km W

Photo along the 1066 Country Walk, a 31-mile long-distance path running from Pevensey to Rye, south east England.

1066 Country Walk

Long-distance path

Pevensey to Rye by way of Battle — the Norman Conquest's landing country, with carved oak sculptures marking the route.

6.4 km N · East Sussex

Photo of Carr Taylor Vineyard, a vineyard near Westfield in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Carr Taylor Vineyard

Vineyard near Westfield

Long-established sparkling-wine producer with a free self-guided vineyard trail and a tasting shop.

6.4 km N

Photo of Telham Fields, Crowhurst, a country estate near Battle in the High Weald, East Sussex, south east England.

Telham Fields, Crowhurst

Country estate near Battle

A National Trust place in East Sussex.

6.7 km NW

Photo of the coast at Fairlight and Old Marsham Farm, East Sussex, south east England.

Fairlight and Old Marsham Farm

Coastline near Winchelsea

A National Trust place in East Sussex.

7.8 km NE

Everything else within 25 km (53) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Lake Meadow, BattleNature reserve8.8 km NW
Battle of HastingsBattlefield8.8 km NW
SedlescombeVillage9.1 km N
The Robin Hood InnPub9.2 km NE
Royal Military CanalCanal9.7 km NE
All Saints & St NicholasChurch9.9 km NE
Sedlescombe Organic VineyardVineyard11.6 km N
St Thomas the MartyrChurch12.3 km NE
Pevensey LevelsNational Nature Reserve13.9 km W
The White Hart (Netherfield)Pub13.9 km NW
High Weald Landscape TrailLong-distance path14.5 km NE
Sussex Border PathLong-distance path15 km N
NorthiamVillage15.3 km N
Lamb HouseHouse & garden15.4 km NE
The Mermaid InnPub15.4 km NE
The George in RyePub15.5 km NE
blackShed GalleryAttraction15.7 km NW
RobertsbridgeVillage16.1 km NW
The Salehurst HaltPub16.2 km N
Oastbrook Estate VineyardVineyard16.2 km N
William the ConquerorPub16.3 km NE
Herstmonceux Castle and PlaceHouse & garden16.5 km W
Samphire SaunaSauna0.3 km S
Hastings CastleCastleaccess unclear1 km E
Combe HavenSSSIaccess unclear3.1 km W
Filsham ReedbedNature reserve3.4 km W
Maplehurst WoodSSSIaccess unclear3.7 km N
Marline Valley WoodsSSSIaccess unclear4 km NW
Blackhorse QuarrySSSIaccess unclear6.5 km NW
Fore WoodSSSIaccess unclear6.5 km NW
Hemingfold MeadowSSSIaccess unclear6.5 km NW
BexhillSwimming spot7.5 km W
Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye BaySSSI8.3 km NE
Brede Pit and CuttingSSSIaccess unclear9.3 km N
High WoodsSSSIaccess unclear9.5 km W
WinchelseaSwimming spot11.7 km NE
Ashburnham ParkSSSIaccess unclear11.7 km NW
Winchelsea CuttingSSSIaccess unclear11.8 km NE
Ashburnham PlaceHouse & gardenaccess unclear13.3 km NW
Norman`s BaySwimming spot13.6 km W
River LineSSSIaccess unclear13.6 km NW
Darwell WoodSSSIaccess unclear14.4 km NW
BrickwallHouse & gardenaccess unclear14.5 km N
The Ship InnPub15.2 km NE
Ewhurst GreenVillage15.4 km N
Leasam Heronry WoodSSSIaccess unclear15.5 km NE
Robertsbridge AbbeyAbbeyaccess unclear15.6 km N
Rye HarbourSSSIaccess unclear15.8 km NE
Herstmonceux ParkSSSIaccess unclear16 km W
NorthiamSSSIaccess unclear16 km N
St Mary the VirginChurch16.2 km N
Pevensey BaySwimming spot16.4 km W
BodiamVillage16.6 km N

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.