A travel writer has highlighted a charming East Sussex seaside town that offers a perfect day trip from London, complete with a cliff railway, beach huts, cherry blossoms, and seafront brunch without queues. With summer approaching, many are considering seaside outings, and Emma Cooke, a London-based travel influencer, has shared footage of Hastings, a coastal resort town less than two hours away by train.
Why Hastings?
Cooke praised Hastings for its crowd-free atmosphere, beautiful cherry blossoms, and affordable attractions. She noted that a train ticket costs around £15, and once there, visitors can enjoy a cliff-top tea for £1.70, seafront brunch with no queues, and stunning beach sunsets. Most sights are free or under £5.
What to See and Do
The town boasts a preserved Old Town with winding streets, Tudor houses, and flower-bedecked cottages. A 'twitten'—a Sussex term for a narrow alley—leads to hidden courtyards. The fishing quarter features net huts and ramshackle huts on the beach. Heading west, St Leonards offers art galleries, antique shops, and a thriving café culture, set against 19th-century architecture.
Hastings Old Town lies between East and West Hills, each with its own funicular railway. The East Hill Lift takes visitors from the fishing beach to Hastings Country Park, offering views from Beachy Head to Dungeness and even the coast of France on clear days. The West Hill Lift ascends through a rock tunnel to a tranquil area, where Smugglers Adventures explores caverns with a history of smugglers and bootleggers.
Visitor Reactions
Commenters praised Hastings, with one resident calling it 'amazing' and others describing it as 'wonderful' and 'gorgeous.' One asked about the £1.70 tea, which Cooke confirmed is from a kiosk at the top of the West Hill lift.
Tourism website 1066 Country describes Hastings as a place to soak up history, with a hard-working fishing quarter and a genteel seaside resort atmosphere in St Leonards.
