Hastings is best known for the battle that changed English history in 1066, though that actually took place six miles inland at what is now called Battle. The town itself is an ancient Sussex seaside settlement, nestled in the folds of the High Weald as it meets the sea.
The Old Town is the most rewarding part. The narrow streets called "twittens" climb steeply between tall weatherboarded houses, and the Stade, the traditional fishing beach, still has its distinctive black net shops, tall wooden huts where fishermen have dried their nets for centuries. Hastings Contemporary sits on the seafront here, housing a good collection of modern British art.
The East Hill and West Hill lifts are Victorian funicular railways that carry you up the cliffs for views along the coast. The ruins of Hastings Castle sit on the West Hill, and though little remains, the setting is dramatic. St Clement's Caves are nearby.
Hastings has known better days as a resort, but it has a scrappy, independent character that some visitors find more appealing than more polished seaside towns. The town is about 90 minutes from London by train.