Bexhill on sea East Sussex??

[camptentholiday]

What is this area like for a family summer camping holiday?

My kids used to love the beach there - at high tide it's pebbles but at low tide you get sand and rock pools. There's stuff along the coast at Hastings too.

Not sure where you would stay but Bexhill itself is not a terribly attractive town although eh seafront and promenade are pleasant enough. Several English heritage sites nearby - Battle, Pevensey, Deal, Dover Castle - and inland Lewes, Drusillas and Ashdown Forest.

I like Bexhill and have stayed there, but I think there are probably better places for kids / camping nearby - such as Winchelsea Beach or Camber Sands.

We were looking slightly inland of Bexhill as camping (in a tent) so would have option to drive to Hastings, Eastborne and Camber but nearest town would be Bexhill.

God's own waiting room we call it round here. You'd be much better off at Camber or Bournemouth.

OH !! Am struggling to find other campsites with great reviews as we don't want holiday camp/caravan/entertainment type site. Looking at Camber on map I thought if weather was bad there would be no options whereas from Bexhill we would have all the places mentioned inland and coastal. However I have never been to any of the areas hence the post.

We’ve camped down there quite a lot. I really like it as there are loads of places to go and stuff to see if you don’t mind driving a bit - Herstmonceux, Drusillas, Rye, Battle Abbey, Eastbourne mini railway, all the Hastings attractions. I like the beach at Cooden with rock pools and it’s sandy at low tide. The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill is worth a visit. I think it’s good as a base for exploring the area.

Another vote for ‘Gods waiting room ‘ but if you plan on getting away then it might be a good base - ( lilyfire has summed up all good bits)
I think there some deeent campsites inland from Hastings ( sedlescombe, ) which might be worth looking at

yes we would be camping inland from Hastings or Bexhill so would have to drive everywhere as we would be in a field!! Lilyfire - that sounds what I imagined a different low key activity or beach for each day.

Try here - it's very cool and gets booked very quickly! Fantastic on site cafe/bar, kayaks for the river, fire bowls for campers - it's just the best place for miles around here. Proper camping bodiamboatingstation.co.uk

TBH all the places mentioned (Eastbourne, Hastings, Camber) are pretty close and so very driveable. As another poster said, Cooden beach is also very nice (it is very close to Bexhill) and doesn’t get that busy.

Kingsdown?

www.kingsdowncamping.co.uk/

I can never see that place name without thinking of The Goon Show... The Terror of Bexhill-On-Sea /or/ The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler:

(audio only)

Have you stayed at Kingsdown as the reviews don't look great hence why I had discounted it?

I think it really depends on what you are after from your holiday.
If you like a nice campsite with good facilities that you are happy to use as a base for exploring the wider area, then Bexhill is a good bet for all the reasons mentioned above.
If, however, you are looking for somewhere that has a 'holiday vibe' then I'd probably look elsewhere. There are a couple of really nice campsites in the wider Bexhill area but often they have weekenders or people just pitching up for a few days before moving on - not what some people would necessarily think of as a holiday campsite, if you see what I mean.
Bexhill itself is a nice day out - there's a good park behind the beach and water fountains for little children along the front but nothing like the likes of Bournemouth or Brighton if you prefer things busy.

Bexhill's advantage is probably that it's in the middle of several other good locations.

I was born in that neck of the woods (not bexhill itself). As others have said actual Bexhill- not that great (though certainly not unsafe or anything)- it is a very good location for driving out daily though. You've got good access towards camber, rye, hastings, Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay, or the Sussex side of Kent generally where there are fab national trust places.

If you're looking for somewhere you can also entertain the kids without driving Eastbourne is miles better, prettier, has fantastic amenities and lots to do- the downs/beach head/cinemas/nicer beaches/kids activities/lovely harbour/endless restaurant options. Probably 20 mins drive from bexhill depending which end you're in.

Thanks don'tgo.. that is what I thought re central location as we would be 4 or 5 miles north of Bexhill but as self catering could get to shop there. The aim is they play on the campsite (bikes/football etc) with other children at start and end of each day then we go out somewhere depending on weather/tides etc to break up the day but probably different place most days over the 2 weeks. I don't think even in Eastbourne we would be walking distance of town if in a tent - I have only been considering sites with great reviews. Please let me know if there are any but not caravan holiday camp style sites and definitely no entertainment. Thanks

I've stayed there a few times, loved it, access to the beach and views over the sea. Not as many amenities as some but the location is great.

WoWo but its further inland?

Yeah WoWo is really cool. Not ideal to if you want to pop to the beach quickly though. As long as you aren't expecting much from Bexhill then you will be ok.

Bexhill is stuffed to the brim with charity shops and not a lot else.

I suppose with the average age of the population, there are always house clearances keeping them stocked up.

Egerton Park in Bexhill, might be worth a visit depending on the age of dc. As pp have mentioned, slightly slower pace of life in Bexhill...

I suppose with the average age of the population, there are always house clearances keeping them stocked up

That's really tasteless.

Thanks everyone - we are definitely not looking at shops/town centres anyway whether they have charity shops or not so that will make no difference to us it will be beaches, rock pooling, crabbing, sand, walks, woods, cycles, sports and some places of interest as suggested above. We only need local town for supermarket for food for BBQs and picnics as camping. Sounds like there are some quiet beaches along this stretch to avoid arcades etc. Campsite is booked and paid for now so no negatives needed now just ideas of nice places to visit within maybe 40 minutes of Bexhill. Thanks for all the help.

My kids enjoyed the science centre at Herstmonceaux Castle. The castle may have holiday activities too. There's a Roman Castle at Pevensey I remember taking mine too as well. Drusillas isnt far either and there's a Smugglers thing and a sea life centre in Hastings I think.