What to do in Hastings and say trips

[Hipphopp]

Hi, we have a week coming up in Hastings with 2 primary aged kids. I'm starting to worry there won't be enough to do. I think we need some ideas for day trips out of Hastings, I reckon 40 minutes drive max. Any tips please. Also is there a good swimming pool preferably water park style with flumes in the area?

Just realised typo. Say=day

Sovereign centre pool in Eastbourne for waves and a slide.

knockhatch adventure park near Hailsham and drusilla zoo all within 30 mins ish.

if younger kids the mini railway at Eastbourne would probably be popular.

Hope that helps!

Walk up to beachyhead in Eastbourne.

a week?! is this visiting family or a holiday?

Tenterden has a great pool and a steam railway which is interesting to look round, unfortunately a ride on the train is pretty costly.

lots to do in Hastings Old Town, hope you have nice weather.

Holiday, we are also going to a wedding nearby but found somewhere cheap to stay in Hastings so thought we'd stay for the week during half term. It looks nice. Is it not?

The smugglers adventure caves at St Clements cave Hastings above the old town are really good

dymchurch to dungerness steam train.

bexhill is nearby and in addition to the De La Warr pavilion the town museum (just called the Bexhill Museum) has a lot for kids.
Hastings itself has various things to do. If you like castles etc Battle abbey is nearby and there are various other ones along the cost and at Bodium.

I don't like Hastings at all, but it's been 20 years since I've been there. It was rough then, but has perhaps had some regeneration since (hopefully)

Battle also a good day out

i’m an hour away

and absolutely it’s great for a day trip.

lots to do in Hastings Old Town

like what?

Old town nice for a mooch and kids will love the sea front (unless you're coming from a nicer sea front)

If you don't mind driving an hour along the coast east to port lympne; that's a great day out and the kids will love it there. I could spend hours watching the silverbacks there.

You're also pretty close to rye which is a cute town and camber sands

We really enjoyed the funicular and the smugglers cave.

Apparently the crazy golf course hosts the world champs! They will tell you that several times...

Rye for a mooch around old town and nice food, Camber sands for space and beach (only 4 miles apart)

If you haven’t been there, train to Brighton for a day trip.

If you're prepared to drive

Dymchurch
Camber
Rye
Bexhill
Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway

There's not much in Hastings.

Battle abbey is just up the road and Bodiam castle is not too far a drive if you have EH or NT passes . The crazy golf courses are excellent . Brighton is a nice day trip .

Not much to do in Hastings?

Smugglers Adventure
Shipwreck Museum
Aquarium
Crazy Golf
Amusements
Beach
Clambers soft play
Skate park
Hastings museum and fisherman’s museum
Alexandra park
East Hill
West Hill and castle

If the weather is good there is lots of outdoor activities, not so great in the rain.

Hastings Old Town is very pretty and it has a traditional English seafront. Parts are a little bit run down but there will penty to do for children - mini golf swimming, amusement arcades.

It also has a very good modern art gallery.

Blackberry Farm, Whitesmith, Lewes BN8 6JD and also Knockhatch

Pooh corner is not far from there.

The beach!
Amusements
Crazy golf (it’s very good)
Hastings Contemporary gallery currently has work by Quentin Blake and a drawing area
Funiculars
Mini railway along the Old Town bit of the seafront
Free museums -Hastings Museum, the Fishermen’s, Shipwreck and the RNLI
The aquarium
There are lots of nice places to eat and drink in both Hastings and St Leonards
So many places nearby to visit too, my nephew loves Bodiam Castle for example.

Oh brilliant, thank you for all the intel. Cafe, restaurant and pub recommendations also appreciated (for eating with kids).

Hastings sea front is great fun in the summer !

Lots of lovely restaurants in st Leonard's

The actual shopping part is a little bit questionable but the old town is good fun

Or go to Pett Level beach for a good walk