All the while, squawking seagulls soaring overhead, looking for their next innocent victim who doesn’t have a firm grip on their fish and chips.

Ahh, you definitely know you’re beside the English seaside and all within a day trip for London. Grab the kids and let's visit the coast.

There’s plenty to keep you amused all along Rock-a-Nore. From the East Hill Funicular railway and the Hastings Contemporary to the aquarium, Fisherman’s Museum and the Miniature Railway.

That’s before you have a rummage around the antique shops or a quick refresher in one of the socially distancing seafaring pubs.

The net shops have been an integral part of Hastings fishing fleet for centuries, in 2010 the 39 remaining net sheds were granted Grade II* listed building status.

Another unique element of Hasting’s seafront is East Hill Lift, one of two funicular railways in Hastings. East Hill opened in 1902 and transports you effortlessly 81 metres to the country park above. The funicular railway originally operated on the water balance principle; however, this was upgraded in 1976 to electricity.

The Rock-a-Nore and Stade is such a fascinating part of Hastings and full of so much history. With the Shipwreck Museum and the Fisherman’s Museum, you’ll be kept amused for hours with all the salty-sea-dog tales.

For a little bit of nostalgia hop onto the Miniature Railway which winds its way from Rock-a-Nore by the pebbly beach to the bustling amusement park.

Yes, you're right Hastings is a fun day out for the family.

When you manage to drag yourself away from The Stade, head up through the lanes of the Old Town.
 
Oh, and keep an eye out for the Winkle Club sculpture, yes, it is a giant mollusc.

The High Street in Hastings is not quite how you would envisage a typical town High Street. Perhaps it’s because this one dates from centuries ago.
 
Predominately lined with quaint higgledy-piggledy homes, with tiny doorways and diamond leaded windows. Interspersed with antique yards, A G Hendry’s home store and shops where you can have a good old rummage.

This is a delightful area of Hastings to get lost in, there are so many quaint homes and intriguing little lanes to roam around.

Weave you way down past St Clements Church and onto Swan Terrace to rejoin the High Street.

Few of the shops along here are uniform, centuries of time have left its imprint along this pleasant pedestrian lane. Lined with charming boutiques, antiques, curios, bookshops and independent stores. And so many tempting pubs and eateries.

A street musician was keeping us entertained, all the while a couple of locals were playing a game of giant chess.

This small region of Hastings has a fascinating past. Centuries ago the triangular area around Robertson Street, Carlisle Parade, Harold Place and Claremont was once part of the sea.

The great storms of the 13th-century lead to Hastings harbour being destroyed and gradually the area silted over. It wasn’t until the early 1800s that merchants and ne’re-do-wells, occupied the land. Paying no rent on their ramshackle dwellings and creating the area to become almost self-sufficient, primarily ‘No Man’s Land’.

A form of independence was declared against the Corporation of Hastings, by raising America’s ‘Stars and Stripes’ becoming known as America Ground.
 
By 1850, the land was transferred to the Crown.