Travel Trade and Group Travel Information
Historical Tour
You should consider dividing the day between the two major sites bound up with the history of the Norman Invasion - Battle and Hastings. William marched first to Hastings, where he had a prefabricated wooden fortress erected on the West Hill overlooking the town, to be replaced as soon as time permitted by a stone castle. A video 'The 1066 Story' (available in French and English) evokes the history of the invasion and the subsequent story of the castle.
While you are in this fascinating town, don't miss Smugglers Adventure in the caves beneath the West Hill where the violent story of smuggling in the 18th century is told in English, French or German through video, film and interactive displays.
After lunch in Hastings take a short 20-minute journey by road to Battle. Take the sea front road and turn into London Road and then follow the signs to Battle via B2189 and the A2100. The gatehouse of Battle Abbey dominates the centre of this fine old market-town.
At Battle Abbey, step back in time to the dramatic days of the Norman invasion as you tour the battlefield. William had the abbey built to commemorate the dead of England's most important battle. Start with the interpretive centre and a video, and then soak up the atmosphere of the grim events of 1066 as you take a tour of the battlefield with the help of the audio-guide, which allows the visitor to hear about the various stages of the battle from the viewpoint of a Norman knight, a Saxon thane or of Edith Swan-neck, Harold's wife.
Other Suggestions
If you have two days, spend the first day in Hastings and not only visit the Castle and Caves but make sure you take the steps or the funicular railway that descend from near the castle entrance and down into the Old Town and explore the medieval streets and tiny courtyards or 'twittens' (tiny passages which lead to pretty courtyards).
On The Stade (the word dates from before 1066, meaning 'landing place') you will find fishermen working on their boats, which have been pulled up on to the beach. The unique Hastings Net Shops - nearly 50 black wooden sheds standing in neat rows on this shingle beach will provide photographers with a fascinating subject.
Nearby, you will find the Fishermen's Museum, the Shipwreck Heritage Centre and Underwater World.
When it comes to food and drink, there are pubs, cafés and restaurants offering every level of cuisine, stalls selling all kinds of fresh fish and seafood such as jellied eels and of course the finest fish and chips!
On day two see not only Battle Abbey but combine this with a visit to Buckleys Yesterday's World situated directly opposite the Abbey. Buckleys is a nostalgic exhibition of shops and domestic life starting with life as it was in Victorian Britain into the life of the Edwardians and right through to the swinging sixties. Many thousands of items in authentic settings recreate a sense of how the British used to live.
Other ready made itineraries to make the most of a day in 1066 Country:
Further Information: