Step back in time and enjoy the Battle of Hastings, Abbey & Battlefield Tour where you can explore the very place where this decisive struggle took place. At the spot where the King fell, you can see the commemorative Harold Stone and walk the Battlefield Trail where you can see sculptures of Norman and Saxon soldiers carved in wood. At Battle Abbey (built by William shortly after his victory) you'll see stunning views over the battlefield and have the chance to explore the highly informative gatehouse exhibition.
Battle of Hastings Tour
It's 1066, the turning point of English history! Walk battlefields where Normans met Saxons, explore Battle Abbey, and discover the charming town of Hastings. See stunning cliffs, Victorian charm, and Bodiam Castle's fairytale beauty. All in one day, from London!
£
Itinerary so far...
The Battle of Hastings was a pivotal moment in the history of England, beginning the Norman conquest close to the present-day town of Battle not far from the Sussex town of Hastings. It was fought between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and an English army led by the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson in 1066. The battle and the death of King Harold are documented in the famous Bayeux Tapestry.
Then it's off to the nearby Saxon fishing town of Hastings where there's lots to see and do. The East Hill Cliff Railway (also known as East Hill Lift) is a funicular railway providing access to Hastings Country Park via the East Hill, which overlooks the Old Town and Rock-a-Nore, an area to the east of Hastings. The railway was opened in 1902 and is complimented by another funicular railway at the West Cliff, which accesses Hastings Castle and St Clement's Caves.
Hastings Fishermen’s Museum is housed in an old 1854 church known locally as the The Fishermen's Church. The museum is dedicated to the fishing industry and maritime history of the town. Relics from ancient ship wrecks can be seen in the the Old Town's Shipwreck Museum as well as fossils and multi-sensory exhibits.
Hastings Contemporary is a museum of modern and contemporary British art with both temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection including artists such as Lowry, Ben Nicholson and Maggi Hambling.
Just a short trip north is the picturesque 14th century Bodiam Castle. Thought to have been built to safeguard against invasion from France during Hundred Years' War, it is surprisingly far inland. The grounds of the castle are beautifully landscaped and the reflections of the stronghold in the moat are a must photo to take.
If there's time you can visit either the breathtaking cliffs at Beachy Head or the quintessentially English Victorian coastal resort of Eastbourne...
Beachy Head is the tallest white chalk cliff in Britain rising to an impressive 162 metres above sea level. The cliffs have featured in many films and TV programmes including the scene from James Bond's The Living Daylights, where a secret agent parachutes from a Land Rover. Audiences were led to believe this was taking place in Gibraltar but in reality it was fimed off Beachy Head! Below the cliffs in the waters of the Engish Channel is the Beachy Head Lighthouse, which was completed in 1834.
Eastbourne is a seaside town with Victorian seafront hotels and nineteenth century pier. The Towner Art Gallery displays works by modern British artists and there's a Napoleonic era fort and military museum. Interesting buildings include All Souls Church, Regency-style bow-fronted houses at Cavendish Place and the Neo-Grec style bandstand. You can also get pretty good fish and chips from one of the many places to eat around the town.
Type: Chauffeur Driven Car. Driver does not guide within attractions.
Price: 1–7 people from £620. Prices do not include attraction tickets.
Languages: English
Pick up: Central London / West London (elsewhere please enquire)
- Pick-up at 8.30am
- Battle Abbey
- Battlefield
- Bodiam Castle
- Hastings (Fishermen’s Museum, Shipwreck Museum, Hastings Contemporary art gallery & funicular railway)
- Plus one other attraction from Eastbourne or Beachy Head
- Drop-off back to London at 6.30pm