Hastings beach is a dramatic mix of sand, shingle and soaring cliffs. It runs all way along the town centre, from the fishing quarter and the Old Town in the East, through the funfairs and amusement arcades of Pelham Place, the renovated pier, the quieter Marina area of St Leonards, to Bulverhythe (popular with dog walkers and shipwreck spotters) at the western end.
Beach safety
Between July and September, three parts of the beach are supervised by RNLI lifeguards: the Pelham, Pier and Marina areas. Dogs are also banned from these areas between May and September. See map
The lifeguard patrol zone is marked with red and yellow flags, and you should only swim between these two flags. If red flags are flying, this means danger and you should not enter the water.
Facilities
As the beach is so close to the town centre, there are plenty of facilities. There are car parks and public toilets, as well as some showers, and of course lots of cafés, restaurants and shops. Find out more about facilities here.
Litter
We want to protect the beauty of the beach and sea and reduce the impact we are all having on it. The Save our Seas (SOS) campaign is working hard with the community, schools and businesses to get people thinking about litter and how they dispose of it. You can help do your bit as a visitor by making sure you leave nothing behind but your footprints.
There are plenty of bins on the promenade as well as the colourful bins on the beach itself between Hastings Old Town and Azur in St Leonards, so you’re never more than a few steps from finding one.
Barbecues
Barbecues are permitted below the high-water mark, and you are encouraged to use the area between groynes 47 and 51a at Sea Road in St Leonards (adjacent to West Marina Gardens). Open fires or bonfire-type barbecues are only permitted after 8pm or dusk. Find more information here.
Tide times
Find the latest tide times here.
