Seaside town packed with independent shops named 2026’s best place | UK | Travel

A seaside town renowned for its bustling high street filled with independent retailers and a vibrant arcade scene has been earmarked as one of the must-visit destinations for 2026.

If, like me, you spent your childhood in the South East of England, it’s likely that the large, somewhat eerie face of the caterpillar ride at Hastings‘ Flamingo Park is ingrained in your memory. Many a day was passed aboard this slow-moving lavae, arms raised high in delight, before it was unfortunately retired earlier this decade.

While the ride may be a relic of the past, Hastings – recently crowned by Time Out as the UK’s second top destination to visit this year and the best in England – is very much alive and kicking. The East Sussex town, home to 90,000 residents, now boasts a faster train service to London, clocking in at just one hour and 23 minutes.

This makes commuting to the capital a feasible option, especially in the era of flexible working post-Covid. However, rather than focusing on escaping Hastings, there’s a whole host of attractions within the town itself to keep you entertained.

The Old Town is the ideal spot for a shopping spree or simply a leisurely stroll through the charming High Street and George Street, whose leaning buildings give York’s famous Shambles a run for its money. This area is teeming with antique, interior design and brocante shops. From vintage typewriters at the Goods Depot and unique pottery and artwork at Butler and George, to a treasure trove of finds at Hastings Antiques Warehouse and Roberts Rummage, there’s something for everyone.

Hastings stands out as a place where the high street is flourishing, and independent boutiques are the heart of the town. A standout gem is Old Hastings Pottery, where all items are handcrafted on-site and the potter is readily available for a chat.

Perhaps the crowning glory is AG Hendy, an exceptional three-storey emporium of elegantly presented household essentials, nestled behind a 1920s-style façade. This remarkable establishment is the brainchild of renowned food writer Alistair Hendy, who dedicated over three years to restoring the late-Georgian building.

If retail therapy isn’t your cup of tea, or you’ve simply reached your shopping threshold, there’s an abundance of other activities in the town. Hastings boasts a vibrant independent cinema, the Electric Palace, which can be privately hired for screenings at £260.

To celebrate a recent family birthday, we commandeered the Palace for a viewing of Stanley Kubrick’s 2021, complemented by the Palace’s pick ‘n’ mix and bar offerings.

Venture downhill towards the seafront, and you’ll discover Hastings Contemporary, a superb independent art gallery showcasing contemporary British artists. In 2024, Quentin Blake, famed for his illustrations in Roald Dahl books, exhibited 100 portraits at the gallery.

And let’s not forget the chips. While locals and regular visitors will have their preferred chippy, I believe the Blue Mermaid, situated in the bustling fishing village, is the best of the bunch. After indulging in its scrumptious fried delicacies, it’s a brief stroll to the West Hill Lift, a funicular railway that first opened in 1891 and still operates with its original wooden Victorian coaches. The railway journey takes you through a tunnel, which is both very exciting and novel from a railway perspective. 

If you’re fortunate enough to visit during favourable weather, the town’s beach is inviting for a dip, though it doesn’t quite match up to the splendid Fairlight nudist beach, located a few miles down the coast.

Most visitors opt to park at the hilltop before embarking on a descent, navigating the steeper sections, hopping over logs and pausing to admire streams cascading into petite waterfalls beneath the dense canopy of trees. The path downwards is flanked by lush, closely packed trees, lending the area a somewhat Jurassic ambiance on hot summer days when the air becomes hazy and fern leaves start to shimmer.

After a mile-long stroll in the relative dimness, beachgoers are suddenly greeted by the daylight as they emerge into Fairlight proper. Flanking the beach are 30m cliffs that form a bay, offering a sense of isolation from the outside world and an abundance of large flat stones at their base, perfect for laying out your towel and unwinding.

The cliffs, a blend of sandstone and clay, take on an almost golden hue in the evening sun, bestowing upon Fairlight an atmosphere reminiscent of a location much closer to the Mediterranean than its actual geographical position.