Market Cross

Standing in the centre of Hastings, the Market Cross is one of those landmarks you walk past a hundred times before actually noticing it. It's a proper medieval structure - the sort of thing that reminds you this town was doing commerce when most of England was still working out what a market was. The cross itself is modest compared to some you'll find in the Cotswolds, but that's rather the point. This is working history, not a museum piece.

You can walk round it, photograph it, and genuinely understand how medieval trade happened in Hastings. It's free to view, takes about ten minutes unless you're the type to stand and sketch it. The real value comes if you're already in town visiting the castle or wandering the Old Town - you can't just drive here and make an afternoon of it.

For history enthusiasts it's worthwhile context. Kids will find it dull unless they're genuinely interested in medieval town planning. Walkers exploring Hastings town centre will appreciate how it anchors the place's sense of age and purpose.

If you're staying at Beaulieu Farm Campsite or Coghurst Hall Holiday Park, both just a couple of miles out, pop into town and see it as part of a broader Hastings wander. Pair it with the seafront, the pier, and the Old Town proper. Go midweek if you can - Saturday mornings get rammed. It won't take long, but it's the sort of detail that makes a seaside trip feel less generic.