laugh & jump & smile

If it's pure and simple fun you're after then look no further than the Clambers Play Centre which lies on top of one of Hastings' many hills.  A place where kids are guaranteed to burn off any excess energy (and a surefire way of ensuring they sleep through the night!) the centre has one of the biggest ball pits imaginable, a tremendous soft play area and an incredibly elaborate climbing frame that's great for exploring, jumping and hiding.

Hastings seafront is the home of an American-style Adventure Golf Course.

Set deep within St Clements Caves on Hastings' West Hill, the Smugglers Adventure is the ultimate family experience as it takes visitors through the thrills and spills of this illicit trade which dominated the Sussex Coast throughout the 18th century.

The Observatory Science Centre at Herstmonceux is housed in buildings that were once home to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.  It has over 100 interactive exhibits which allow visitors to conduct their very own experiments, restored telescopes that, during special events, can be used to gaze at the cosmos and is surrounded by beautiful countryside with plenty of picnic space.  Inside the centre, visitors will learn about the story of the original observatory, force and gravity, time (with the chance to build their very own clock!), optics and the earth (where they can place the continents on the globe in their position 250 million years ago and see just how far countries such as India have moved!).

It's no surprise that the beaches of 1066 Country have won awards for their cleanliness and quality.  In particular, Pelham Beach in Hastings has a delightful blend of shingle and sand and has the added benefit of being within walking distance of many of the town's major attractions and the shopping centre.  During the peak Summer season, the beach has a series of safety zones carefully marked out using sea-themed cartoon characters.  It also has a dedicated team of professional lifeguards who patrol the beaches, handing out free doses of Harbour Arm - the town's official suntan lotion!