The West Hill Lift — Attraction in Hastings

The West Hill Lift is a great piece of Hastings History! I remember riding it as a child and it is now something my own child enjoys. It is, unfortunately, closed a lot and for long periods for repairs or renovations, I can't imagine the upkeep of a lift this old being easy. I was shocked recently by how much the price had risen: they only sell return fares and they are over £4 each meaning nearly £20 for an average family for a 1 minute ride through the tunnel: however, this lift was built in 1891, the costs of restoration and maintenance are going to be eye-watering. My worry for the lift is that it is a one-trick pony, once you've ridden it there is no urge to ride it again, not even at the convenience of avoiding those brutal steps to the West Hill as the cost does not align with convenience. It is therefore a very good pull for visitors to our town and I wonder whether some signs outside the lift saying "come this way for the castle, cafe, west hill play park, smuglers etc" might entice more people to consider this attraction.

The positives, it was clean, all information was clearly displayed, the staff were very lovely and the surrounding areas were clean...

Hastings: a walk filled with soul, memories, and views that embrace the heart

Yesterday we visited Hastings on a sunny day that turned out to be much more than just a casual outing. I went with my daughter, our dogs, and an open heart. Hastings surprised me with its beauty, its history, and its warmth. But the most touching moment came when we found the funicular. That was when I felt my dad so close. He loved Valparaíso, in Chile, and one of his favorite things was riding the funiculars. Seeing one here felt like a clear sign — like a hug from above. Taking that ride was my way of honoring him.

Hastings Country Park is perfect for walking with dogs, breathing in fresh air, and soaking in breathtaking views of the sea. We walked, we laughed, we shed a few tears too. We enjoyed an ice cream with a city view and took plenty of beautiful photos. The historic center is charming and full of character. We stopped at Ye Olde Pump House, a stunning old pub that looks like it came out of a storybook.

This day was special. Full of emotion, natural beauty, and places that speak to the soul. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Dedicated to my...

What a terrible experience!!

Having family visiting from Cheshire, we decided to take them to Hastings for the day as they had been been there. We told them about the lift and the many times we have enjoyed our time on there, and Smugglers Cave. After spending 37 minutes queuing in the sweltering heat, we got to the front of the queue to find a rude, inconsiderate boy pulling a barrier across and followed by the simple statement of "we're closed for half an hour, come back at 1:30pm". There was no apology, nothing. Common courtesy would have been for him to go to the queue when it was getting towards that time, to give the paying customers the heads up that it would be closing, so we didn't need to have waited. There were 3 other families behind us, who were all as disgusted as we were, when we explained it to them, because the boy didn't bother to give them the information, but left it to us. In these current times we wanted to support local businesses, as requested by our government. It is impossible to do this with such poor customer service.

Very...