Description
The East Hill Cliff Railway (often called the East Hill Lift) is a historic, award-winning funicular railway operated by Hastings Borough Council in the iconic coastal town of Hastings, East Sussex. Proudly standing as the steepest funicular railway in the United Kingdom, this structural marvel features a dramatic 38% gradient that cuts directly into the sandstone rock face. Opened in August 1902, the railway has spent over a century acting as an enduring symbol of Hastings' seaside charm, looking out onto Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet on The Stade.
Families visiting the area will find the railway to be an incredibly budget-friendly way to inject a dose of adventure into their day out. It provides thousands of residents and tourists with effortless, easy access to the sprawling Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, which sits on the cliff plateau above and offers spectacular vantage points over the Old Town and the English Channel.
If you are looking for one of the best things to do with kids in Hastings for a memorable, scenic ride, the East Hill Cliff Railway provides a quick, thrilling journey that links the bustling historic seafront to tranquil cliffside walks. It serves as a fantastic weekend highlight, a school holiday treat, or the perfect starting point for an afternoon of coastal exploration.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Core Activities and Features
- Sensory Ambiance and Spectacular Views: The ride provides an immediate, breathtaking panorama of Hastings Old Town, the pebbled shoreline, and the English Channel, making it an absolute visual treat for kids and parents alike.
- Gateway to Nature Trails: Whisking passengers up nearly 50 meters, the lift acts as a direct portal to Hastings Country Park, where families can enjoy coastal heathland, peaceful nature trails, and scenic picnic spots.
- Historical Maritime Magic: The lower station sits right beside Rock-a-Nore and The Stade, giving families a perfect viewpoint over the historic, distinctive black net shops and active fishing boats.
- Multi-Activity Bundles: Because it is located in the heart of Hastings' seafront attraction belt, parents can easily pair a cliff ride with a visit to the nearby Smugglers Adventure, Hastings Castle, or local amusements.
Top 5 Highlights
- The Steepest Incline Ride: Experiencing the steepest funicular track climb in the UK is the main event. Spanning a length of 267 feet (81 meters), the double-track line climbs a steep 38% slope, giving children the exciting sensation of ascending nearly vertically up the cliffside.
- Exploring Hastings Country Park: Once you reach the top station, step directly into a fabulous nature reserve spanning 3 miles of sandstone cliffs. It is the perfect terrain for an active family walk, bird watching, or a relaxing clifftop picnic.
- Watching the Fishing Fleet: From the carriage windows and the clifftop summit, you get unhindered views of Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet. Watching the traditional boats launch or land on the shingle beach below is a fantastic educational sight for children.
- Visiting the Stade's Net Huts: Right outside the lower station, kids can walk among the famous, historic black wooden "net shops". These unique, towering structures were built centuries ago to dry and store fishing nets, adding to the historic seaside atmosphere.
- The Twin-Tower Upper Station: The upper station features striking, castle-like stone towers that evoke a sense of medieval grandeur. These towers originally housed massive water tanks back when the railway ran entirely on a water-balance principle before its modern conversion to electricity.
Beyond the Main Attraction: The lower station of the East Hill Cliff Railway is surrounded by an abundance of family-friendly coastal spots. Just a short 0.2-mile stroll away is the Hastings Lifeboat Station and Flamingo Amusements for classic seaside penny-arcade fun. For a subterranean adventure, parents can walk 0.21 miles to the Smugglers Adventure at St Clements Caves, an expansive network of sandstone caverns detailing the history of local smugglers. Alternatively, the West Hill Cliff Railway sits nearby, running original Victorian wooden coaches through an unusual hillside tunnel to the historic ruins of Hastings Castle.
0.01 miles
