Description
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery is a fantastic community hub that offers some of the best things to do with kids in East Sussex. Housed in a striking mansion, this family-friendly museum blends local heritage with exotic world history to keep young minds fully engaged. It operates as an accessible local museum that welcomes children with plenty of hands-on activities, storytelling displays, and historic treasures.
Admission to the museum is completely free for both adults and children, making it an incredibly cost-effective option for families. A major benefit of visiting is that its extensive grounds and car park are also free to use, meaning your family can explore world-class galleries and local history without worrying about rising ticket costs.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines natural history, Native American culture, and architectural wonders, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery is a top-tier choice. It provides a massive indoor space where children can dress up, play with digital interactive tables, and get up close to prehistoric creatures, making it a reliable option regardless of the British weather.
Detailed Collection Inventory
The Durbar Hall & Fine Art Core
- The Indian Exhibition Teak Structure (1886): The primary architectural artifact. A complete two-story palace interior featuring traditional geometric screens, functional lower-level arcades, and a projecting upper gallery framework.
- The Indian Metalware Archive: A collection of 19th-century ceremonial brassware, heavily chased silver bidri vessels, and engraved water basins from northern India.
- The Chinese Imperial Porcelains: A selection of hand-painted Ming and Qing dynasty ceremonial plates and blue-and-white structural storage jars.
- Historic Weaponry Armoury: A dense display of 18th and 19th-century Middle Eastern and South Asian defence gear, including curved tulwar swords and damascened steel daggers.
The Prehistoric & Palaeontological Archives
- The Hastings Dinosaur Trackway Casts: Massive, deep stone impressions of authentic Iguanodon and theropod three-toed footprints pulled directly from the cliffs of nearby Fairlight and Pett Level.
- Prehistoric Marine Apex Predator Remains: Fossilised tooth clusters, vertebrae, and full jaw sections of Hybodus sharks and massive predatory marine reptiles.
- The Wealden Plant Beds: Exceptionally well-preserved carbonised plant imprints, showing the structural details of ancient ferns and early tropical conifers.
Native North American & Ethnographic Gallery
- Plains Culture Material Archive: Authentic 19th-century buckskin shirts and tunics adorned with dyed porcupine quill bands and glass seed beads.
- Defensive Gear & Horse Regalia: Hand-painted buffalo-hide shields bearing sacred geometric motifs and beaded leather horse bridles.
- The Inuit Hunting Archive: Traditional bone-tipped harpoon points, seal-bladder floats, and functional carved walrus ivory amulets.
Local History, Grey Owl & Coastal Ephemera
- The Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney) Archive: Original field equipment, journals, and hand-notated sketches belonging to Belaney during his time as a conservationist in Canada.
- Maritime Life Artifacts: Authentic 19th-century fishing nets, iron fish hooks, and traditional tools used by generations of fishermen working the historic Hastings Stade.
- Victorian Seaside Holiday Memorabilia: Hand-coloured tourist postcards, early bathing machine photographs, and painted wooden seaside souvenirs.
Beyond the Main Attraction
- The museum is set within the peaceful, green grounds of John's Place, offering manicured lawns and vibrant flowerbeds perfect for a run-around after exploring the indoors. A short walk down the road takes you straight into the heart of Hastings Town Centre or down to the award-winning Hastings Pier and seafront. For an extended outdoor adventure, the sprawling woodlands and adventure playgrounds of Alexandra Park are less than a mile away.
New for 2026
- The Refreshed Natural History Gallery: Reopened in early 2026, the museum's historic taxidermy and habitat dioramas have been completely revitalised. The curatorial team collaborated closely with local home-educated children to transform the historic gallery into an accessible learning playground.
- Hastings Open 2026: Returning later this year, this massive contemporary art exhibition will take over the museum's display wings, turning the spotlight onto painting, digital artwork, and sculpture from creators across the South East.
Events: For more upcoming events please visit here.
0.38 miles
