Things to see and do
There’s a lot to see and do at 1066 Battle of Hastings, including the battlefield itself, the Abbey, plus a visitor centre, exhibitions, playground and the all-important cafe for refuelling! Here are our highlights to help you plan your day.
Get Your Questions Answered
Visit 1066 Battle of Hastings, and you can find out the answers to these burning questions regularly asked about the place.
- Did the battle actually take place here?
- Why have no bodies or archaeology been found from the battle?
- Did Harold actually die at the battle?
- Why is it called the Battle of Hastings if it wasn't in Hastings?
- Why was the abbey built?
Start your adventure at the visitor Centre
Set the scene for the Battle of Hastings with our introductory film, vividly re-telling the story of the great battle. Start your tour of the site here and unlock the story of where you're standing.
The visitor centre includes fun, interactive displays. Are you strong enough to carry a Norman shield? Find out what England was like at the time of the conquest, and learn more about the events that led up to the fateful day.
Walk the 1066 Battlefield with your audio guide
Today peaceful with wildflowers and birdsong, this evocative landscape once played host to thousands of men, fighting for the future of king and country.
Explore the battlefield and picture it full of life (and death) on the day that England’s history changed forever. Follow the full course of the battle with our audio guide. Little visitors should check out the special children's version. See the wood-carved sculpture trail.
Visiting in wet weather? A shorter route along the terrace provides views out over the battlefield. And you can listen to your audio tour from a more comfortable (drier!) vantage point.
Explore the Abbey Ruins
Explore the atmospheric ruins of William the Conqueror’s famous abbey. Stand on the very spot where King Harold is said to have died.
Admire the stonework and acoustics of the 13th-century rib-vaulted dormitory range, including the Novices Common Room. Climb the staircase to explore the first floor too.
Visit the Gatehouse Exhibition
The abbey gatehouse houses an exhibition examining the important stories of the abbey in the years after 1066.
Enjoy a multimedia guide, and examine original artefacts and recreated objects from our fascinating collection. Upstairs you can get a stunning panoramic view out across the town and the 1066 landscape. Check out these highlights from our collection of paintings and artefacts online before you visit.
Stroll the Walled garden
Take a stroll round the Duchess of Cleveland’s Victorian walled garden, recreated to provide a glimpse into a lesser known time in the abbey’s history.
The walled garden at Battle is constantly growing and evolving. Visit, and you’ll find a lovely tranquil spot to relax. Look out for the historic varieties of fruit trees and pretty seasonal wildflowers. The garden is also home to the abbey's beehives, producing honey for our shop and cafe.
Investigate the Ice House and Dairy
Explore this unique example of a gothic-style thatched dairy and underground ice house on your visit to Battle Abbey.
Decorative dairies were fashionable, and often used for entertaining guests. A rare survival, the ice house at Battle Abbey was built between 1810-1820. It stored ice harvested from ponds in winter for use in the kitchens throughout the following summer.
Stop for a coffee
Relax for a light lunch or afternoon tea in the delightful surroundings of Battle Abbey Café.
There are plenty of tasty choices to keep you fed before or after exploring the site, and if you are particularly hungry then be sure to try our hot food specials. Thank you! Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps the charity look after England’s heritage.
Enjoy the Battle Abbey Playground
Adjacent to the cafe and picnic area is 1066 Battle of Hastings’ new natural play area.
The playground is based on 11th-century life and designed to fire kids’ imaginations. Carved from wood, the play area features all sorts of fun play structures based on the theme of 1066, including climbable barrels, carts and an enormous wooden ox.
It has been designed by Studio Hardie - the team behind George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.