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Here at Time Out, we’re all about championing all the brilliant places to see and things to right here in the UK. Between them, our writers, editors and contributors have ventured to practically every corner of the country, and in 2026, thanks to new openings, unmissable cultural events or historic anniversaries, lots of our favourite places are going to be extra worth a visit.
Our number one British destination this year is the Scottish city of Stirling. But coming in a close second? The East Sussex sister towns of Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea.
Time Out staff writer India Lawrence said: ‘It’s well known that Hastonians love a good knees-up, and every year the seaside town has a calendar packed full of cultural and community events: the incoming year has the usual festivals including Fat Tuesday, Jack and the Green and Pirate Day all on the books for 2026 already.’
Neighbouring St Leonards, meanwhile, is ‘quickly becoming a trendy coastal epicentre to give Margate a run for its money’.
The walk between the two towns is an easy wander along the seafront. For a trip, we recommend basing yourself at the boutique Old Rectory in Hastings Old Town. From there, spend the morning exploring Hastings Contemporary art gallery, the fascinating Hastings Fisherman Museum and vintage treasure trove Courthouse Cooperative.
Then wander down to St Leonards in the afternoon to check out its stretch of cool indie shops like Shop, Stereo Retro and Sunless and secure some sustenance in the form of fresh baked bagels at the Sleeper Store, a fish finger sando from hole-in-the-wall Goat Ledge or Scandi-inspired coffee from Fika@44. We recommend finishing the day with a glass (or three) from Heist.
This year is a particularly good time to venture to Hastings because it’s the 960th anniversary of the infamous Battle of Hastings. A huge display wargame is being put together for the occasion, which will use thousands of miniature figures to create a table top version of the face-off between the Normans and the Anglo-Danes.
The anniversary also coincides with the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in 900 years. While you’ll have to go to the British Museum in London to see it, you’ll be able to see landmarks depicted on the medieval masterpiece in real life in and around Hastings, including Hastings Castle. And 20 minutes from the town, there’ll be the big annual reenactment of the conflict at Battle Abbey (which is where the fight actually happened) in October.
See all of our favourite things to do in Hastings and St Leonards here.
Time Out’s full list of the best places to visit in the UK in 2026.
Plus: The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.
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