Working and Networking
- Networking Events
- Hastings Digital Meetup (monthly at various venues), Wired Sussex events
- Social Events for Expats
- Hastings & St Leonards - What's On Facebook Group, InterNations Brighton (nearby)
- Best Coworking Space
- Freedom Works (Creative Media Centre, £20/day) or Rock House (£15/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Observer Building (Great Wi-Fi), Goat Ledge (Beachside working), or Hanushka Coffee House
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited), 247 Taxis (Local App), Town & Country Taxis (01424 733733)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bell's Bicycles (St Leonards, approx £25/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Hastings Beach (Pebble), Camber Sands (Sand, 30 mins away by car/bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- Loganair (from Southampton/London Gatwick nearby)
- Top International Airline
- British Airways, EasyJet (via London Gatwick, 90 mins by train)
- Highway Access
- A21 (London connection), A259 (Coastal Road)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hastings Railway Station (Direct lines to London Charing Cross and Victoria)
- Public Transport Passes
- Stagecoach 'DayRider' (£5-£7), Weekly 'MegaRider' (£20-£25)
- Regional Travel
- Southern Rail (to Brighton - 60 mins), Southeastern (to London - 90 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Conquest Hospital (The Ridge, Hastings)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Wellington Health & Wellbeing Centre, The Yoga Garden
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Summerfields Leisure Centre (£45/mo), The Source Park (Unique underground skatepark/gym)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Guy (St Leonards), Bubbles Launderette (Mount Pleasant Road)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Just Eat, Deliveroo, UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fresh Catch of the Day (Hastings has the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Maggie's Fish & Chips (Vegan options), Pelican Diner, Heist Market
- Best Dessert Spots
- Di Pola's (Artisan Gelato in Old Town), Stooge Coffee
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Morrisons (Queens Road), Aldi (Rye Road), Priory Meadow Shopping Centre
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.uk, Argos, eBay UK
- Grocery Delivery
- Ocado, Tesco, Sainsbury’s
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- George Street (Old Town Bars), Norman Road (St Leonards)
- Local Brewery
- Three Legs Brewery, Brewing Brothers (at The Imperial)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Shed (St Leonards), Farmyard (Natural wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- The Stade (Seafood stalls), Heist Market (Indoor street food hall)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Boulevard Books & Thai Cafe (Thai), Rustico (Neapolitan Pizza)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Hastings Castle (Ruins), West Hill Lift (Victorian Funicular)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hastings Contemporary (Art gallery), Fisherman's Museum
- Historical Sites
- 1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield (nearby in Battle)
- Religious Sites
- St Clement's Church (Old Town), All Saints Church
- Annual Events
- Jack-in-the-Green (May Day), Hastings Pirate Day (July), Bonfire Night (October)
- Cultural Districts
- Old Town (Heritage), St Leonards (Bohemian/Arts district)
- Theater Venues
- White Rock Theatre, St Mary in the Castle
- Local Markets
- Hastings Street Market (Thursdays), Kings Road Market (Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- The Printworks, Whistle Trago, The Piper
- Street Art
- Banksy (formerly located on the beach pier), various murals in St Leonards
- Cooking Classes
- Webbe’s Rock-a-Nore (Seafood cookery school)
- Art Galleries
- Lucy Bell Fine Art, Project 78 Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Observer Building, Marine Court (1930s Art Deco)
- Local Heritage
- The Net Huts (Grade II listed black wooden sheds)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve (Firehills)
- National Parks Nearby
- South Downs National Park (approx 40 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Coastal Path to Bexhill, 1066 Harold's Way
- Scenic Viewpoints
- East Hill (via funicular for views of the Old Town), West Hill
- Birdwatching Locations
- Pett Level (nearby coastal marshland)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Restricted mostly to organized beach events during Bonfire season
Business
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. £2,400 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = £180,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard rate in UK)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (UK typically does not withhold tax on dividends)
- Tax System
- Statutory Residence Test; worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (on income over £125,140)
- VAT
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, robust rules apply
- Property Tax
- Council Tax (paid monthly, approx £150-£250/mo depending on band)
- Property Transaction Tax
- SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax); varies based on price, starting at 0% up to £250k
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None specifically; standard UK tax residency rules apply
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. £3,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = £122,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. £2,800 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = £98,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. £3,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = £160,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. £2,600 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = £130,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. £3,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = £225,000)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Royal Mail (Cambridge Road DP), Evri, DPD Pickup (various shops)
- Tech Repair Services
- Repair All (Queens Road), iSmash (nearby Eastbourne)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Summerfields Leisure Centre
- Language Classes
- East Sussex College - English for International Students
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hastings Library (Brassey Institute, amazing architecture)
- Community Centers
- The Bridge Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Source Park (Cafe/Gaming area), Press Start Gaming Lab
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Admiral Casino (Hastings Town Centre)
Essentials
- City
- Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Population
- 92,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 70-150 Mbps (Fiber available via Openreach and Trooli)
- Currency & Banking
- British Pound Sterling (GBP). 1 GBP ≈ 1.27 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.79 GBP
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable (Southern Water)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (three-pin) sockets
- SIM Card
- EE, O2, Vodafone, Three (Available at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre)
- Banking for Expats
- Monzo, Revolut, Starling (Digital); Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds (Physical branches in town)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Rightmove (Rentals), Spareroom (Flatshares)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payments accepted almost everywhere including buses
- Short Term Rentals
- The Lansdowne Hotel (approx £85/night), Airbnb apartments in Old Town
- Budget Accommodation
- Vive Hotel (£50-£70/night), various guesthouses on Havelock Road
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Town (The Stade, George Street) for history and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- St Leonards-on-Sea (Trendy, slightly cheaper, better cafes, near Warrior Square station)