Hastings

No exceptions, you need to visit Hastings on your next excursion through England. England has a tangible gloom and grit. All of its wrinkles and grey hairs are nobly on display. The cottages are topped with warmly hued moss, and the clouds well up into a gentle rain. The morning fog is thick and settling.  The fields of green are rarely sun-kissed, and it seems right that way. It shows the signs of a life long-lived and a culture steeped in tradition like a morning cup of rich, black tea.

Hastings has a different flair. It fancies itself the second sunniest place in England (first—according to our neighbours). It sounds of seagulls and waves crashing on the shore; smells of sea air that wraps its warmth around you the instant you step out of the train. It has none of the gloom and all of the grit. Its an old gal, too, adorned in Victorian, pastel-hued flats that stretch for a miles over rolling hills, resembling the best coastal cities with the English Channel stretching out for miles beyond you.

This is a town that follows through on its first impression. It has not an ounce of artifice, sustaining local business owners and being so hip all the while. It is home to a treasure chest full of vintage delights at every corner. Heritage buildings have been preserved and renovated to house bakeries, sustainable clothing shops, art galleries, true vintage paraphernalia, cafes, pubs, and food from all around the world.

The Old Town sets off in different directions so there is plenty to explore, all to the tunes of live music. Look up and you will see the Battle of Hastings castle overlooking the entire town. The people are real and friendly.

You can live a life here—a darn good one too.