St Mark's United Reformed Church

The red-brick Victorian chapel on the edge of Hastings is one of those places you stumble upon by accident, which is probably the best way to find it. St Mark's United Reformed Church sits quietly in a residential corner, a proper period piece from the late 1800s with all the architectural fuss you'd expect from that era - tall sash windows, pitched roof, the works. It's small enough that you won't spend hours here, but the interior has genuine character if you're into ecclesiastical design or just fancy a moment of peace away from the seafront crowds.

Who'll get most from it? Church architects and history types, certainly. Anyone with a keenness for Victorian nonconformist buildings will find it worthwhile. The casual visitor passing through Hastings might pop in for ten minutes if the door's open, though it's not the sort of place that'll keep young children entertained for long. You're looking at maybe twenty minutes total, assuming you can actually get inside.

The practical side is where things get fuzzy. Opening hours aren't publicly listed, so you'll need to phone ahead or catch it on a Sunday service. Admission should be free as with most churches, but don't rely on that. If you're camped at Beaulieu Farm or Coghurst Hall nearby, it's a straightforward walk or short drive to reach. On a park holiday in the area, it works as a cultural break between beach days rather than a main event. Hastings itself demands most of your attention - St Mark's is more of a nice-to-know footnote than a proper destination.