The Electric Palace

Step inside this Edwardian theatre and you're looking at one of Britain's earliest purpose-built cinemas, dating back to 1911. The Electric Palace in Hastings has that genuine old-world theatre feel - ornate plasterwork, original fixtures, and a real sense of the era when cinema was a proper event rather than something you do in tracksuit bottoms at a multiplex.

You'll catch proper films here, not blockbuster chains, which makes it worth planning around if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Beaulieu Farm Campsite or Combe Haven. There's something rather special about watching anything from a classic to an indie film in a space this historic. The acoustics are decent, the seats worn but characterful, and you genuinely feel like you're part of cinema heritage rather than just consuming content.

Historians and anyone with a soft spot for Victorian and Edwardian architecture will find it fascinating - the exterior alone is worth photographing. It's not a theme park attraction or a museum in the traditional sense; it's a working theatre, so you need to check what's on before you visit. Most people allow a couple of hours if you're catching a showing, maybe add time for a browse around Hastings town centre before or after.

Kids might fidget if the film choice is too arthouse, but teenagers who aren't glued to their phones generally appreciate the novelty of the setting. It's the sort of place that rewards curiosity rather than demanding a full afternoon, so factor it in alongside beach time and other Hastings attractions rather than making it your sole reason for a day out.