As part of our urban walks series, grab a bag and your boots for this Bexhill town and seafront walk.
- Full walk: 6.4 km
- Shorter options: 3.1 km or 5.2 km
This urban walk takes in some of the best of Bexhill: leafy Egerton Park, the seafront, the De La Warr Pavilion, Galley Hill and the Old Town. There are plenty of places to pause for coffee, lunch or a look around, so you can make as much or as little of the day as you like. Catch the train to the starting point, or if driving, park on the seafront or at the De La Warr car park.
The full walk
Start at Bexhill railway station and head west along Endwell Road, then Western Road, which becomes Wickham Avenue and leads to Egerton Park. You’ll pass the Pavilion Playhouse on the way. Take time to enjoy the park, perhaps stopping for coffee or visiting Bexhill Museum.
From the museum, make your way towards the seafront, passing Bexhill Clock Tower. Turn east and follow the promenade, with the De La Warr Pavilion on your left. You might like to pause for an exhibition or coffee there, or stop at the Colonnade, closer to the water.
Continue along the coastal path, following the shoreline as closely as you wish. You might be tempted to stop for fish and chips, and you’ll pass Bexhill’s wonderfully quirky beachfront apartments. At the rowing club, leave the beach briefly to walk around the boats, then rejoin the seafront just beyond the Coronation Bandstand. Look out for the colourful, Easter egg-like car sculpture outside the Sackville apartments. It’s called the Serpollet and you may have seen a reproduction of it in the museum.
Keep going towards Galley Hill. It may look a long way off, but it’s not as far as it seems, and the climb is gentle. At the top, you’ll find a coffee shop, a small children’s play area, a peace pole and a wonderful viewpoint. Look out for the first of the Motor Heritage Trail noticeboards.
Retrace your steps a short way, past the Sea Angling Club, and look for the alleyway near Sutton Place. This takes you past the Wave Arts mural and brings you out near St Richard’s Catholic Church. Head west along Ashdown Road, then turn right into Manor Road and follow it steadily uphill. At De La Warr Road, turn left towards Bexhill Old Town.
Pause in Manor Gardens and take time to explore the Old Town, including its church and gardens. This is also the starting point for the 1066 Country Walk. When you’re ready, head downhill along Upper Sea Road, which leads back to the station. Before you get there, look out for the street art featuring the Maharajah, Eddie Izzard and other local names. The Cinnamon Café, just beyond the station, is handy for one last coffee.
Two shorter options
This walk is easy to split into a walk of two halves:
- For a 3.1 km walk, head off to Egerton Park and Bexhill Museum, then continue to the De La Warr Pavilion and along the seafront, passing the Colonnade and continuing as far as the marina and rowing club. Turn inland there to return to the station.
- For a 5.2 km walk, from the station head down to the coast and follow the seafront east to Galley Hill. Then make your way back through Bexhill Old Town and Manor Gardens (as above) before returning to the station.
For more Bexhill walks, visit:
Bexhill urban walk: frequently asked questions
How difficult is the walk?
The route is on pavements and other paved surfaces, but it includes climbs up to Galley Hill and Bexhill Old Town. The full 6.4 km route is a substantial walk, so take your time and use the shorter options if they suit you better.
Where can I stop for refreshments?
There are cafés and places to eat around the route, including in Egerton Park, at the De La Warr Pavilion and near the top of Galley Hill. The Cinnamon Café, just beyond the station, is another option.
Is the route well signed?
Not consistently. Individual attractions are reasonably well signposted around town, and it’s easy to follow the seafront along the King Charles III Coastal Path. Elsewhere, use Google Maps to help you find your way between the stops.
For more ideas on what to see in Bexhill and the surrounding area, including where to find the dinosaur footprints and the Motor Heritage Trail, take a look at our Things to Do in Bexhill guide:
