The De La Warr Pavilion and other Bexhill, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

This is Bexhill's theatre and arts centre, recently refurbished and restored with ?8million, it is THE principal arts and events centre on the south coast. Originally designed in 1937 by architects Eric Mendelsohn (East Prussian) and Serge Chermayeff (Russian), it was the UK's first public building designed in the Modernist style with steel and concrete.

This may be a small unheard of sleepy south coast town but this building is really something to be proud of - and definitely worth visiting with its 1st floor restaurant/cafe/bar with balcony overlooking the sea. Check out the website for listings and what's on.

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Phone: +44 (0)1424 787 900
Address: Marina, Bexhill on Sea East Sussex TN40 1DP
Directions: On the sea front
Website: http://www.dlwp.com/

These domes were designed by architect J B Wall and they are situated just above the Colonnade Cafe. They are ideal vantage points for fabulous sea views (and handy little shelters when you get caught in summer showers!) . They feature on lots of postcards and are a well known local landmark.

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Address: Bexhill Seafront
Directions: On the sea side of the De La Warr Pavillion

If you are really stuck for something to do in Bexhill you can always visit the small museum in Egerton Park. Founded in 1914 It has various exhibits from the Giant Spider Crab of Japan to a 4000 year old bronze axe head found in nearby Cooden. Fascinating.

There are also temporary exhibits which accordinging to the blurb in the leaflet means *There is always something new to see each time you visit*. Not if you have to visit twice the same day there isn't !!

Here you will find (amongst other things) information about:

the Kings German Legion - The Hanoverian Battalion who were based in Bexhill in the early 1800s

Bexhill - Birthplace of Modern Motor Racing

and

Dinosaurs - lots of Iguanadons roamed the swampy prehistoric Bexhill 130 million years ago and their fossilised footprints and faeces still keep turning up on the beaches to be carefully preserved in the museum.

Opening times:
Tues-Fri 10am-5pm
Sat & Sun 2pm-5pm

Closed all day Monday

Open February to mid-December.

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Phone: 01424 787950
Address: Egerton Road, Bexhill
Directions: In Egerton park
Website: http://www.bexhill-museum.co.uk/

Every year on the August Bank Holiday, the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club holds a classic car show. Bexhill holds the great accolade of being the "birthplace of British motor racing" .

This started in 1902 when a group of car enthusiasts had returned from Nice in France where they had seen similar exciting events and wanted to begin motor racing here. The Earl De La Warr realised that such an event would put Bexhill *on the map* and so, seafront racing began.

More classic car pics are in the travelogues.

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Address: The Polgrove, Bexhill on Sea
Directions: West Bexhill

If you go to the beach in Bexhill - and let's face it, there's not much else to do here, then go east along the prom towards Galley Hill. It's less touristy and so much quieter. The local seafishermen keep their boats here but that's about all there is, so bring something to eat - or keep walking east and you will eventually come to the little beach cafe at Glyne Gap. (See restaurants tip).

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Address: East along the Promenade
Directions: East.

In Bexhill Old Town. This is the Manor Barn and Manor Barn Gardens. On this site, granted to Bishop Oswald by King Offa in 772, there once stood the old Manor House which was recklessly demolished in 1968. Thankfully the barn and other out buildings were spared.
Now the barn is used for various functions such as weddings, antiques fairs, etc. The gardens are well kept and very quaint and pretty.

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Address: Bexhill Old Town
Website: http://www.st-stephens-bexhill.org.uk/about_bexhill1.htm

This is just a little "late Summer" flowerbed in the manor barn gardens. Very pretty. The building behind used to be an aviary where they kept various budgies and parakeets...but they all went to good homes apparently.

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Address: Bexhill Old Town

There's not too much to do in the Old Town - You can wander around the Manor Barn Gardens and visit the costume museum (if it's open) - go for a drink at The Bell Inn, or visit St Peters Church. There used to be a little row of shops but they have mostly gone now apart from one small restaurant, a newsagents and a hairdressers.

The Kings Hanoverian troops were based here in the 1800s. Thats quite an interesting aspect of the town's history.

There is more info in the website.

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Website: http://www.kingoffa.e-sussex.sch.uk/aboutbexhill.htm