2nd most important battlefield. After love.

September 27, 2007 12:09 PM

How to get London - Battle on public transport?

My husband and I are in England next week, and we have an ongoing in-joke about battlefields. To that end, we want to go to Battle, to check out the battlefield site. We've worked out trains to Hastings, but frankly, are confused by the plethora of bus/train information and the crappy websites we keep finding. Can anyone clearly explain how to get to Battle, from Hastings presumably, on public transport?

posted by gaspode to Travel & Transportation around London, England (9 answers total)

Best answer: During the day (Mon-Sun) there are 2 trains an hour from Hastings to Battle & the journey takes about 15 mins.

By a ticket for your complete journey and change trains at Hastings. Where are you travelling from?

Train times from National Rail.
posted by i_cola at 12:25 PM on September 27, 2007

Response by poster: Brilliant. See, somehow we missed that we could get to Battle by train. We're going from London. Thanks, i_cola.
posted by gaspode at 12:35 PM on September 27, 2007

Did you actually want to visit Hastings? Because there are direct trains from London Charing Cross to Battle.
posted by chrismear at 1:36 PM on September 27, 2007

Oh wait, you've figured that out already. I'll leave now.
posted by chrismear at 1:38 PM on September 27, 2007

Mrs. Director and I were in Battle almost exactly one year ago. Highly recommended, especially if you are familiar with the history. Turns out we both have ancestors who fought side-by-side on William's side.
posted by trinity8-director at 4:21 PM on September 27, 2007

Response by poster: Yay, good to hear trinity8-director.
posted by gaspode at 5:49 PM on September 27, 2007

Just to point out the typo in the best answer above. This is my commute and it takes 1 HOUR and 15 mins only from London Bridge, add 10 mins from Charing Cross. Leaves from Platform 5 or 6 depending on times. E-mails in the profile if you need someone to show you around the neighbourhood. ( Battlefield is walking distance from the train station). If you stay for evening meal, you must eat at Pilgrims, next to the Battlefield, one of the oldest pubs/Inns in the UK. A bit pricey but worth it. Otherwise there are quaint tea shoppes on the main street, across from the Abbey and half-way up the town. enjoy
posted by Wilder at 5:52 AM on September 28, 2007

If you don't want to eat in Battle, which is a bit teashoppy, try stopping at Tunbridge Wells on the way home, which is a pleasant spa town with a few good restaurants (Hotel du Vin and Petit Blanc at the top of the hill on which the station stands, a few others near the Pantiles, in the other direction).

And wave to Wadhurst as you go past, I lived there when my kids were born.
posted by athenian at 12:25 PM on September 28, 2007

May I add my personal experience? The site of the battle is still mainly an open field. I think you could get onto the field via a small gate. The battlefield is just tall grass -- there is nothing visually stirring about the place at all.

And yet, standing on that ground where world history pivoted over the course of a few hours was quite moving for us, moreso than the abbey ruins or the rest of the grounds.

That empty field covering the bones of so many men was one of the highlights of our entire two weeks in England. Other may stand in that same place and wonder what the big deal is for us it was a more hallowed place than any cathedral.
posted by trinity8-director at 2:16 PM on September 28, 2007