Cliff Railways - West Hill

About

The lift is closed for repairs. We'll keep you updated on its reopening.

Update November 2019: The lift's main drive wheel, which it was originally hoped could be repaired, now needs to be replaced. When the lift was built 127 years ago, these wheels were commonly produced for collieries. However, the new wheel has to be designed and cast individually, and we are awaiting timescale estimates.

West Hill Lift

The West Hill Lift retains its original wooden Victorian coaches, and also runs through a tunnel, very unusual for a funicular.

The lift's charming lower station is in traffic-free George Street which is full of continental-style cafés, art shops and bookshops.

The West Hill itself offers some of the town's most remarkable views, stretching round to Beachy Head in the west and out across the Channel, the busiest sea lane on the world. Better still, you can enjoy these sights from inside the West Hill Café which is open throughout the Summer and offers a wide range of drinks and meals.

Please note that there is limited access on the West Hill carriages for large prams and push chairs.

Legacy of the Railway

The United Kingdom's steepest funicular railway is not only a structure of national importance but also a source of immense local pride.

It casts a welcoming shadow over Europe's largest beach launched fishing fleet and provides thousands of residents and visitors easy access to the Hastings Country Park and some of the most spectacular vantage points over the town.

It's become an enduring symbol of the unique charm and character of Hastings, a symbol powerful and true enough to withstand two world wars and the fast-changing tides of a turbulent century.

The lift's charming lower station is in traffic-free George Street which is full of continental-style cafés, artshops and bookshops.

The West Hill itself offers some of the town's most remarkable views, stretching round to Beachy Head in the west and out across the Channel, the busiest sea lane on the world. It was on this hilltop that Hastings resident John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, made his first radar experiments.

Better still, you can enjoy these sights from inside the West Hill Café which is open throughout the Summer and offers a wide range of drinks and meals.