We may be staying in, but we're certainly not missing out. Robotic gallery tours, virtual museums and live streams from the zoo – here's what's happening online.
Educational materials
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery is running a daily programme of events, talks, videos and more, with plenty of opportunities for interaction and discussion, while the Hastings Contemporary is offering robot-led tours of its collections.
Delivery services
Thirsty? Carr Taylor Vineyard is offering free nationwide delivery of its entire range of wines, with some hefty discounts too, while Three Legs Brewery is delivering its craft beer and cider. And for your fish'n'chip seaside fix Maggie's are doing takeaway and deliveries.
Virtual visits
Many attractions are using social media creatively, to let us visit without physically visiting. The Drusillas and Knockhatch adventure parks are streaming feeding times with their animals, as well as quizzes and educational materials.
Live streams and activities at Drusillas
Live streams and activities at Knockhatch
Delayed celebrations
Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, countless birthdays and anniversaries are taking place under lockdown this year, but there are still lots of ways to celebrate. Many of our members are selling gift vouchers for post-lockdown experiences – perfect for a postponed celebration.
For your favourite water baby, Bodiam Boating Station is selling vouchers for use on its kayaks, rowing boats, canoes and stand-up paddleboards, and they can also be redeemed on refreshments at the Lime Wharf Café.
Email Bodiam Boating Station for gift vouchers
Why not treat someone to a Gusbourne vineyard tour, in the scenic heart of England’s wine country? You can buy vouchers for three levels of tour, from £25 to £95 per person, for them to arrange on a date of their choice. Wine gifts are also available, from single bottle gifts (£25) to a six-bottle hamper of the entire Gusbourne range (£249).
Buy Gusbourne tour vouchers
Buy Gusbourne wines
Or, if visiting a few vineyards, devouring a picnic of local delicacies and being driven door-to-door appeals, check out Vine and Country Tours. You can even build your own voucher on their website, ready to send.
Buy Vine and Country vouchers
The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux is a treasure trove of gift ideas. They have gift voucher packages from £8.50 (child) to £29.50 (family of four), plus they're something of a one-stop-shop for little scientists, with many items at stocking-filler prices. There's astronaut food (£4.75), NASA merchandise (£3.50-£8.50), 3D model kits of space shuttles, rockets, and the solar system (all £4), rocket launchers (£6.75), solar robots (£8.50) and much more.
Visit the Observatory Science Centre online shop
Buy a voucher for a tour of 1066 Country’s grisliest exhibit, The True Crime Museum – £17 for two adults, £26 for a family. Post-lockdown, a visit to their shop is also a great source of inspiration for the weirdo in your life. Bestsellers include skull tankards, goblets, true crime books, and, er, handcuffs.
Buy True Crime Museum vouchers
Bring your loved ones nose to nose with nature at Drusillas Park with a Close Encounter Animal Experience – meet all manner of exotic animals from meerkats, to sloths, red pandas and more! Or experience life at the zoo first-hand with a Zoo Keeper for the Day experience. Feeling creative? Why not give the gift of a Photography Day; a unique chance to get up-close to amazing animals and learn to snap that perfect shot.
Buy Drusillas gift vouchers
Knockhatch Adventure Park Annual Passes, Meerkat Experiences, Owl Keeper Experiences & Animal Keeper Experiences are all available.
Buy Knockhatch experiences
Buy Knockhatch gift vouchers
The fabulously quirky The Bell in Ticehurst has its own online gift shop, selling items from local wines to Sunday lunches and dog-friendly weekend breaks. They are also running a series of experience days in 2021, in conjunction with Curious House, from creative writing to furniture painting, lino cutting and willow weaving. You can buy vouchers from £110 per person, which includes lunch and all your materials.
Buy vouchers to eat or stay at The Bell in Ticehurst
Buy vouchers for creative workshops
The richly atmospheric Mermaid Inn in Rye sells gift vouchers in denominations of £25, £50, £100, £250 and £500, to spend on an overnight stay, champagne by the Giant's Fireplace or dining experiences. You can buy the voucher online, add a message, and have it sent directly to the lucky recipient.
Buy gift vouchers for the Mermaid Inn
The Old Rectory in Hastings Old Town offers chic, boutique spa breaks – and gift vouchers too. Hotel vouchers are available from £30-150 and spa vouchers from £10-120, or if you'd prefer to keep the price a secret you can buy by the package instead.
Buy gift vouchers for The Old Rectory
If it's a luxury, boutique B&B stay you're after, The Laindons in Hastings Old Town is the perfect choice. Vouchers can be purchased for the full cost of your chosen stay or for a monetary value that the recipient can put towards their booking. You can also add extras for flowers, wine, or champagne, and vouchers are valid for two years from the date of purchase.
Buy vouchers for The Laindons
Foodies will love learning to fillet fish or forage for fungi with a voucher for Webbe's Cookery School, or a restaurant voucher to be spent on a meal in one of their three restaurants – Webbe's Rock-a-Nore in Hastings, The Wild Mushroom in Westfield, or Webbe's at the Fish Café in Rye. The vouchers are valid for up to two years and can be bought online and emailed to you.
Buy vouchers for Webbe's restaurants or cookery school
And if award-winning pubs are more their thing, The Crown in Hastings Old Town is also selling gift vouchers, accompanied by a beautiful card featuring a painting of the pub by local artist Sarah Maycock.
Email The Crown to buy vouchers
For the train buff in your life, you can buy gift cards from £25 to £500 to be spent on experiences on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. These are valid for 24 months, allowing plenty of time for your recipient to plan.
Buy Kent & East Sussex Railway gift cards
Put a shot of adrenalin into your gifts this year, with a Camber Kitesurfing voucher. From a relatively sedate 2-seater kayak hire (£25) to a full-on 5-day kitesurfing course (£450) there's something to suit all levels of adventurousness and budget – as well as all the related wetsuits and equipment.
Buy Camber Kitesurfing gift vouchers
The blackShed Gallery in Robertsbridge has launched a new online shop selling artists' supplies, ceramics and gift sets, all reflecting the stylish, contemporary ethos of the gallery. You'll find locally produced charcoal, handmade ink and sketchbooks, art prints, beautiful ceramic dishes and cups, and an under-£30 section.
Visit the blackShed's online shop
For the Hastings Old Town buff in your life, there's good news – The Old Hastings Preservation Society has an online shop on its website, where you can buy Christmas cards, books and other items.
Visit the Old Hastings Preservation Society shop
Get an amazing £11.99 discount on digital 1066 Card membership, entitling the recipient to discounts at hundreds of shops, restaurants and attractions all across 1066 Country. Click ‘CARDS’ on the lower menu bar and enter voucher code FREE12.
Visit the 1066 Card online shop
Bedgebury National Pinetum remains open (to locals, following all Covid guidelines), though do check ahead as there are changes to some facilities. The Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum website is a treasure trove of gifts for nature lovers – you can buy an annual membership (from £72/year), adopt a tree, sponsor a bench, or buy botanical art prints.
Buy Bedgebury gift membership
Adopt a tree at Bedgebury
Sponsor a bench at Bedgebury
Send Bedgebury Christmas cards
The Hastings Contemporary has a huge range of art-inspired gifts. They have just released a new collection of fish-themed original works by Quentin Blake, specifically to support the gallery through these difficult times, which are selling out fast.
Visit the Hastings Contemporary online shop
Eggs to Apples farm shop in Hurst Green is open for food shopping, championing local producers as always. They already offer contactless pickup and delivery services, have just launched an online shop.
Visit the Eggs to Apples online shop
Charles Palmer Vineyards have an excellent online shop selling their gorgeous wines from £19-£32, and free delivery on orders of two bottles or more. Or, book a cellar-door tasting for £15 per person.
Visit the Charles Palmer online shop
