We spent a week on the South Coast this summer, and one of the places we visited was the Smugglers Adventure in Hastings. This is actually the St Clements Caves - a series of tunnels and caverns once used extensively by real smugglers. Having looked on the website before visiting, my son was convinced we were going to be shown around by 'Hairy Jack' in person, and was quite disappointed to discover Hairy Jack was just speaking on a film! There are in fact two short films - one just after entering and one a little later on, giving some interesting history and insight into the caves and the widespread practice of smuggling. As you progress around the ...  Read the complete review

We decided to visit Smugglers Adventure on Saturday as we were in the Hastings area. We decided to go here because my partner was very interested in it and thought it would be good fun. It also looked like a place where adults could quite happily go alone and not look like big kids! Smugglers Adventure is some caves located in Hastings which used to be used for smuggling. Smugglers Adventure now tells the story of the smugglers. So we set out to find the place. We had a leaflet which suggested we park in one of the pay and display car parks and then walk up to the caves. So this is what we did, only problem is it was very difficult to find! Although it ...  Read the complete review

I've been spending a lot of time in East Sussex lately, as my boyfriend lives there, so it's a nice place to get away for a bit of a break . My breaks tend not to be much about lazing around on the beach soaking up the sun though - I'm very interested in history, not just kings and queens, but natural history and local history . So when we went to Hastings, I was pretty keen to visit Smugglers Adventure, and learn a little more about this interesting career choice. I didn't know much about smuggling prior to my visit . I knew it had happened, but not why, or how . I remember reading about smuggling in an Enid Blyton book too when I was younger . But, its fair ...  Read the complete review

With Hastings being quite a quirky, British sea-side town it comes as no surprise that 'Smugglers Adventure' is a quirky, sea-side related museum. It is not very large and does not contain a wide variety of displays or things to do but what is there is of mild interest even if it cannot be described as fascinating. For anyone with a desire to discover a bit about an aspect of the history of the area, this museum is an option. Located near the Old Town by fishing boats, huts and fishmongers, the location is very suitable. There is also a medium sized car park very near by. However, 'Smugglers Adventure' is not a good distraction for children from the Sealife Centre as it .  Read the complete review

The south coast is famous, or notorious, rather for smuggling. Much like piracy, this nefarious activity has been joked about and romanticised for centuries, making many of the smuggler's caves and dens tourist attractions along the coast. Hastings, along with nearby towns such as Eastbourne and Brighton, were heavily involved in the smuggling industry throughout the 1500's to the 1800's. Any time a war was on the taxes were put up to pay for it, and the only way to turn a profit was to involve yourself in smuggling in some form or another. In fact, so many people in Sussex were involved in smuggling that at one point it was considered a county ...  Read the complete review