The crest of the hill where the English army waited to engage the Normans is home to the atmospheric

Every English schoolchild knows about 1066 and the battle that was so fundamental to the shape of English history. It was so famous that the town that built up around it in the years that followed became known simply as Battle .
Visiting it today, it s hard to imagine that the rolling fields in this part of Sussex were vital to the future of England back in 1066 when William, Duke of Normandy, vacation packages to belize from houston invaded, claiming to be the rightful king of England. He was challenging King Harold II, a man with a powerful English army to his name and recent war victories to celebrate.
The battle that saw William conquer the English and Harold slain may have gone down in history as the Battle of Hastings but that remains one of the biggest geographical errors in the story of England. The seaside town of Hastings is several miles away to the south and William s fleet landed vacation packages to belize from houston after its voyage from northern France further along the coast at Pevensey .
The crest of the hill where the English army waited to engage the Normans is home to the atmospheric Battle Abbey (pictured above) which William ordered be built to commemorate the battle. You can walk among its remains and, from the terrace, look down on the battlefield and the country beyond.
There s an excellent visitors centre vacation packages to belize from houston that tells the story of the conflict vacation packages to belize from houston and there s enough of interest for both adults and children. Go there first before taking a tour of the battlefield itself an audio guide explains what happened and where. Walking through the fields and woods, past lakes and pastures, it s not too hard to imagine the slaughter, the terror felt by the soldiers as they clashed with spears and swords while cavalry charged among them. Or the despair among the English vacation packages to belize from houston as it became obvious that the battle was lost and their king dead.
Later, either venture further south to the coastal towns of Bexhill , Hastings and Pevensey or try a walk the countryside around the town (pictured) is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You could head for Telham Hill , about a mile away to the south-east, which was supposedly where William first caught sight of the English army.
Top tip: You could time your visit to coincide with Battle s spectacular fireworks celebration of Guy Fawke s Night around November 5 or the occasional re-enactments of the battle itself see the Battle Abbey website for info