Three alternative locations for the battle have been suggested, some of which have received considerable media coverage. Nick Austin has claimed that the fighting took place nearer to the coast at Crowhurst. John Grehan and Martin Mace argue that the battle was actually fought on Caldbec Hill, a little to the north of Senlac Hill. Dr Rebecca Welshman and Simon Coleman have separately argued for a site close to the villages of Old Heathfield and Cade Street in East Sussex which was formerly Heathfield Down.

The Trust always welcomes interest in the exact location of what is arguably the most important battlefield in England and approaches new theories about it with an open – but cautious – mind. However, until compelling evidence is provided for these alternative sites, the Trust's position remains that it favours the traditional site of the battle.

For those who are keen to investigate these alternative theories, details can be found in: 

Nick Austin, Secrets of the Norman Invasion, Ogmium Press, 2nd Edition, 2021.

John Grehan and Martin Mace, The Battle of Hastings 1066 - The Uncomfortable Truth: Revealing the True Location of England's Most Famous Battle, Pen and Sword, 2021.

Rebecca Welshman & Simon Coleman (2024). 'Heathfield Down: An Alternative Location for the Battlefield of Hastings, 1066'. International Journal of Military History and Historiography, 45(2), 205-239.