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The best things to do in Eastbourne, East Sussex

Looking for the best things to do in Eastbourne? Read on for a local’s guide on what to see and do in one the UK’s sunniest seaside resorts.

Eastbourne Pier and beach on sunny day

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Eastbourne in East Sussex sits on England’s south coast with the English Channel to one side and the South Downs National Park on the other. It’s just an hour and a half from London by train and the perfect place for getting outdoors and breathing in some fresh sea air.

There’s a great range of things to do in Eastbourne for both adults and children which makes it a good UK destination for a day-trip, weekend break or even a week’s holiday. It’s easy to visit from Brighton or London. And some of the prettiest Sussex villages are within striking distance.

If you’re staying longer than a day or two there’s plenty to keep you busy in the surrounding area. Pay a visit to nearby Rathfinny wine estate for wine tour and lunch or hop on the train for a day out in Brighton, Eastbourne’s louder and busier coastal cousin. Read on for a local’s guide on what to see and do in this fabulous East Sussex seaside town.

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Things to do in Eastbourne

Eastbourne is easy on the eye with wide open sea views which catch both sunrises and sunsets. As well as its iconic Victorian pier there are over 130 listed buildings in the town. Some of the UK’s best views and hikes are within striking distance too.

Eastbourne is labelled the UK’s sunniest town and there are many outdoor activities to explore as well as lots to do when the weather’s not playing ball. Read on for some of my favourite things to do in Eastbourne and its surrounding countryside.

Eastbourne Pier

Eastbourne Pier
Eastbourne Pier

Just beyond the bandstand is Eastbourne Pier, one of my favourite Eastbourne attractions and the town’s centerpiece.

The 300-metre long pier celebrated 150 years in 2016 and all the domes were painted gold to mark the occasion by its new owner. Not without some controversy among local townsfolk the council. However, the glitz remains and the Victorian pier sparkles in the Sussex sunshine. A stroll along the pier is one of Eastbourne’s top things to do.

To accompany fabulous views of the English Channel you can enjoy afternoon tea in the Victorian Tea Rooms, a bevvy at the Waterfront Bar or fish and chips from The Chippy.  Mind the seagulls don’t pinch them, or the top of your ice cream – they’ve had mine before.

There are also a range of shops and an amusement arcade on the pier.

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Eastbourne Bandstand

Eastbourne’s art deco bandstand is one of Britain’s busiest and a visit to the bandstand is, without doubt one of the most popular things to do in Eastbourne. The iconic venue is one of the top tourist attractions in Eastbourne with collonades and raised seating areas holding up to 1600 guests.

The first performance was held at the bandstand in 1935 and there are now over 140 performances every year. Concerts range from well-known acts to tribute bands, brass bands, firework concerts and kid’s shows.

things to do in Eastbourne - visit Eastbourne Bandstand
Eastbourne Bandstand

Eastbourne Beach

Eastbourne Beach
Eastbourne Beach from the pier

One of my favourite things to do in Eastbourne is take a stroll along Eastbourne beach and its unspoiled promenade. Eastbourne beach is an essential part of a visit to the town especially if ice-cream’s involved.

Heading west, past Wish Tower, there are two promenades, a higher and a lower level so there’s plenty of room for a seaside saunter. Eastbourne beach is mainly shingle with some sandy areas at low tide.

Eastbourne became popular when the Victorians decided a dip in the sea was good for the health and flocked to the town. Eastbourne beach stretches for four miles from Sovereign Harbour to Beachy Head.

Along the way are some of Eastbourne’s top attractions. You’ll see beautiful Victorian buildings, Eastbourne Pier, the iconic bandstand, Wish Tower, Italian gardens and some beach cafes.

Holywell Beach

Head west along Eastbourne’s seafront and walk all the way to Holywell Beach. Pass by wide Italian gardens and colourful borders. The stunning white chalk cliffs of the south coast will come into view, stop and take in the view on one of the many seats or head down to the beach.

Rock pools appear by the shore at low tide with all manner of sealife to be discovered within. Keep going and you’ll come to the gateway of the South Downs National Park.

The energetic can climb up to Beachy Head to take a look at the famous Beach Head Lighthouse. More info to come about that below.

Holywell Beach Eastbourne
Holywell Beach, Eastbourne, East Sussex

The Wish Tower

Wish tower is one of Eastbourne’s points of interest for the history buff. The Wish Tower is one of 74 MartelloTowers built along the south coast. Along with the Redoubt Fortress, these were built to defend against Napoleon in the early 1800’s.

The Wish Tower is number 73 and easy to spot on a grassy slope heading west from the bandstand. The popular Western View cafe is next door and the nearby lawns are often used for events.

Nearby is the Lifeboat Museum housed in the William Terriss Memorial Boathouse. The building was erected in 1898 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as a lifeboat station.

It became the first of many RNLI museums in the UK after it was vacated in the 1920s. Definitely worth a quick look-see if you’re passing.

The Towner Art Gallery

Towner Gallery Eastbourne with Lothar Gotz colourful mural
The Towner Gallery, Eastbourne

Eastbourne’s modern and contemporary art gallery moved to new premises  in 2009.  Originally the building was designed to reflect the chalk cliffs of the south downs. In June 2019 the Towner had a makeover and was transformed into a work of art in its own right.

Abstract artist Lothar Gotz designed the strikingly colourful mural. The building will revert back to its original paintwork at some point in the future.

The Towner Collection is one of the best public art collections in the southeast of England, housing pieces by Picasso, Henry Moore, Olafur Eliasson, Walter Sickert, David Bomberg and works by one of my favourite local artists – Eric Ravilious.

There are up to five temporary exhibitions at the Towner Art Gallery at any time. Entry is free although an occasional fee is charged for the more popular exhibitions.

Towner Eastbourne will be hosting the Turner Prize 2023, the world’s leading prize for contemporary art, as a highlight of the gallery’s centenary celebrations. 

Eastbourne Shops

All Things Analogue

There are one or two Eastbourne shops that I’d like to introduce you to. If you happen to be a stationery geek like me then you’ll love All Things Analogue. I adore this store, and revel in its beautifully curated shelves of notebooks, pens, pencils and retro typewriters. It’s a Moleskine lovers dream.

Who remembers those duck egg blue Olivettis…? I had one and wish I knew where it was now. Abel will sell you a ribbon for it and spend time reminiscing over the resonant click clacking of a manual typewriter.

All Things Analogue can be found at 37 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TT

Camilla’s Bookshop

Just a few doors down from All Things Analogue at 57 Grove Road, you’ll find Camilla’s Bookshop. The shop is filled with towering stacks of secondhand and antiquarian books. There’s believed to be over a million books in stock. You’re sure of a warm welcome and a cheery hello when you arrive from Archie the owner’s pet parrot.

Airbourne – Eastbourne International Airshow

Eastbourne pier is the perfect spot to watch Airbourne the town’s annual airshow although you’ll need to arrive very early to snag a place. The next best place to watch is from the promenade where crowds pitch their deckchairs and settle in for the day. Airbourne is probably the best of Eastbourne’s annual events closely followed by the WTA International tennis tournament at Devonshire Park.

Eastbourne airshow is free and takes place over four days every August. There are many events in the town as well as the airshow itself. There are stands from the military with aircraft simulators, military dog displays and sea rescue demonstrations.

Either the Red Arrows or the Breitling Jet Team put on an air display and other favourites like the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Tucano and Typhoon and Chinook helicopters also perform. The show returns 12-15 August 2021.

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Eastbourne International Tennis

The week before Wimbledon see Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club put on one of Eastbourne’s main events.Eastbourne International is on the WTA and ATP tours, and although it’s traditionally been recognised as a women’s tournament in recent years there are been men’s competitions too with some top players attending.

Eastbourne International makes for a fabulous day or days out with ticket prices starting as low as £25. It’s an intimate venue and you’re guaranteed a fabulous view at a fraction of the price at Wimbledon.

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Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress

Eastbourne Redoubt
The Redoubt Fortress at Eastbourne – currently closed (2023)

**Sadly Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress is closed until further notice due to extensive re-wiring and ongoing improvements.**

One of the top things to do in Eastbourne for both kids and adults is the Redoubt Fortress. It’s one of the newest yet oldest places to go in Eastbourne. The fort is one of only three surviving Napoleonic fortresses in the UK and was built to defend the south coastline of England during the Napoleonic wars.

The interactive exhibition details over 200 years of history and the daily lives of the soldiers that lived in the circular fortress from the Napoleonic times through to to World Wars I and II. I explored the casemates, the creepy cells and the gun platforms. Entry to Redoubt Fortress is free but you’ll need to buy tickets to enter the casemates.

The Pavilion Cafe and exhibitions

Next to the Redoubt Fortrees you’ll find the Pavilion Café where you’ll find excellent cofee and cake, excellent sea views and some pretty gardens. There are regularly updated exhibitions held at the Pavilion which are well worth exploring.

During my visit a free National Trust exhibition called Living on the Edge: 8000 years by the sea was showing. The exhibition showed how life played out along the dramatic landscape of the Seven Sisters over the last 8000 years. Being Sussex born and bred I found this fascinating.

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Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway

For family fun pay a visit to Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway both kids and adult train-lovers with love it. The 1/8th scale miniature railway will take you along a mile long track through the forest on a variety of locomotives. Afterwards take a wander around the 5-acre country park with its lake and wildlife.

Get lost on the maze and visit Grandma’s Garden and for the under 5s check out the adventure playground. Afterwards relax in the tea gardens with lunch or a cream tea from the Railway Cafe. There are picnic areas too.

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Eastbourne Trails

Eastbourne Trails Marker
Eastbourne Trails

I used the Eastbourne Trails app to help guide me on my Eastbourne walks. There are three trails; The Blue Plaque Heritage Trail, the Seven Sisters Trail and East of the Pier Heritage Trail.  The handy app gives info on Eastbourne attractions that are nearby. There’s a useful map and route feature with no roaming costs.

Click here for GPSmyCity self-guided walking tours in Eastbourne

Sovereign Harbour

Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne, boats and sightseeing boat
Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

Sovereign Harbour just to the east of the town was built in 1993. The area consists of four harbours, shops, restaurants, residential housing and a retail park.

The harbour makes a nice place for a stroll and a coffee of a meal. There are some good restaturants with al fresco dining.  The beach is nearby too.

Take a the short half hour marina boat trip around the harbour. It’s a a fun way of seeing the harbour and you might see some sealife. If you’d like to venture a little further, you can charter one of the boats within Sovereign Harbour Marina for a fishing, sightseeing or diving trip.

Things to do near Eastbourne

Eastbourne is within walking distance of Beachy Head (if you don’t mind steep hills) or you can take the sightseeing bus, or drive and park up at Exceat. There are some excellent walks and activities on and around the cliffs, which are the highest in the UK. Seven Sisters Country Park makes a good base to explore the area.

The Seven Sisters Cliffs

My favourite walk is down the west side of the river to Seaford Head to see the iconic coastguard cottages. There’s another parallel path which takes you to the beach where you can appreciate the full drama of the cliffs. I’d do all three walks because they’re all stunning.

Walking time would be around 2-3 hours depending on your fitness levels to do all three. If you’re looking to spend a day at the cliffs read my Seven Sisters Country Park post, a comprehensive guide to spending a full day at Seven Sisters cliffs.

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seven sisters cliffs

The South Downs Way and walks around Eastbourne

For a day hike walk from Eastbourne to Seven Sisters Country Park taking in some of the South Downs Way. This is probably the most memorable of things to do in Eastbourne.

The walk along the cliff tops gives some stunning views across the English Channel and along the Sussex coastline.

There are two lighthouses en-route. The red-striped Beachy Head lighthouse sits out to sea at the base of the chalk cliffs.

Don’t walk too near to the cliff edge as the the white chalk regularly crumbles away into the sea below. Recommended guidelines are to keep 4 metres from the cliff edge.

Beachy Head Lighthouse
Beachy Head Lighthouse near Eastbourne

Look further into the distance and you’ll see Belle Tout lighthouse on the cliff top. In 1999 the lighthouse was moved, in one piece, 17m back from the cliff edge due to coastal erosion.

It’s been designed to be moved again should it be necessary. If you like the idea of really quirky accommodation you can book a stay in Belle Tout Lighthouse. Check rates and availability.

Belle Tout Lighthouse
Seven Sisters Cliffs near Eastbourne

Kayaking on the Cuckmere

One of my favourite things to do in Eastbourne is pay a visit to Seven Sisters Country Park. Cuckmere Haven is a flood plain where the river Cuckmere meets the English Channel. Nearby are the magnificent Seven Sisters cliffs.

It’s a beautiful area with several oxbow lakes along the river. Spend a peaceful hour paddling with just the birds for company. Buzz Active offers kayaking for individuals, groups, families and children from 6 years up. Booking in advance is essential.

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Kayaking on the Cuckmere
Kayaking on the Cuckmere River near Eastbourne

Nearby is Friston Forest where you can soak up the views of the river as it meanders out to sea. To get the full impact of the oxbow lake turn right when you come out of the Seven Sisters car park and climb the hill towards the road.

Cuckmere River, Eastbourne
The Cuckmere River which flows to Birling Gap in East Sussex

Carry on towards the east and you’ll eventually come to Birling Gap and then Seven Sisters Country Park beyond.

Eastbourne Sightseeing Bus

If you’re not up to a day’s hiking then Eastbourne buses have an open-topped sightseeing bus which stops at all these places. Check the website for pricing and timetables.

For evening entertainment in Eastbourne head to the bandstand for a concert or one of the town’s theatres. The Devonshire Park theatre, the gorgeous Victorian built Royal Hippodrome or the Congress all have a season of plays, musicals, comedy and shows. Find out more about Eastbourne’s theatres and their schedule of events.

Where to stay in Eastbourne

Boutique Hotel: Port Hotel is my new favourite Eastbourne Hotel. I stayed recently and love its cool, calm Scandi vibes. It has a good bar and fabulous menu. The kind of place you’d like to stay forever.

Port Hotel, Eastbourne
Port Hotel, Eastbourne

Port Hotel – Check rates and availability. Read my review of Port Hotel, Eastbourne

More Places to Stay in Eastbourne

Luxury: The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne – The only 5***** seaside resort hotel in England. Excellent location, beautiful seafront building and impeccable service. The Mirabell restaurant is excellent for dinner and does a wonderful cream tea.

Mid range: The View Hotel –  Sea view location about 15 minute’s walk from the railway station. Modern rooms, good breakfast and carvery with parking.

Or find your own perfect accommodation 

Where to eat in Eastbourne

The Beach Deck is near to the Redbout fortress. With panoramic sea views the beach-side restaurant serves up excellent locally sourced food and freshly caught fish. I ordered catch of the day and was delighted when my dish arrived.

The food was beautifully presented and looked almost too good to eat. Almost. Both my courses were excellent and I’ll definitely go back. Read a full review of The Beach Deck on my sister site, Sussex Bloggers.

Also Port Hotel does an excellent range of small plates and wonderful cocktails.

Fish and chips at the Beach Deck
Fish and chips in Eastbourne

For information on travelling to Eastbourne and further details on visiting the attractions mentioned here check out the Visit Eastbourne website.

Map of Eastbourne Attractions

Check out my map of things to do in Eastbourne to help you plan your visit. Looking for somewhere to stay in Eastbourne? Check rates and availability

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MORE UK WEEKEND BREAK INSPIRATION…

A Weekend Break in St Ives, Cornwall  • An Isle of Man Weekend Getaway • A Weekend Break in Rye, East Sussex •  A  Seaside Break in Sunny Suffolk

Jenni

Thursday 8th of June 2017

I always forget how pretty the UK can be as its my home country I am normally looking at more exotic places. But I love your photos especially of the white cliffs it makes me want to get in the car and drive to the coast for a walk. I also think we definitely have the best fish and chips in the UK your meal looks delicious.

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 10th of June 2017

The food in the Beach Deck was so good - I agree re the fish and chips! I love exploring nearer to home as well as faraway places especially when the sun's shining!

Agness of eTramping

Friday 2nd of June 2017

This place seems so picturesque and spectacular, Suzanne! I would love to visit it!

Suzanne Jones

Friday 2nd of June 2017

If you like walks by the sea it's the perfect spot Agness :)

viveka

Friday 2nd of June 2017

Absolutely stunning images, Suzanne ... Eastbourne pier looks a lot better now then when I lived in Brighton. Seven Sisters is a beautiful spot to walk. Brings back a lot of great memories. I wish Sussex a lot .. from time to time. It was a pity that I was so busy working when I lived there .. that I hardly had a chance to enjoy the beautiful county. Let's make Eastbourne a date next time I come to town. It will not be until next year now.

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Thank you Wivi! The sunshine and a great view helps the camera do its job! Seven Sisters is one of my favourite spots for a walk and some sea air. Yes please, it'll be so good to see you again and definitely Eastbourne next time :)

restlessjo

Thursday 1st of June 2017

I was in Eastbourne for about half a day, centuries ago, Suze, and I remember being distinctly unimpressed. Of course, times have moved on since then. The fortress looks like a great addition and those walks! :) :) Well- you know me :) :)

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 1st of June 2017

I walked my socks off in Eastbourne Jo - I hope you approve ;) Even though it's just down the road from me I had no idea how much there is to see and do there! The fortress great and the interactive exhibition inside was excellent.

Kathryn Burrington

Thursday 1st of June 2017

Such a lovely town and surrounds. This brought back happy memories. I still can't believe how much I enjoyed the kayaking. I need to go back again to see the places I missed as well as revisiting a few favourites.

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 1st of June 2017

I really want to go back and visit the Towner Gallery. The tennis is on there this week and next too - I've been in the past and it's a great day out.

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