Eastbourne is a resort town on England’s southeast coast, it is popular both in summer and winter with walkers, bikers, and all travellers wanting to experience the magnificence of the South Downs National Park.
Can you picture the dramatic drop from the top of the chalk cliffs, relaxing at the harbour or taking a boat right to Beachy Head?
The hosts more than 90 miles of walking and hiking paths and the town’s seafront architecture is set in the Victorian ages. The hotels like Eastbourne pier are from the 19th century with centre stage taken by the 1930’s bandstand, which hosts music and productions throughout the year.
There is history, culture and beauty galore in Eastbourne, which is why it is no surprise that our holidaymakers voted Eastbourne as the best UK Holiday Destination of 2018.
Redoubt Fortress
Built in 1805 to defend the South Coast from Napoleon's forces, the impressive Redoubt Fortress today stands as a unique monument to history in Eastbourne. You don't have to pay to walk around the outside of the fort, it is an impressive sight along the promenade, however, it is well worth paying the £4.50 to step back into history and discover the architecture and inside of the fortress You can either take a free guided tour with the enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides or take it at your own pace.
I would say you could spend anywhere from 2 – 3 hours exploring the attraction, which means you have free time left to explore more of Eastbourne.
*Top Tip
To get to the top of the fortress, where you will see some amazing views, there are a few steep steps to be aware of, but its well worth the effort!
Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters
There are several outstanding trails for you to discover the natural beauty of the Downs and Eastbourne, around 90 miles lies between Eastbourne and Winchester, and the cliffs reach 530 feet. With such a large area to cover it can be hard to choose a route to suit you.
A Walkers Approach
Starting along the sea front (from the strand hotel) you can walk up the hill to the view point and visitor centre. On the way back down take a visit to the Victorian tea rooms on the pier for some well-deserved tea and scones. The full circle walk is around 7 miles in total and takes around 2.5 hours, it’s a walk with really lovely views and if you are used to walking it will be no problem for you as it is well sign posted.
The second option for a more relaxed walk:
Tour and Stroll
Take the tour bus that does a loop of the area, starting at the pier. It runs every 30 minutes and stops include Eastbourne Pier, Bandstand, Belle Tout, Beachy Head and Birling Gap.
You can ‘hop on and off’ so you can see everything in a stress-free way. I recommend getting off at the pub at the top, and then take the leisurely stroll across the top of the cliffs to beachy head, you then have the option to walk back to the information centre, and catch the bus back down or meet it at Beachy Head.
This bus does make the area accessible, however, please be aware that it is cliff walking, and wheelchairs might be hard to use, so good shoes and layered clothing is advised, also if it is a sunny day, ensure you take sun-cream, sunglasses and plenty of water too.
The tour bus costs £10, however, you can use this over 2 days. So you can take your visit as easy or as challenging as you like.
Sovereign Harbour Marina
Although Eastbourne is steeped in history, you will also find Europe’s largest composite marina complex here, this opened in the early 90’s, and brings modernisation to this historic area.
It’s the perfect place to relax, people watch while having a well-deserved coffee. If you take yourself over the lock gates there are frequent boats coming in and out, or simply head to the beach for a stroll along the seafront.
There are many companies that offer boat rides to see the lighthouse, and this is a highlight to do on a day with good weather as the views are incredible.
The Sovereign Marina is also the place to come for shopping in Eastbourne, there are numerous modern shops, authentic stalls and bars and restaurants to fulfil everyone’s shopping needs.
Nigel Greaves Gallery
Set behind the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne centre, Nigel Greaves Gallery is easy to reach on foot from the town centre and on those rainy days, it is the perfect escape. The two floors cover various styles of art from original land and seascapes, figurative and abstract works.
A huge part of this art experience is the personal touch that Nigel himself brings. He takes the time with every customer to offer a personalised service. And although the pieces are available to buy, Nigel is more concerned about you enjoying the art and explains, not just his interpretation but also the technical aspects of the abstract works of art. He does not push sales on his customers, which means you can spend as long or as little time in the gallery as you wish.