Beachy Head is the great natural landmark of the Sussex coast — a sheer wall of brilliant white chalk rising more than 160 metres above the sea, with the candy-striped lighthouse at its foot and views that stretch for miles in both directions. Just west of Eastbourne and right on the edge of the South Downs National Park, it’s one of the most spectacular places to visit anywhere in southern England. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
In this guide
Where is Beachy Head · Getting there & parking · The lighthouse · Belle Tout · Walks · Pub & facilities · Staying safe
Where is Beachy Head?
Beachy Head sits immediately west of Eastbourne, at the eastern end of the South Downs where the rolling chalk hills meet the Channel. At 162 metres (530 feet) above the waves, it’s the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, and it marks one end of the 100-mile South Downs Way. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with a beach — “Beachy” is a worn-down version of the Norman-French beau chef, meaning “beautiful headland”, which is exactly what it is.
How to get to Beachy Head
By car: Beachy Head is on Beachy Head Road, signposted off the A259 and reached from Eastbourne seafront via the steep, winding Duke’s Drive (postcode BN20 7YA). There are several pay-and-display car parks run by Eastbourne Borough Council — the main Beachy Head car park, next to the pub, is the largest and closest to the views, with more spaces at Heathy Brow, Shooters Bottom and Birling Gap. You can pay via the RingGo app (location code 46366); charges apply between 8am and 6pm, from around £1.50 for an hour up to roughly £6 for the day, and parking is free outside those hours.
By bus: in the warmer months the open-top City Sightseeing bus and the Coaster 13X both run from Eastbourne up to Beachy Head, Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters — a relaxed, fuss-free way to take in the coast.
By train and on foot: Eastbourne station is well connected (around 90 minutes from London, with regular trains from Brighton and Hastings too). From Holywell at the western end of the seafront, a footpath climbs straight up onto the Head — a steep start, then glorious clifftop walking all the way.
The view from the top
The reason everyone comes is the view, and it doesn’t disappoint. Look east and you’ll see the whole sweep of Eastbourne — the pier, the seafront, Sovereign Harbour — and on a clear day all the way to Dungeness in Kent, nearly 40 miles off. Look west and the coast unrolls past Seaford Head towards Brighton and beyond. Near the visitor centre stands a moving memorial to the 55,573 men of RAF Bomber Command who died in the Second World War, unveiled in 2013 on a spot that was, for many of them, the last of England they ever saw.
Beachy Head Lighthouse
The famous red-and-white striped Beachy Head Lighthouse stands not on the cliff but at its foot, where it has guided shipping since 1902. Built from Cornish granite and standing around 43 metres tall, it’s still an active Trinity House lighthouse — fully automated since 1983 — so you can’t go inside. At low tide, though, you can walk out across the foreshore to its base and appreciate just how big it really is.
Local tip: if you want to reach the lighthouse base, always check the tide times before you set off — the rocks are only exposed at low water and it’s easy to get cut off. Wear proper walking boots, too.
Belle Tout: the lighthouse that moved
Look west along the clifftop and you’ll spot a very different lighthouse: Belle Tout, a squat stone tower built in 1832. It was retired in 1902 because sea mist so often hid its light, and by the end of the twentieth century the eroding cliff had crept alarmingly close to its walls. So in 1999, in a remarkable feat of engineering, the entire building was jacked up and rolled back from the edge on rails. Today Belle Tout is a boutique bed and breakfast with some of the most jaw-dropping sea views of any place to stay in the country.
Walks around Beachy Head
This is wonderful walking country. The South Downs Way runs right over the Head — you can join it at Holywell and walk up. One of the classic routes continues west from the cliff top to Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, about two miles of dramatic, switchback clifftop with the most famous chalk-cliff view in England as your reward (be warned, it’s steep in places). For a loop, you can park at Heathy Brow and pick up one of the bridleways heading inland to make a circular route, or drop down towards Cow Gap and the lower paths. Every October, thousands of runners tackle the gruelling Beachy Head Marathon across these same hills.
The Beachy Head pub and facilities
Right by the main car park, the Beachy Head pub is a dog-friendly country pub serving food all day, with lovely views over the Downs towards Belle Tout — a perfect spot to start or finish a walk. Next door there’s a visitor centre with a shop and tourist information, public toilets in the main car park, and a cyclists’ café nearby. There’s even a tarmac accessible path, the Peace Path, for those who want the views without the rough ground.
Beachy Head on screen
You may well recognise these cliffs already. Beachy Head and the surrounding Downs have featured in Hollywood films including Harry Potter, James Bond and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, as well as TV dramas such as Luther — proof that few places say “England” quite as instantly as this one.
Staying safe at Beachy Head
Beachy Head is safe to enjoy with a little common sense, but the cliffs themselves are not. The chalk is soft and unstable, eroding by around a metre a year on average, with large, sudden rock falls — so the ground near the edge is never as solid as it looks.
Stay safe: keep well back from the cliff edge, stick to the marked paths, and never sit on or lean over the edge to look down. There are plenty of safe vantage points to take in the view and photograph the lighthouse. It’s also far windier and cooler up here than in town, so bring a jacket even on a sunny day.
Best time to visit
Beachy Head is spectacular all year and the cliff top is open at all times. Clear, bright days give the longest views and the best photographs; late spring and summer bring wildflowers and butterflies to the chalk grassland; and a crisp, still winter morning can be magical. It’s one of the highlights in our guide to the best things to do in Eastbourne, and it has shaped the town’s story for centuries — for the bigger picture, see our complete history of Eastbourne.
Beachy Head: FAQs
Can you visit Beachy Head Lighthouse?
You can’t go inside — it’s an active Trinity House lighthouse and is automated. However, at low tide you can walk across the foreshore to its base, as long as you check the tide times carefully first.
How high is Beachy Head?
Beachy Head rises 162 metres (530 feet) above the sea, making it the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.
How do you get to Beachy Head from Eastbourne?
You can drive up via Duke’s Drive and park in one of the pay-and-display car parks, catch the seasonal open-top sightseeing bus or Coaster 13X from town, or walk up from the western end of the seafront at Holywell.
Is Beachy Head free to visit?
Yes. The cliffs and viewpoints are free and open at all times — you only pay for parking, or for food and drink at the pub.
Why is it called Beachy Head?
The name has nothing to do with a beach. It comes from the Norman-French beau chef, meaning “beautiful headland”, which gradually became “Beachy” over the centuries.
Whether you drive up for the sunset, walk the cliffs to the Seven Sisters or simply sit with a coffee and watch the Channel roll by, Beachy Head is unforgettable. Treat the cliff edge with respect, bring a jacket — and don’t forget your camera.