Eastbourne is famous for its floral displays and green spaces, and its parks and gardens are among the loveliest on the south coast. From a big family park with a boating lake to secluded clifftop gardens with sea views and an ornate garden hiding the source of the town’s own stream, here are the best parks in Eastbourne — nearly all of them free to enjoy.
Gildredge Park & Manor Gardens
The town’s most central green space, Gildredge Park sits between the town centre and Old Town, an easy 15-minute walk from the railway station. Bought by the council in 1908 to preserve open land between the old and new parts of town, it offers broad lawns sheltered by mature trees, a modern children’s playground, free tennis courts, a bowls club, a café and toilets — a proper all-rounder for families. Adjoining it, the quieter Manor Gardens is a delight, with a rose garden, herbaceous borders, shady lawns, a pond, a curious hermitage with far-reaching views, and even a labyrinth and skate park. Both are free, and there’s a pedestrian link between the two.
Hampden Park
Eastbourne’s largest park, in the Hampden Park suburb to the north, opened in 1902 as the town’s first publicly owned park. Its centrepiece is a large lake ringed by a wheelchair-friendly path, surrounded by shady lawns and an extensive area of semi-natural woodland. There’s a well-equipped playground, sports facilities including tennis and bowls, a big skate park, an arboretum and scented garden, and the Lakeside Café for refreshments. Wildlife lovers will spot herons, little egrets, swans and woodpeckers, and best of all, admission and parking are free. It even has its own railway station.
Local tip: most of Eastbourne’s parks are dog-friendly on a lead — see our dog-friendly guide for where pups are welcome, including the parks with dog-friendly cafés.
Princes Park
Down at the eastern end of the seafront, Princes Park is a picturesque favourite with families. Its large boating lake is known for its swans and is used for watersports such as kayaking and windsurfing, and there’s a children’s playground with a paddling pool, a rose garden, a picnic area and a café. Right by the beach and the promenade, it’s a lovely spot for a relaxed day out — and it’s the main hub for the summer Beach Life Festival.
Gardens by the sea and in Old Town
Eastbourne’s ornamental gardens are as much a part of its charm as its parks. The famous Carpet Gardens line the promenade between the Bandstand and the Pier — vibrant, award-winning floral displays that are the centrepiece of the seafront (they’ve been undergoing restoration to trial more sustainable, wildlife-friendly planting). Out at the western end near Holywell, the small Helen Garden offers spectacular panoramic sea views and a clifftop putting course with a café, while the neighbouring Italian Gardens are a secluded, manicured retreat set in a wooded amphitheatre carved from the cliff, just yards from the beach. In Old Town, the compact and ornate Motcombe Gardens holds a special secret: its pond is the source of the Bourne stream that gives Eastbourne its name, with a statue of Neptune guarding the spot.
More green spaces
There’s plenty more greenery to discover. Old Town Recreation Ground has playgrounds, sports pitches and planted areas; Shinewater Park, over towards Langney, has a lake and open space; and Devonshire Park, in the cultural quarter, is best known as the home of Eastbourne’s international tennis. And of course, beyond the town’s parks lie the wide open spaces of the South Downs — see our guide to the best walks in Eastbourne for more.
Good to know: café opening hours, sports arrangements (such as bowls and tennis bookings) and seasonal planting change through the year, and some gardens may be under restoration — it’s worth checking ahead for the latest before a special trip.
Parks in Eastbourne: FAQs
What is the biggest park in Eastbourne?
Hampden Park is Eastbourne’s largest park. Opened in 1902 as the town’s first public park, it has a large lake, extensive woodland, sports facilities, a skate park, a café and free parking, plus its own railway station.
Which Eastbourne park is best for families?
Gildredge Park and Princes Park are both excellent for families. Gildredge has a playground, tennis and a café close to the town centre, while Princes Park offers a boating lake, a paddling pool and a playground right by the seafront.
Are Eastbourne’s parks free?
Yes — the town’s parks and gardens are free to enter, including Hampden Park, Gildredge Park, Princes Park and the seafront gardens. Some activities, such as the putting course or watersports, may carry a small charge.
Where is the source of the Bourne stream?
In Motcombe Gardens in Old Town. The garden’s pond is the source of the Bourne stream from which Eastbourne takes its name, marked by a statue of Neptune over the bubbling spring.
Explore more outdoors: see the best walks in Eastbourne, our guide to the beaches, and the best free things to do.