Eastbourne is a brilliant place for a family day out. With a sandy-and-shingle beach, a pirate adventure park, an aqua park, a miniature railway and a small zoo all close by — plus plenty of indoor options for a rainy day — there’s more than enough to keep children of every age happy. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Eastbourne with kids.
Seaside fun
The seafront is the natural place to start. Eastbourne’s beach is great for old-fashioned bucket-and-spade fun, with the main resort stretch between the Wish Tower and the Pier lifeguarded through the summer and running a children’s wristband scheme. A stroll along the Victorian Pier takes in amusements and sea views, and for younger buccaneers, Treasure Island Adventure Park — a pirate-themed park right on the eastern seafront — has indoor soft play across two floors, an outdoor shipwreck with netted walkways and slides, mini golf, a paddling pool and a café. A short walk up the coast, Fort Fun combines an outdoor aqua park with slides and splash zones, a big climbing frame and teacup rides. To get around, hop on the Dotto road train, which trundles along the prom between Holywell and Sovereign Harbour.
Rainy-day and indoor fun
Eastbourne’s sunny reputation aside, it’s always good to have a wet-weather plan. Fort Fun’s indoor adventure is a multi-level soft play with slides, ball pits and tunnels, including separate areas for the very youngest. The Sovereign Centre has indoor swimming pools complete with a wave machine and flumes, while My Skate World is a big covered roller-skating rink with hire skates and lessons. Older kids might prefer bowling, laser tag and arcades at Tenpin near Hampden Park, and The Beacon in the town centre has a soft-play centre and a Cineworld cinema. For a calmer afternoon, Towner art gallery is free and runs family activities. For more ideas, see our full guide to a rainy day in Eastbourne.
Local tip: the beach is shingle as well as sand, so pack a pair of jelly shoes or wetsuit shoes to save little feet on the walk down to the water — and check tide times before you go.
Animals and the outdoors
Just outside town, Drusillas Park near Alfriston is one of the best small zoos in the country and is aimed squarely at children aged around two to ten, with sloths, red pandas, penguins, lemurs and meerkats alongside themed play areas and a safari train — a wonderful (if pricier) treat. Knockhatch Adventure Park near Hailsham mixes indoor and outdoor play with a petting farm and birds of prey, and Sharnfold Farm offers pick-your-own, a farm trail and a playground. Closer in, the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway runs little steam trains around a country park with a lake and playground, and the town’s parks — especially Princes Park with its boating lake and paddling pool — are perfect for burning off energy. The traffic-free Cuckoo Trail and the woodland of Friston Forest are great for scooting and exploring.
Tips for a family day out
Eastbourne is compact and walkable, with a flat 3.5-mile promenade that’s ideal for buggies, scooters and bikes (mind the marked lanes). Most attractions are no more than a 15–20 minute drive apart, so it’s easy to combine, say, a morning at the beach with an afternoon at a soft-play centre if the weather turns. Public transport is good if you’d rather not drive — see our guide to getting around Eastbourne — and there’s plenty here that’s completely free, from the beach and parks to the prom itself.
Good to know: opening times, prices and seasonal closures vary between attractions, and some outdoor parks run reduced hours in winter — it’s always worth checking each venue’s website before setting off, especially outside the school holidays.
Eastbourne with kids: FAQs
What are the best things to do in Eastbourne with young children?
For toddlers and younger children, Treasure Island Adventure Park, Fort Fun, the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway and Drusillas Park are all excellent, along with the beach and Princes Park’s playground and paddling pool.
What is there to do with kids in Eastbourne when it rains?
Good indoor options include Fort Fun’s soft play, the Sovereign Centre’s pools, My Skate World, Tenpin bowling, the cinema and soft play at The Beacon, and free family activities at Towner gallery. See our rainy-day guide for the full list.
Is Eastbourne beach good for children?
Yes — the main resort beach between the Wish Tower and the Pier is lifeguarded in summer with a children’s wristband scheme, and has cafés, toilets and deckchairs. It’s shingle as well as sand, so bring jelly shoes and check the tide times.
Where can I see animals near Eastbourne?
Drusillas Park near Alfriston is a superb small zoo for ages two to ten, Knockhatch near Hailsham has a petting farm and birds of prey, and Sharnfold Farm offers farm animals and pick-your-own — all a short drive from town.
More family ideas: see the best things to do in Eastbourne, free things to do, and whether Eastbourne is good for families.