Best Things to Do in Eastbourne

Stroll the Eastbourne seafront

The seafront is the heart of the town and the best place to start. Unusually for a British resort, Eastbourne’s elegant Victorian promenade is famously free of shops and amusements — a deliberate decision when the town was laid out — which gives it a calmer, more genteel feel than its neighbours. There are upper and lower promenades to wander, immaculate flower beds, and a string of seafront cafés. Walk west and you’ll pass the colourful Carpet Gardens and the Italian-style gardens at Holywell, where the promenade finally gives way to the chalk cliffs.

Walk out along Eastbourne Pier

Eastbourne’s Grade II*-listed Victorian pier has stood over the waves since the 1870s and remains the town’s centrepiece. Its domes were controversially painted gold by the pier’s owner after a major fire in 2014, and today it sparkles at the end of the seafront. A stroll along the boards is a must: you’ll find Victorian-style tea rooms, a waterfront bar, an amusement arcade, gift shops and the obligatory fish and chips (mind the seagulls). It’s free to walk on, open through the summer season, and a lovely spot to watch the sun go down over the Channel.

Local tip: come back at golden hour — the gilded domes and the whole seafront light up beautifully as the sun sets over the Channel.

Catch a show at the Bandstand

Eastbourne’s blue-domed art deco bandstand opened in 1935 and is one of the busiest in Britain, hosting well over 140 events a year. From brass bands and tribute acts to its hugely popular summer fireworks concerts, there’s almost always something on. With raised seating for around 1,600 people and the sea as a backdrop, it’s one of the most atmospheric small venues on the south coast.

Visit Towner Eastbourne

You can’t miss Towner Eastbourne — the gallery’s vibrant geometric exterior, a mural called Dance Diagonal by artist Lothar Götz, is a landmark in itself. Inside is the largest gallery in the South East, with a collection of more than 5,000 works including the country’s largest holding of paintings by Eric Ravilious. Towner was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2020 and hosted the prestigious Turner Prize in 2023 — the first time the prize had ever come to Sussex. Best of all, admission is free (open Tuesday to Sunday), making it one of the finest free things to do in Eastbourne.

Take in the view from Beachy Head

Just beyond the western end of town, the land rises to Beachy Head — at around 162 metres, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain. The views along the coast and out to sea are breathtaking, and far below sits the candy-striped red-and-white Beachy Head Lighthouse. It’s a glorious spot for a walk, a picnic or simply standing in the wind taking it all in, with the welcoming Beachy Head pub nearby for a well-earned drink.

Local tip: keep well back from the cliff edge and stick to the marked paths. The chalk is soft and erodes constantly, so the ground near the edge isn’t as solid as it looks.

Explore Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

Carry on west and you reach Birling Gap, where the National Trust has a café and steps down to a quiet beach with superb rock pools at low tide. From here you get the postcard view of the Seven Sisters — the rolling line of brilliant white chalk cliffs that’s one of the most photographed stretches of coast in England. Above the gap stands the Belle Tout lighthouse, famously moved back from the crumbling cliff edge in 1999 to save it from the sea.

Local tip: check the tide times before you set off — the beach and its best rock pools only appear at low tide.

Walk the South Downs

Eastbourne is the gateway to the South Downs National Park, and it’s where the 100-mile South Downs Way finally meets the sea. There are walks for every level, from gentle clifftop strolls to longer downland hikes, and because the park is a designated Dark Sky Reserve, it’s a wonderful place for stargazing on a clear night.

Mooch around Sovereign Harbour

To the east of town, Sovereign Harbour is a modern marina built in the 1990s around four linked harbours. It’s a pleasant change of scene, with waterside restaurants and bars, a retail park, and yachts and boats coming and going through the locks. You can pick up a seasonal boat trip here, or just enjoy lunch by the water.

Ride the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway

A firm family favourite, the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway runs one-eighth-scale steam locomotives on a track of almost a mile through a pretty country park. There’s a café and tea garden, plenty of wildlife around the lakes, and it’s a genuinely fun ride whatever your age.

See a play at Devonshire Park

Eastbourne has a remarkably rich theatre scene for its size. The grand Congress Theatre, the intimate Devonshire Park Theatre, the Victorian Royal Hippodrome (opened in 1883) and the Winter Garden between them host everything from touring drama and musicals to comedy, live music and pantomime. Devonshire Park is also home to Eastbourne’s famous grass-court tennis tournament — currently the Rothesay International — a popular Wimbledon warm-up held each June that draws top players to the town.

Relax in the parks and gardens

Away from the seafront, Eastbourne is green and leafy. Princes Park near the harbour has a boating lake and play areas; Gildredge Park and Manor Gardens sit close to the Old Town; Hampden Park has a lake, woodland and an ornamental garden; and Motcombe Gardens offers a quiet corner in the historic heart of town. They’re perfect for a picnic or an easy afternoon.

Best things to do in Eastbourne with kids

Families are spoilt for choice. As well as the beach and the miniature railway, good options include:

Things to do in Eastbourne when it rains

A wet day is no problem here. Spend it at the free Towner gallery, get face to face with the fish at the aquarium, catch a film or a matinée at one of the theatres, swim at the Sovereign Centre, or test yourselves at one of the town’s escape rooms or activity bars. The Beacon shopping centre and the independent shops of Little Chelsea keep you dry too — as does Camilla’s, the wonderfully crammed second-hand bookshop that’s an Eastbourne institution.

When to visit

Eastbourne markets itself as one of the sunniest places in the UK, so it’s an easy sell in summer — but it’s worth visiting year-round. The summer calendar is busy, from the long-running Airbourne airshow to the international tennis at Devonshire Park and a packed bandstand programme, so it pays to check what’s on before you travel.

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