Free Things to Do in Eastbourne

Stroll the seafront and promenade

Eastbourne’s elegant Victorian seafront is free to enjoy and a pleasure in any weather. Famously lined with hotels rather than shops — a rule laid down by the Duke of Devonshire — the promenade stretches for miles past the pier, the 1935 art deco bandstand and the colourful Carpet Gardens, whose ornate flower beds are replanted each year. You can admire the bandstand from the prom for nothing, wander the seafront gardens, and take in the salty air along one of the most handsome seafronts in the country.

Spend a day on the beach

Eastbourne’s clean shingle beach runs for around four miles, from Sovereign Harbour all the way to the foot of Beachy Head, and the bathing water here is rated as excellent. Swim in summer, hunt for interesting pebbles and sea glass, watch the fishing boats, or simply sit and listen to the waves. It’s the ultimate free day out — bring a picnic and you needn’t spend a thing.

Walk the pier

You don’t have to spend money to enjoy Eastbourne’s famous gold-domed Victorian pier — it’s free to walk out along, and well worth it for the views back over the seafront and out to sea. Watch the anglers fishing from the end, soak up the Victorian architecture, and you’ve a lovely (free) half hour. For the full story, see our guide to Eastbourne Pier.

Visit the Towner gallery

One of Eastbourne’s cultural jewels, the Towner is a contemporary art gallery beside Devonshire Park — and entry is free. Named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2020 and host of the Turner Prize in 2023, it holds the world’s largest collection of work by the artist Eric Ravilious alongside changing exhibitions. With its bold, colour-banded exterior, it’s a striking building in its own right, and a brilliant free way to spend an afternoon, rain or shine.

Local tip: the Towner is a perfect rainy-day option — free, indoors and genuinely world-class. Check its website for current exhibitions before you go.

Relax in the parks and gardens

Eastbourne is generously supplied with green space, all free to enjoy. Gildredge Park and the adjoining Manor Gardens, between the town centre and Old Town, have lawns, a rose garden, a playground and tennis courts. Princes Park, at the eastern end of the seafront, has a boating lake and is famous for its swans. There’s also Hampden Park to the north, Motcombe Gardens in the Old Town, beside the very stream that gave the town its name, and the pretty Italian-style Helen Garden near Holywell. Perfect for a free picnic, a stroll or letting the children run around.

Walk up to Beachy Head and the Downs

Some of the best free experiences in Eastbourne are the walks. From the western end of the seafront at Holywell you can climb straight up onto Beachy Head, Britain’s highest chalk sea cliff, for breathtaking, cost-free views. Carry on along the cliffs towards Birling Gap and the iconic Seven Sisters, or wander inland into the South Downs National Park. It’s all free to roam — you’ll only pay if you choose to drive and use one of the car parks.

Explore the Old Town and heritage trails

Back in town, the historic Old Town is a free and charming wander, with its 14th-century Church of St Mary’s and old high street. Keep an eye out for the town’s blue plaques marking famous residents and connections — including the spot linked to a young George Orwell’s schooldays — for a free, self-guided history walk. The marina at Sovereign Harbour is also a pleasant (and free) place to stroll and watch the boats.

Free events and seasonal highlights

Eastbourne’s calendar includes some wonderful free spectacles. The town’s famous summer airshow fills the skies above the seafront and is free to watch from the prom, the seafront comes alive with festivals and seasonal events through the year, and the Christmas lights and switch-on bring the town centre to life in winter. Many bandstand and community events can be enjoyed, at least in part, without buying a ticket too.

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