This spring, we got to visit Eastbourne and spent a few days there. Our visit was enjoyable, memorable and delicious! These are the reasons that made our visit an incredible one. I am sure it will turn out the same for you too!
It’s a large town located on the south coast of England, and a part of the East Sussex County. The population of Eastbourne is around 101,500 (2015), and a lot of tourists visit it each year but it isn’t too touristy or too busy. It’s a destination that is really worth visiting, let me explain why!
EASTBOURNE – THE SUNNIEST PLACE IN THE UK
Just after a four-hour train trip escaping the rain in Bristol, we were warmly welcomed by the amazing Eastbourne sunshine. It wasn’t a surprise for us at all, as this sunshine coast has the highest number of sunshine hours than in any other spot in the UK. It is also one of the happiest towns in the UK. This made it a popular holiday destination. No wonder we were happy during our trip!
A GLOURIOUS SEAFRONT
Eastbourne has a picture-perfect harbour, so we really took lots of pictures! It has three miles of pristine, palm tree-lined seafront. Here we explored the iconic Victorian Pier, the 1930’s Bandstand, and the Napoleonic Redoubt Fortress.
Moreover, Eastbourne has a busy marina. Sovereign Harbour Marina is northern Europe’s largest composite marina complex that has four linked harbours. It has a variety of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars. Walking here on one afternoon was so heavenly pleasant.
EASTBOURNE’S AMAZING FOOD
Eastbourne offers a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and local deli’s. Wining and dining in Eastbourne made our stay enjoyable and memorable. The main dishes are served with locally sourced fresh produce, and seafood that is sourced directly from the nearby fisheries.
Some of the restaurants offer a magnificent view of the seafront, such as the Beach Deck in which we had a lovely meal. We have visited several restaurants, bars and cafes and can confirm that in addition to the delicious food and drinks served, they all share another important aspect and that is: friendly staff that always greeted us with a big smile and helped us in every possible way.
I also wrote a post about my favourite foodie places in Eastbourne, in 6 Awesome Foodie Places in Eastbourne.
BEAUTIFUL COASTAL LANDMARKS IN EASTBOURNE
Eastbourne has a breath-taking beauty of coastal landmarks. Beauty that even these pictures cannot convey. It has to be explored and experienced in person. Beachy Head is the highest chalk cliff in Britain and it offers panoramic views across Eastbourne and the English Channel.
For Harry Potter fans, visiting the Beachy Head is a must as it is the place where Harry Potter’s Quidditch World Cup was filmed. From there you can view the famous red and white-stripped lighthouse.
Ancient rivers cut valleys into the chalk creating seven peaks that are called the Seven Sisters. Birling Gap is a wonderful pebble beach set below the Seven Sisters cliffs. And the Seven Sisters Country Park leading to the coastal cliffs offers stunning scenery of the area.
We got to the Birling Gap taking the hop on hop off sightseeing tour of which buses ride every 30 minutes.
EASTBOURNE PIER
This is the iconic Victorian pier, that offers a stunning view of the English Channel. It has a traditional but simple Victorian Tea Room, a variety of shops and a nightclub.
We enjoyed a warm cup of tea at the tea room and the view from the tea room is just beautiful.
SHOPPING IN EASTBOURNE
Eastbourne has many boutiques, high street names, vintage and charity shops, as well as street markets that are organized a few times during the week. Whether you are looking for fashion, antiques, books or toys, shops at Eastbourne are wonderful to explore.
We did lots of shopping – as much as our luggage had allowed. If you need any help, you can always pop into Eastbourne Tourist Information Center that is located in the center of the city, and it’s dedicated staff will save no effort to provide you with any information that will help in making your stay a memorable one.
WHERE TO STAY IN EASTBOURNE
has the only 5-star luxury seaside hotel in the UK. We had the pleasure to explore and dine at the Grand Hotel. This landmark is also called ‘A Palace By the Sea’ and it is totally correct. The white palace has breath-taking views of the sea and serves extraordinary food and drinks.
We stayed at The View Hotel, which, as its name indicates, has a magnificent view of the beautiful coast of Eastbourne and is located beside the sea. The view from our private balcony in our room was breathtaking.
How to get to Eastbourne?
The easiest way to get to Eastbourne is probably by train. If you are travelling from London, the journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
How to get around?
Eastbourne is not very big, and almost everything seems to be within walking distance. We took the taxi to visit a couple of places, and taxis are quite cheap there compared to other places in the UK. It is also a good idea to buy a hop on hop off bus tickets if you are looking to visit the Seven Sisters and the Birling Gap.
Conclusion
Eastbourne is a wonderful destination to visit during the week for a few days. It’s an ideal getaway destination for couples and adults. Eastbourne has all the ingredients to make your coastal escape perfect!
Disclosure: We were guests of Visit Eastbourne, but all opinions are our own.