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Eastbourne

Eastbourne enjoys a sunny microclimate and is officially the sunniest place in England. It has been a Mecca for holidaymakers since 1849 when the railway was built. Eastbourne is only 65 miles south of London, 24 miles East of Brighton and 55 miles west of Dover. It is well connected by trains, London 1 hour 30 minutes, Ashford International just over 1 hour, Brighton around 30-40 minutes, Portsmouth Harbour and museums around 1 hour 45. Buses to all directions in Terminus Road.

This traditional Victorian resort is a visitors` delight with 3 miles of Promenade, theatres, famous Bandstand, Pier and the colourful Carpet Gardens. Save your legs by taking the Dotto train! It also hosts the August Airbourne show (one of the biggest free shows in the country). International lawn tennis events are just a short walk away at Devonshire Park. Other events include regattas, croquet and bowling. Take part in the October Beachy Head Marathon or relax at the Eastbourne October Beer Festival instead. Or if you are really up for it, join us for the Extreme Eastbourne events.

The town lies on the edge of the gently rolling chalk hills of the South Downs and with the 185m white Beachy Head cliffs to the West, is perfect both for the easy walkers and the more adventurous. There are also dozens of historic places to visit, all within easy drive, for example, Pevensey Castle, Battle (the site of England`s most historic 1066 battle), Alfriston, Herstmonceux Observatory, Sheffield Park, Sissinghurst Gardens etc.

The Sovereign Harbour complex, 2 miles east of the town, offers eating & drinking with a Cosmopolitan feel as well as a 600 berth Marina with 24-hour twin sea locks, making it the biggest of its type in the UK. Great for a leisurely stroll with friends or family.

Beaches

Eastbourne`s lifeguard patrolled beaches are award-winning for cleanliness and quality.  Deckchairs and loungers are available for hire and to assist parents, there is a Kidzsafe Wristband scheme. The seafront at Eastbourne has a pebbly beach where soft clean sand is exposed at low tide.  To the West below the cliffs are rock pools, lots of fun for the children. Near the Sovereign Harbour at the Eastern end is a popular venue for water sports.

Seafront Amusements

Along the Promenade (going East to West) you will find the Sovereign Harbour leisure pool with flume, wave machine and various pools for serious swimmers and divers. Children`s parks: Fort Fun with a new Aqua Water Park (first in the South East) Rocky`s and Treasure Island, Eastbourne Pier, a skatepark, parks and gardens behind the seafront, including mini-golf.  There is the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum, built to deter Napoleon`s armies, then the Pier itself, built in Victorian times and with a wealth of amusements including arcade, glass making studio, pub and nightclub at the end.  Walk further along and you will come to the Bandstand and then the Wish Tower slopes and gardens, and then on towards Holywell with its beachfront cafe.

Around The Town

Eastbourne is home to the Congress Theatre, the Devonshire Park Theatre, the Winter Garden and the Hippodrome, so there is an ever-changing cornucopia of productions large and small to choose from; something for everybody.

The new Towner Gallery is fast becoming a centre of culture and art, with free exhibitions changing monthly.  It is a centre for local artists, notably Eric Ravilious, and the recent Queen`s Jubilee Exhibition 2012 featured two giant pictures of Queen Elizabeth made up of thousands of photographs of local people, widely reported in the News. Adjacent to The Towner is the new Birley Performing Arts Centre.

One of the best views and a recorded talk about the seafront, history of the town and local architecture can be enjoyed from the top deck of the open top bus tour which takes you on a round trip going from the Pier in Eastbourne to Beachy Head where you can enjoy a meal (and the walk to enjoy the views to Brighton to the West and Hastings to the East) at the Beachy Head Pub which is a short walk from Beachy Head itself with the cliff and famous red and white striped Beachy Head Lighthouse.  The tour also passes the Seven Sisters, Birling Gap, and the Tiger Inn, at East Dean. Another place worth stopping at!

Small children (and large!) will enjoy a fun day out at the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park where you can ride on top of a 1/8th scale coach behind a tiny train around the lake, eat in the station themed cafe, enjoy watching the miniature working models of trains of all descriptions, and picnic and play in their adventure playground.

Parks In Eastbourne

Eastbourne is full of beautiful parks and gardens one of which is Princes Park in the East near the Sovereign Swimming Pool which has the benefit of two children`s play areas, an outdoor splash pool, a lake for ducks and boats, and a sensory garden and restaurant open in the summer.  Gildredge, Hampden and Motcombe Parks are also worth a visit.

Holywell at the West end of the Promenade deserves a special mention for its Italian Gardens, beachfront restaurant and the Spring along the beach which bubbles up fresh and cold water from an ancient glacier underground.  It`s a pretty place to spend an afternoon with the family (and the ice creams here are considerably cheaper than by the Pier!).  If you are fairly fit, you can walk along the beach and climb over the groin then up some steep steps leading up the cliff to the `Sugarloaf` an artificial structure believed

to have been cut out of the chalk by ancient mariners to signal freshwater below... don`t worry, a tea shop at the top and also one at the nearby Helen Gardens will supply much-needed rest and refreshment at the end!  You can even have a game of mini-golf here if you have any energy left!

Eastbourne Restaurants

Every kind of eaterie exists in Eastbourne!  From the 5 star restaurants at the Grand Hotel to a selection of Italian, French, Indian, Chinese and Greek restaurants. You can visit historic public houses such as the Lamb in Old Town or The Tiger in East Dean. You can also enjoy some great coffee shops and traditional fish and chip restaurants in the town. Many have seating outside or in gardens behind for customers to enjoy al fresco dining and soak up the sunshine.

Walks Around Eastbourne

There are plenty of walks marked out along the South Downs way. From Butts Brow to the North of Eastbourne you can walk either to Jevington for a refreshing pint of ale in the 8 Bells pub, or straight to Beachy Head over the golf course.  Seek out the ancient Iron Age mounds and stop at the high spots for a breather and brilliant view all around - you can see for miles on a clear day.

Along the clifftop via Foxhole Bottom is reputedly one of the best walks in the region between Cuckmere Haven and Eastbourne.  But for rock pools and a hidden, sandy shore at low tide, you cannot beat going along the beach from Holywell to the Falling Sands to view Beachy Head and the famous red and white lighthouse from the beach.  It`s a bit of a scramble but you will be rewarded by the stunning views and wildlife and some very tired but delighted children. You may even catch sight of a cormorant fishing on the rocks by the seashore.  Leave plenty of time, take a net and basket, and catch shrimps for your tea, but remember to get back before the tide comes in!

Shinewater is our latest Country Park, home to some ancient Bronze Age settlement remains, fishing sites around the lakes, and a skatepark and adventure playground.

Hampden Park, with its Decoy Lake which was originally used to attract wildfowl on the Ratton Estate, is now a popular space with locals and visitors alike, with its Lakeside restaurant, water features, ducks, woodland walks and gardens. What a relaxing day out for all the family.

Going towards Brighton, The Seven Sisters Country Park (named after the chalk cliffs nearby) on the way to Seaford is a great place for a shady walk, and a sunny walk can be enjoyed along the estuary of the meandering Cuckmere River at Cuckmere Haven, which is also popular with canoes.  A much photographed and painted view of the Seven Sisters can be had from here; view it also from the other end at Birling Gap and the old timber-framed tea rooms on the cliff edge.  You can also see the sad results of a row of houses succumbing to cliff erosion here, and nearby is the Belle Tout Lighthouse which has already been moved once, in 1999, but the cliff edges are creeping ever nearer again due to erosion from the sea.

South Downs

The South Downs National Park is Britain`s newest National Park. Plan a walk in the gentle sloping hills and river valleys which cover over 70 miles of across Sussex from Winchester to Lewes. Beachy Head with its white chalk cliffs reaching 600ft (180m) high is the most famous landmark along the coast.  The South Downs is an area steeped in history with monuments and ancient sites dating back to the Bronze Age.  Busy modern towns and historic villages such as Alfriston also pepper the landscape. There is such a wide variety of architecture to enjoy from centuries` old flint faced cottages hidden away in quiet corners. Enjoy the cathedral city of Chichester or lively Brighton, with its elegant Regency buildings and modern shopping complex, nightclubs and a vibrant culture all its own.

One of the `best walks in the world` can be enjoyed along the South Downs Way, which takes in the views from clifftops, peaceful rivers, quaint historic villages and pubs.  Biodiverse habitats under the protection of the National Trust include ancient woodland, lowland heath and chalk grassland.  Whether walking, cycling, driving, or on horseback, the South Downs can be enjoyed by visitors of all levels of fitness.

Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters is a magnificent sight beloved of artists and photographers; one of the last areas of natural coastline.  Down in the valley the meandering river bends can be followed on foot (or by bicycle) to the sea.

Try a circular walk for views over the Downs and then stop for refreshment at the Tiger Inn in East Dean. This was a centre for smuggling in the early 1800s. Local people must have made a good, if risky, living from wrecks. Some wrecks were deliberately caused, by the putting up of lights so the sailors thought they had reached the safe harbour at either Newhaven or Eastbourne. Those caught, were deported to Australia.

Typical English country pub gardens abound here where you can drink traditional ales and enjoy home-cooked food.  It is a great pleasure to enjoy a cream tea in the village of Alfriston where you can see among other picture-perfect historic buildings the 14th century Clergy House, a rare Wealden Hall House, thatched, with a timber frame, and take a peaceful walk along the banks of the Cuckmere river by St Andrew`s Church. Founded in 1360 and built in the shape of a cross, St Andrews is also known as `the Cathedral of the South Downs` with its central bell tower housing six bells, the pulleys of which come down right into the centre of the church, making bell ringing practice on Tuesday nights an intriguing sight.

The world-famous Glyndebourne opera house, established in 1934, is hidden away in the South Downs countryside near Lewes.  Opera goers have the benefit of the glorious productions both old and new and take picnic tea on the lawns, mostly in evening dress, during the interval.

The legendary Devil`s Dyke near Brighton is one of the largest dry valleys.  Home to a prehistoric settlement and hill fort, it is now a habitat for butterflies and birds, and a popular site for walkers and hang gliders catching the thermal updraughts.

Sussex

For administration purposes, Sussex is divided into West and East.  Sussex`s famous landscape, dominated by its white cliffs at Beachy Head, has a rich history and along with neighbouring Hampshire, is much blessed by the sunniest climate in the UK.  There are three main areas in Sussex. The coastal plain in the South, behind which sit the South Downs with its gently rounded chalk hills.  Behind that, is the Sussex Weald, populated by woods, farms and market towns such as Uckfield, Lewes, and Haywards Heath. Then there is the High Weald, on the borders of Sussex, Kent and Hampshire and is the last remnant of the ancient medieval forests of St Leonards, Worth, Broadwater and Ashdown Forest. Ashdown Forest is the largest heathland area in the South East.

Most of the population of Sussex is concentrated along the seaside. The huge conglomeration of the City of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex with its excellent links to London.  Brighton became fashionable when Dr Richard Russell, of Lewes, first prescribed a dip in the sea for his patients in the 1740s.  Brighton fast became a holiday resort, with elegant Regency terraces and hotels. The Prince Regent built the extravagant and incredible Royal Pavilion, Britain`s `Taj Mahal by the sea`, as an elegant retreat for himself and his friends, his extravagance causing him to bankrupt himself in the process!  The later members of the Royal Family continued to use the Palace but with the coming of the railway (and crowds of day-trippers) Queen Victoria found that her private summer home had become too public and the Royal Family stopped visiting the Royal Pavilion in 1845.  Brighton has a vibrant culture and city centre to rival London with all major shops in the modern shopping complex of Churchill Square, juxtapositioned with the historic and quaint shops in the `Laines` full of weird and wonderful goods.    

The Cathedral City of Chichester was historically the most important centre of business in Sussex but now has to be content as the County Town of West Sussex.  The magnificent 900 year old Cathedral, with an unusual separate bell tower, attracts visitors of all faiths.   Chichester Harbour, West Wittering Beach, art galleries and the Festival Theatre are a hub for tourists and a week-long Festival of Arts and Music first burst upon the scene there in August since 2007 and has been going on ever since.

All around the countryside and coastal areas in Sussex there is so much to see and do. For relaxation and getting back to nature the South Downs National Park, which is Britain`s newest National Park, is regarded as one of Britain`s Breathing Spaces!  The softly rolling chalk hills, fields, woodlands, and river valleys cover over 70 miles across Sussex from Winchester in the East to Lewes in the West.

A day out in Sussex could be something for everyone; Castles, stately homes, zoo parks, aquatic and animal centres, beautiful and clean beaches, scenic drives, peaceful country walks or bustling market towns, shopping, nightclubs and theatres in the buzzing city centres, going for a delightful wander in landscaped gardens.  Just a few of these gardens are mentioned here:  Drusilla`s Zoo Park situated between Lewes and Eastbourne; Arundel Castle, dramatically set on a hill dominating the valley below and home of the Dukes of Norfolk with its collection of arms and heraldry dating back eight centuries.  Bedgebury Pinetum offers the world`s foremost conifer collection, and a wonderful place for

visitors to walk, cycle or ride all year round, and the Go Ape centre for adventures in the trees where you can be Tarzan for the day!  Fishbourne Roman Palace where you can see original Roman mosaic floors preserved and a Museum furnished with examples from Sussex`s rich Roman history.  There are landscaped Gardens, for example Sheffield Park which has four lakes planted around with trees and shrubs carefully designed to be picturesque at any time of year, and nearby you can take a trip on a steam locomotive on the Bluebell Railway. Or perhaps you would like to visit Nymans, a historic house, and partial ruin with renowned flower gardens - and try and find the tallest tree in Sussex!

The walks along the South Downs Way behind the coastal areas of Sussex are full of variety and quaint historic villages and pubs.  Biodiverse habitats with many rare plants under protection of the National Trust include ancient woods, lowland heath and chalk grassland.  Whether walking, cycling, driving, or on horseback, the South Downs can be enjoyed freely by visitors of all levels of fitness.  Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters is a magnificent sight; one of the last areas of natural coastline.  Down in the valley, the meandering river bends can be followed on foot or by bicycle to the sea. Further North you will come across Ashdown Forest; the heathland that was once Henry VIII`s favourite place for hunting deer. These days people go walking, riding and hunt there for Winnie the Pooh instead, as the author AA Milne used to live nearby in Hartfield, and many of EH Shepherd`s well-loved illustrations were of familiar scenes on the Forest i.e. the `six pine trees` and `Pooh Bridge`, which are so familiar to Pooh lovers the world over.

Typical English country pub gardens abound in Sussex; where you can drink traditional ales and enjoy home-cooked food al fresco in the lovely Sussex sunshine.  It is a great pleasure to enjoy a Sussex cream tea and scones in the picture-postcard villages. Unique national treasures also can be found here; tucked away in the woods behind Eastbourne is the Castle and Observatory at Herstmonceux beloved of Patrick Moore in the 1960s, who mapped the moon from there before the Apollo landing and from where the `pips` used to be broadcast to the world hourly. Here children of all ages can enjoy a hands-on science exhibition and adventure park with scientifically themed play equipment while those who are inclined can go right into the observatories themselves for talks on astronomy.  

So there you have it; just a brief snapshot of all that the glorious County of Sussex has to offer. William the Conqueror who landed in Hastings and built the Castle at Pevensey must have been utterly delighted with his conquest because legend has it that he kissed the earth when he landed - or perhaps he was just grateful he`d got here at all, because since William, our coastline has proved impenetrable to everything except the slow march of the sea.