Throw in Towner Eastbourne, a world-class art gallery, which hosted the Turner Prize in 2023 and now exhibits collections curated by the likes of David Dimbleby; the warm up to Wimbledon serving up a host of tennis stars at the tournament held here each year, and a thriving culinary scene, and it’s no wonder this town on the sunshine coast is so popular.
The roll call of accolades is long and impressive. This year alone Eastbourne has been named one of the best places to live by Garrington Property Finders who said it has ‘one of the finest Victorian seafronts on the south coast.’
Conde Nast Traveller declared it one of the best seaside towns in England 2025 describing Eastbourne as a ‘quintessential, old-fashioned seaside resort. Beyond the town are stunning and relatively secluded beaches beneath the cliffs of the South Downs.’ The prestigious travel magazine picked out Falling Sands Beach as one to visit, as well as recommending a stroll along the immaculate seafront promenade, pier, Western Lawns and a visit to the Towner for its ‘contemporary art exhibitions.’
Eastbourne was ranked as one of the top places to invest in the UK last year thanks to the array of properties, amenities, attractions, and the surrounding natural beauty which includes the South Downs, Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, Britain’s highest chalk cliff.
None of this is a surprise to locals. After all this is a town that beat the likes of Amsterdam, Kyushu in Japan and the Nordic charms of Norway – as well as the rest of the UK – to be named top of the world’s hotspots back in 2023.
Time Out broadcast that Eastbourne’s ‘rising status as a creative and cultural hub’ meant that it is ‘the best place in the UK to go on a day or overnight trip.’
Travel experts agreed – giving it the number one spot on the Hot Destinations list the same year. Travel PR, who represent Expert Africa, National Coastal Tourism Academy and Visit Faroe Islands, told Sussex Life: ‘Previously overlooked in favour of buzzing Brighton or hip Hastings, Eastbourne’s star is rising. ‘Many are catching on to the appeal of this coastal town, now seeing the regeneration previously enjoyed by other UK coastal destinations, including a £20million levelling-up fund award to boost the Terminus Road area.’
Long gone is the reputation as ‘God’s Waiting Room’ full of pensioners and geriatrics. Eastbourne is now a coastal hot spot for families, commuters (the capital is only 1hr 27 minutes’ away on the train), and Londoners who can now work from home, meaning the average age is 43. As The Guardian notes: ‘Eastbourne’s transformation has been bubbling along quietly for some years… it’s fair to say Eastbourne is having a moment’.
And Conde Nast Traveller explains why when it says: ‘The sleepy Sussex seaside town has made a clever turnaround fusing old-school quirk with a fresh blast of culture’.
Eastbourne became a fashionable resort developed ‘for gentlemen by gentlemen’ after the railway came to the town in 1849, when the population was less than 3,500. The Duke of Devonshire sent architect Henry Currey to Europe to look for inspiration before creating the town’s street plan. That’s why the resulting Victorian architecture has a tinge of the Med – giving Eastbourne it’s stunning façade of faded glamour. It instantly became the ‘destination of choice’ for high society and artists including writers Lewis Carroll and Charles Dickens who holidayed here. Eastbourne became the most bombed seaside town in England during WWII with nearly 4,000 bombs falling on the town. Bombers used Beachy Head as a landmark but Hitler reportedly ordered that The Grand shouldn’t be hit in case he wanted to stay there after he conquered the town and country.
Fast forward to now and the town is pulling in the crowds from abroad and the UK – 4.9 million visitors at the last count which has led to some locals complaining that the town is ‘overrun’ with tourists. Perhaps this is why the town recently made the Sunday Times’ ‘worst places to live’ list, citing high house prices and growing crime rates. It caused a furore among the locals, who insisted that the town’s mood is as sunny as its stunning location – Eastbourne is officially the sunniest place in the UK and has held that title since July 1911 – and that the amenities and attractions are outstanding.
In fact, Eastbourne has something for everyone with its exciting calendar of events. Tennis fans are always served up plenty of drama at The Rothesay International, the pre-Wimbledon Grand Slam fixture that attracts some of the world’s best players.
Airbourne, the annual air show starring the Red Arrows, will be back over the skies of Eastbourne for its 31st year this month. One of the biggest free seafront shows in Europe, the displays, performances and entertainment will delight the crowds over four days from 14 – 17 August.
The town is also the gateway to the South Downs National Park, and the start of the unspoilt South Downs Way, so walkers can drink in ocean views and fresh, salty sea air as they head towards Birling Gap, Beachy Head and Seven Sisters. The newly extended King Charles III England Coast path means that Eastbourne is connected to Rye Harbour, making for an unrivalled stretch of the British coastline. The town hosts a Walking Festival in the summer from June to August with events and organised walks in the South Downs.
And there’s always the pier, which was built between 1866 – 1872 and still provides plenty of seaside pleasure.
With such iconic scenery, Eastbourne has been featured in plenty of hit movies, TV shows and photo shoots. From Harry Style’s US Vogue front cover shoot posing in a skirt on the top of the Seven Sisters to another Harry featuring them before flying over Beachy Head playing Quidditch in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, they make for a dramatic location. Agatha Christie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and James Bond in The Living Daylight have all been filmed here, showcasing Eastbourne to the world.
And it’s not just film stars that you can see in the town. Eastbourne is England’s top stargazing spot with visitors having out-of-this-world views of the sky from Beachy Head. There are free stargazing events held there along with a Dark Skies Festival at the South Downs National Park. One of only 22 International Dark Sky Reserves, the Park hosts astrophotography competitions to capture the incredible views at night which include the Milky Way and aurora.
Local Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde says: ‘As the sunniest town in the UK, with 94 beautiful individual beaches, and as the gateway to the magnificent South Downs National Park, I’m so proud to call Eastbourne my home. Our restaurant and café culture is buzzing, our arts scene is thriving, our schools are excelling (I went to many of them myself) and our community is the most compassionate and tight-knit I know. We’re a special town and for those of us who live, work and play here, know all too well.’
As well as fish and chips – well this is the seaside – and some of the best ice cream outside of Italy (the local Gelato Famosa has queues in the summer), there is a culinary scene to rival Brighton and even London with new places seemingly popping up constantly. Hyde Corner coffee shop is a favourite, with hand-roasted Union Coffee and tempting treats, while the Mad Catter offers cake, coffee and cat cuddles in a 1940s-themed café not far from the train station in the town centre.
Cocktail lovers have plenty on offer with the Eastbourne Cocktail Club, The Belgian Café and Conde Nast Traveller-approved Cru wine bar for sophisticated evenings with an edge while myriad restaurants serving everything from Italian (we love Pomodoro e Mozzarella) to traditional Turkish dishes at Meze and thrice weekly candle-lit suppers at Skylark restaurant, serving local produce cater for every appetite. Light at the Towner is a scandi-inspired delight with a menu that matches even the views from the roof terrace. The Lamb Inn, the 12th century pub in Old Town, is worth a visit for the interiors alone.
Nothing is finer for fine dining and a sophisticated seaside-cation though than The Grand, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Known as the White Palace by locals, this is the only five-star seafront hotel in the UK and has sweeping ocean views, silver service and a decadent history.
Built in 1875, and seen as the prominent symbol of luxury ever since, The Grand has played host to everyone from royalty to French composer Claude Debussy, who created Le Mer while staying here for two months and gazing at the Channel. ‘A charming peaceful spot, the sea unfurls itself with an utterly British correctness,’ he said at the time. Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton visited in 1914 before his Antarctic expedition, Charlie Chaplin used to holiday here with his family, and tennis legend Fred Perry came to play tennis before Wimbledon. The Duke of Devonshire, who owned large swathes of Eastbourne, was a frequent visitor as is Queen Sofia of Spain who recently came to see her children’s retired nanny here.
The Grand – as its name suggests, is the perfect place for afternoon tea, or dinner at one of the two restaurants, Mirabelle and The Garden Room. There are 152 luxury rooms and suites, a spa with indoor pool, an outdoor pool and stylish cocktail bar with floor to ceiling sea views. To celebrate it’s 150th anniversary, the hotel is releasing 150 rooms at a very special rate with some Grand inclusions every three months. A stay typically starts from £220 per room per night (two sharing), including breakfast.
The hotel is hosting Barbecues on the Terrace with the Groove Cartel on 2 and 9 August which includes a two-course lunch alfresco along with a mocktail and live music from the Eastbourne based band best known for their jazz and creative improvisations. 12 – 2.30pm, £46 adult, £22 child.
A Mirabelle Seaside Summer Lunch in association with Bolney Wine was being held on 7 August which starts with pre-lunch drinks on the Princes Lawn, followed by a three-course lunch with wine from Bolney, one of England’s first and most stunning wine estates. £60 per person.
There is also a special three-day festival being held in November. The 150 years years of Music, Monarchs & The Grand Hotel (21 – 24 November) will commemorate the special guests who have stayed or performed at the hotel from the reign of Queen Victoria through to King Charles III. Top performers will evoke stars such as Enrico Caruso, Dame Nellie Melba, and composers Sir Edward Elgar and Debussy. There will also be a three-course dinner each evening, inspired by these great guests.
Prices start from £995 for a two-night stay, or £1,490 for three nights, based on two people sharing a Classic Room, a three-course dinner each evening (with a glass of Canard Duchene), entertainment and access to the Health Club facilities.For non-residential packages, including one night at the festival and a three-course dinner, with a glass of Canard Duchene, prices start from £180 per person. Contact The Grand Hotel on 01323 412345 (www.grandeastbourne.com).
Other places to stay include the Port Hotel (you can’t miss it, it’s the only black hotel on the seafront) and Belle Tout Lighthouse which has featured in TV hits such as The Loves and Lives of a She-Devil.
SHOPPING
From High Street favourites in The Beacon to the independent stores along the Victorian shopping streets of Little Chelsea and the quaint market-style stalls and boutiques in the Enterprise Centre, Eastbourne is a shopper’s paradise.
Fashion outlets are nestled alongside jewellery stores – including Brufords, a family-run jewellers since 1886, which sells luxury watches including Rolex and new and pre-owned jewellery. They also offer jewellery alterations, and vintage clock repairs and have an extensive bridal range. brufords.com
Furnish your home at David Salmon Furnishers, an independent furniture store that has been in Eastbourne for more than 45 years, and has a large collection of the best furniture in the UK at its showroom. You’ll find everything from quality sofas and chairs to handcrafted dining tables, ethically-sourced beds and sleek cabinets from top brands such as Venjakob and Parker Knoll that are exclusive to them in Sussex. davidsalmon.co.uk
For hand-made kitchens, and bespoke or specialist heritage joinery, family ran Barn Joinery is the place to go. Based in a converted 19th century horse stables founder Kim McGreevy has been joined by the next generation – his children Simon and Kate who are highly skilled in their own right – and together the business has a reputation for quality craftmanship and design excellence. From creating a bespoke kitchen, through to sharing a passion for keeping the traditional joinery craft alive, the trio and their team deliver exceptional results in the heart of the home that will last a lifetime. barnjoinery.co.uk
SCHOOLS
There are plenty of independent schools in the area that have small class sizes, excellent facilities and high achieveing academic results. St Andrew’s Prep and St Bede’s are well established and popular.
Surrounded by the sea and the rolling hill of the South Downs, Eastbourne College is a day and boarding school that focuses on high academic achievement along with co-curricular activities and experiences that develop integrity, kindness and a resilience that pupils will draw upon for the rest of their lives. A co-ed school for pupils aged 13 – 18, Eastbourne College is a ‘blue health school’ harnessing the coastal location for the children’s mental and physical wellbeing. The Good Schools Guide says this is ‘a school for families who take join in what their kids become rather than pride in what they’ve made of them.’ Old Eastbournians include a Nobel prize winner, a president of the Royal Academy and a Lord Mayor of London. eastbourne-college.co.uk
FAMOUS FACES
Darwin’s ‘bulldog’, biologist and anthropologist Thomas Henry Huxley (1825 – 1895) lived and died in Eastbourne. He specialised in comparative anatomy and was an advocate of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May was born here.
YouTube star Joe Weller – best known for his blogs, music and boxing – lives in Eastbourne and is often spotted shopping in Asda.
MUST DO
Who needs the West End when Eastbourne has the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and Winter Garden? Known as the jewels in the crown of Sussex, Eastbourne Theatres are now in partnership with global live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment to bring a stellar line-up of stars and shows to the town. From The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (12 – 16 Aug) to the home grown comedy The Play What I Wrote (1 – 30 Aug) and Bat Out Of Hell (25 – 30 Aug) there’s a variety of theatre for every taste and age. www.trafalgartickets.com/eastbourne-theatres-eastbourne/en-GB/whats-on –
MUST SEE
Towner Eastbourne
Sussex Modernism (on now until 21 September) brings together artists not usually included in the modernist story. It encompasses those who opposed it, who came before and after it and an array of countercultural artists from the 1960s to 80s who fluted established tastes to define the new and the now. The exhibition includes Jacob Epstein sculpture and one of the largest paintings Ivon Hitchens created. Curated by Dr Hope Wolf from the University of Sussex, the focus is on artists with a connection to Sussex. Ticketed.
The Ravilious Collection opens 26 September 2025
Towner has long been the custodian of the largest collection of works by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942). This autumn, the gallery is launching a new, bespoke space dedicated to this much-loved artist. The display will feature watercolours, preparatory drawings, prints and ceramics by Ravilious, as well as works from some of his closest friends and peers, including his wife Tirzah Garwood and friends Edward Bawden and Peggy Angus.
townereastbourne.org.uk @townergallery.
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