Eastbourne - Newhaven 

Eastbourne is situated at the foot of the South Downs in East Sussex. It is a seaside resort in the traditional English style and is a great place for family holidays. The town has a certain genteel charm that reflects its aristocratic origins. The Duke of Devonshire laid out plans for the town in 1834 and it has some fine architecture to show for it. 

For details of  Eastbourne Hotels and Holidays, Guest Houses, Cottages  and Attractions.  Go to Eastbourne Hotels, Guest houses and Cottages

Today it is a busy, thriving resort town that welcomes visitors with open arms. There is a 3 mile long promenade and a pier and there are excellent beaches at the town and at nearby Pevensey Bay. There are loads of beachside facilities such as cafes, shops and toilets. 

Another natural feature that is a well known landmark is Beachy Head, a headland to the southeast of the town that rises to 530 feet and affords excellent views of the town and surrounding coastline. On a clear day you can see 40 miles along the coast to Kent and fifty miles in the opposite direction to Brighton.

The Countryside Commission also designated the white chalk cliffs between Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters and Seaford Head as the first ever stretch of Heritage Coastline - a stretch of coastline which is of particular natural beauty or importance and is managed to preserve this largely undeveloped beauty. See the Seven Sisters Country Park for more information. 

Nearby is Pevensey Castle which started out as a Roman fort around 2000 years ago. William the Conqueror built his first castle on the site shortly after the battle of Hastings. It was reinforced and strengthen during the time of the Spanish Armada. In the second World War the site was used as a gun emplacement to protect the coast from invasion by Germany.  Today the ruined castle is maintained by English Heritage - who protect the castle from the assault of the many tourists who visit each year. Quiet a history!

Newhaven

Newhaven is a small ferry port, to the west of Eastbourne, from which you can find ferries running to Dieppe in France. There are currently three ferries per day in each direction. Newhaven is situated at the mouth of the River Ouse and has been a port for many years; it served as a important harbour in both World Wars and was used to launch raids across the channel to Nazi occupied France. There are no beaches at Newport but there are at nearby Peacehaven and Seaford. 

What to see in Eastbourne 

Eastbourne Heritage Centre - Exhibits about Eastbourne's history Tel: 01323 411189

Rocky's Adventure Playground - Soft play area for kids. Tel: 01323 642833 

Beachy Head Countryside Centre - Beachy Head Road, Beachy Head, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7YA Tel: 01323 737273

Harbour Boat Trips - The Waterfront, Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne, East Sussex Tel: 01323 472009

Hampden Park - Hampden Park, Eastbourne Tel: 01323 410000

Drusillas Park - Wildlife Park - Alfriston, East Sussex Tel: 01323 874100 

< South East Guide                                                                                                                Hastings Guide >

Other sections of the guide you might also enjoy - see below.

Activities

Whether your idea of an ideal activity is sunbathing or you prefer something more strenuous, the  chances are that you will be able to pursue this at the coast. There is a wide selection of activities that can be found on our coastline - these range from a gentle stroll to the next bay, to swimming and snorkelling, to more energetic activities such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing and kite sailing. See Activities section.

Attractions - see listings pages

A huge selection of attractions are available within the coastal area and this section will have details of many of them. From piers and harbours to fun fairs and roller coasters, the listings will have details of what's available in your chosen area. For details of attractions look in the resort pages. 

 The National Lobster Hatchery - Padstow

Pubs, restaurants and shopping guide

The listings section will also have details of pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and shops available in the locality. Restaurants and shops coming soon.....

                                                                                                                                            The Beach Pub - Exmouth

Features

We will bring you feature  articles  about the coastline and  news items about life in the coastal area. contributions to this section are welcome.

Photo Gallery

     VISIT