Hotels in Eastbourne

Eastbourne: Chalk Cliffs and Victorian Seafront

Eastbourne sits on the East Sussex coast, 65 miles south of London and 25 miles east of Brighton. The town's 4-mile seafront stretches west toward Beachy Head, a 162-metre chalk headland marking the highest point of the South Downs on the English Channel. Eastbourne Pier, which opened in 1872, extends 300 metres into the sea and ranks among the best-preserved Victorian piers in England. The Carpet Gardens, maintained along the promenade since the 1860s, give the seafront a formal character that sets it apart from neighbouring coastal towns.

Where to Stay

The Devonshire Quarter, between Grand Parade and Terminus Road, holds the largest concentration of hotels — from 4-star seafront properties to compact guesthouses. Old Town, a 10-minute walk north, offers quieter B&B options near the 13th-century St Mary's Church. The South Downs National Park borders the town to the north, making Eastbourne a practical base for walking the South Downs Way, a 160-km National Trail running to Winchester.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Southern Rail trains from London Victoria reach Eastbourne in around 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Best season: July and August deliver the highest sunshine hours on the south coast; the Airbourne airshow runs each August over the seafront.
• Getting around: The promenade is flat and walkable; local buses connect the town centre to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs to the west.