Eastbourne Visitors Guide

Eastbourne is a large town in East Sussex, on the south coast of England.

Eastbourne has been a settlement since the Stone Age and it remained one of a number of small settlements in the area until the 19th century when it with its neighbouring hamlets gradually merged to form a town.

As with many towns, it was the arrival of the railway in 1849 that brought about the most significant changes to the town, its direct route to London making it a favourite seaside resort for the Victorians.

Eastbourne has retained its railway station and has regular trains to London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Hastings and Brighton.

Eastbourne is situated at the eastern end of the South Downs National Park and is home to the famous Beachy Head cliff. Eastbourne's sheltered position behind the cliff contributes to Eastbourne's title of the sunniest place in Great Britain.

Eastbourne remains one of the UK's seaside resorts. Its facilities include four theatres, numerous parks, a bandstand and museums. It also has four miles of shingle beach, lined with a seafront of hotels and guest houses.

Eastbourne has had a number of famous residents, including Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll and in more recent times, comedian, Tommy Cooper.