scenic viewpoint
Beachy Head
The highest chalk sea cliff in Britain at 162 m, with a red-and-white lighthouse standing on the shore below.
4 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Eastbourne
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Eastbourne
Eastbourne works well as a base: 10 minutes from Friston, 6km from Seven Sisters Cliffs.
Eastbourne is in England, United Kingdom, with about 100,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Friston, about 6 km away.
Eastbourne ( ) is a town and seaside resort in the East Sussex county of South East England. It lies 19 miles (31 km) east of Brighton and 54 miles (87 km) south of London; it is immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and part of the larger Eastbourne Downland Estate. It is alsoRead more
a local government district with borough status.
The seafront consists mainly of Victorian hotels, a pier, theatre, contemporary art gallery and a Napoleonic era fort and military museum. Although Eastbourne is a relatively new town, there is evidence of human occupation in the area from the Stone Age. The town grew as a fashionable tourist resort largely thanks to prominent landowner William Cavendish, later to become the Duke of Devonshire. Cavendish appointed architect Henry Currey to design a street plan for the town, but not before sending him to Europe to draw inspiration. The resulting mix of architecture is typically Victorian and remains a key feature of Eastbourne.
As a seaside resort, Eastbourne derives a large and increasing income from tourism, with revenue from traditional seaside attractions augmented by conferences, public events and cultural sightseeing. The other main industries in Eastbourne include trade and retail, healthcare, education, construction, manufacturing, professional scientific and the technical sector.
Eastbourne's population is growing; between 2001 and 2011, it increased from 89,800 to 99,412. The 2011 census shows that the average age of residents has decreased as the town has attracted students, families and those commuting to London and Brighton. In the 2021 census, the population of Eastbourne was 101,689.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Eastbourne?
Within an hour or so of Eastbourne: Beachy Head (4 km), Seven Sisters Cliffs (6 km), Birling Gap (6 km), Cuckmere Haven (10 km).
Are there any good drives near Eastbourne?
The nearest famous roads are Goodwood Festival of Speed, Crystal Palace Circuit and Military Road, Isle of Wight.
Where is Eastbourne?
Eastbourne is in England, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Friston.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 101,689
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.7687, 0.2845
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Eastbourne
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Seven Sisters Cliffs
A series of dramatic undulating chalk cliffs along the East Sussex coast, considered one of England's finest coastal landscapes.
6 km · about 10 min drive
beach
Birling Gap
A National Trust hamlet at the foot of the Seven Sisters with beach access by steel staircase and rapidly retreating cliffs.
6 km · about 10 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Cuckmere Haven
A meandering river valley meeting the sea beneath the Seven Sisters, giving the classic view of the cliffs and coastguard cottages.
10 km · about 20 min drive
beach
Brighton Beach
A famous pebble beach on England's south coast known for its Victorian pier, vibrant arts scene, and seaside charm.
30 km · about 35 min drive
castle
Bodiam Castle
A 14th-century moated castle in East Sussex, renowned for its picturesque setting and well-preserved exterior.
32 km · about 35 min drive
film location
Bodiam Castle (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
The moated East Sussex castle used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and many period productions.
32 km · about 35 min drive
photogenic
Mermaid Street, Rye
Cobbled hill of half-timbered houses in the ancient Cinque Port of Rye, crowned by the 15th-century Mermaid Inn with its smuggling-era cellars. Houses carry names like 'The House with Two Front Doors'.
37 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Eastbourne
- Right hereBeachy HeadThe highest chalk sea cliff in Britain at 162 m, with a red-and-white lighthouse standing on the shore below.
- Right hereCuckmere HavenA meandering river valley meeting the sea beneath the Seven Sisters, giving the classic view of the cliffs and coastguard cottages.
- 65 kmLeith HillThe highest point in south-east England at 294 m, its 18th-century tower taking visitors just above the 1,000-foot mark.
- 68 kmBox HillA steep chalk escarpment above the Mole valley, the Zig Zag Road on its flank made famous by the 2012 Olympic road race.
- 71 kmChannel Tunnel (Eurotunnel)50 km tunnel under the English Channel - drive your car on the train
- 72 kmGoodwood Festival of SpeedThe hillclimb course on the Goodwood estate driveway where Formula One cars, prewar Grand Prix machinery and rally legends run flat out past a country house each summer. The 1.16-mile course is estate road year-round.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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