Eastbourne Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK)

Offering unspoilt beaches, seafront promenades, coastal walks, seaside amusements, bandstand concerts and beautiful public gardens, Eastbourne has many quality tourist attractions and activities for all of the family to enjoy. Visitors flock to Eastbourne each summer, when there is always lots of sunshine to go around, and the colourful seasonal bedding in the Carpet Gardens is quite spectacular, regularly contributing to awards in the annual Britain in Bloom competition.

Apart from the parks and gardens in Eastbourne, tourists will find attractions such as theatre, water sports and fun-packed amusement parks, including the Fort Fun Theme Park. As well as being easy to walk between, the leading attractions and places of interest are also connected by the regular land trains best known as the Dotto Trains.

Theatres

Address: Eastbourne Theatres, Winter Garden, Compton Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4BP, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 412000
There are no less than four main theatres in Eastbourne, each of which are owned and operated by the local council. All of these buildings are actually Grade II and have an overall combined capacity of approximately 4,500 people. The Devonshire Park Theatre on Compton Street is traditionally Victorian in style and dates from 1884, while the considerably larger and more modern Congress Theatre is regularly used for comedy gigs and concerts. Located in the town centre and on Seaside Road, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre was completed in 1883 and can accommodate audiences of 630 people, spread over three levels. Finally, the Winter Gardens on Compton Street was built in 1875 and comprises the Floral Hall and the Gold Room. Also of note in Eastbourne is the Underground Theatre, which is situated beneath the Central Library, on Grove Road, and is run by a team of volunteers. For Murder Mystery Nights and more intimate performances, check out the Lamb Theatre at the Lamb Inn in the Old Town, where you can also enjoy a hearty three-course meal before the show.
Open hours: hours vary according to performance
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors

Parks and Gardens

There are a huge selection of public parks and gardens located within Eastbourne, providing the ideal place to relax and often enjoy views of the sea. Offering children's playground attractions, a manicured bowling green and putting, the Helen Garden enjoys a secluded spot on the western side of the beachfront, while the Carpet Gardens are located between the Bandstand and the Pier, and are known for their award-winning flower displays and views. The most popular parks and gardens include:

• Beachy Head and South Downs - South Downs Way
• Carpet Gardens - Eastbourne Seafront
• Gildrege Park and Manor Gardens - The Goffs
• Hampden Park and Arboretum - Hampden Park Drive / Decoy Drive
• Helen Garden - King Edward's Parade
• Italian Gardens - Holywell
• Motcombe Park - Old Town
• Princes Park - Royal Parade
• Seven Sisters Country Park and Visitor Centre - Beachy Head
• Shinewater Park - Langney
• Sovereign Park - Prince William Parade

Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Sports and Outdoor Activities

The sheer choice of sports and outdoor recreational attractions available in Eastbourne is really quite surprising and impressive. There are three senior soccer clubs in the town, meaning that football fans will often find a game to watch. The town is also proud of its cricket, hockey, lacrosse and rugby teams, which regularly compete at local level. Each June, the acclaimed AEGON International Tennis Championship draws enormous crowds and serves as a precursor to Wimbledon in London. There is also a local paragliding club, horse riding opportunities in surrounding villages, and golf at a number of 18-hole courses, such as the Willingdon Golf Club on Southdown Road and the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club on Paradise Drive, both of which were founded in the late 19th century. For sea views whilst you play, the Downs Golf Club on East Dean Road comes highly recommended. Located on the Royal Parade, the Spray Water Sports Centre offers various courses, such as body boarding, sea canoeing, sailing and windsurfing, while if you prefer land to the water, you may like to walk or jog along the routes around Whitbread Hollow and the Seven Sisters cliffs.
Open hours: hours vary, some activities are seasonal
Admission: free, charge for some activities

Families and Children / Theme Parks

Address: Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7LQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 642833 (Fort Fun Theme Park, Rocky's Adventure and the American Adventure Golf Course)
There are a number of extremely popular family attractions based in Eastbourne, with the most notable being situated along the Royal Parade and therefore just a short stroll from the actual beach. Here you will find the Fort Fun Theme Park, which has fairground-style rides, a log flume named the 'Thunder Falls' and dodgems. Also on the Royal Parade is Rocky's Adventure, an indoor soft play centre for younger children. Finally, if you are in the mood for a family round of crazy golf, then be sure to check out the American Adventure Golf Course and its fun water features and imaginative landscaping.
Eastbourne tourist attraction open:
Fort Fun Theme Park: school holidays - 11:00 to 18:00; June, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00 to 19:00; July to September, daily - 11:00 to 19:00; October - 11:00 to 18:00
Rocky's Adventure: daily, April to September - 10:00 to 19:00; October to March - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and families

Dotto Trains

A regular land train service operates along the seafront throughout the spring and summer seasons, collecting passengers and transporting them to numerous attractions and destinations, such as the Prince William Parade, the Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne Pier, the Wish Tower and Holywell. Day tickets are available, should you wish to use these 'Dotto Trains' throughout the day to save time walking.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for families (two adults and up to three children) and children under 16 years old

Sovereign Centre

The Sovereign Centre is a public leisure complex and contains a variety of fun attractions, which include a total of four swimming pools, complete with flumes and slides, bubbles, a wave machine and inflatables. Also onsite is a large sports hall, cafe, fitness centre with weight-training equipment, Isospa gym, sports shops and various outdoor activities during the summer months, which in the past have included an enormous inflatable pirate ship in the landscaped rock garden.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 21:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:30 to 18:00, fun pool activities restricted to mornings only
Admission: charge, discounts for children, students and seniors

Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park

Address: Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6QJ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 520229
A popular family attraction located on the northerly side of the town and close to the Cross Levels Way, the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park is worth finding and has its own free car park. Home to a number of elaborate 1/8th-scale miniature steam and diesel locomotives, the railway track surrounds a huge pond and stretches for approximately 1.6 km / 1 mile, passing through a small tunnel and alongside landscaped grounds. Younger visitors will be pleased to discover a large adventure playground and maze, as well as a railway themed Thomas the Tank Engine gift shop.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 10:00 to 17:00; October, November and mid-December, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families and seniors, children three years old and under are free