Eastbourne Museums

(Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK)

Seaside fun aside, there is a surprising selection of culture and museums to choose from in Eastbourne. The best include the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, the 'How We Lived Then' Museum of Shops, the Lifeboat Museum and the neighbouring Pevensey Castle, as well as the 'must-see' Redoubt Fortress.

An acclaimed Napoleonic military Museum, the Redoubt Fortress was built at the beginning of the 19th century and has now overlooked and defended the Eastbourne coastline for more than 200 years. The Redoubt Fortress was originally constructed to support the neighbouring Martello Towers and supply the necessary weaponry when required and enjoys high visitor numbers throughout the year.

Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum

Address: Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7AQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 410300
Over the years, the Redoubt Fortress has operated as the headquarters for military police, a temporary jail, a model village and even as an aquarium. In 1977, the fort opened its doors in the guise of a military museum and has become the biggest and most important of its kind in the south-east of England. Notable military collections here include those of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and the Royal Sussex Regiment.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, students and seniors

'How We Lived Then' Museum of Shops

Address: 20 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4NS, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 737143
With in excess of 100,000 different exhibits that have been accumulated over the past 50 years or so, How We Lived Then is set within a charming late-Regency town house and comprises a series of different rooms, which have been laid out as old shops and period rooms. Visitors will enjoy exploring the old grocers shop, learning about wartime rations, visiting the Seafarer's Inn named the 'Admiral Lord Nelson' and then experiencing an authentic Edwardian kitchen. The museum gift shop is packed with souvenirs and traditional postcards, as well as a host of detailed Doll's House furnishings.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 16:00, hours extended during the summer months
Admission: charge, discounts for children under 15 years old, families and seniors, children five years old and under are free

Pevensey Castle and the Mint House

Address: High Street, Pevensey, East Sussex, BN24 5LE, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 762604
Once a magnificent medieval fortress, the remains of Pevensey Castle clearly suggest its former grandeur and importance, and is located just a 15-minute drive to the north-east of central Eastbourne. Pevensey Castle was actually the very first stronghold of William the Conqueror and dates as far back as the 4th century, being built on a former Roman fortress and still surrounded by ancient Roman defensive walls. The castle was last used for military purposes in the Second World War, when various machine-gun posts were carefully camouflaged within its walls. Today, Pevensey Castle is owned by the English Heritage as a museum-type attraction. An onsite visitors centre features an exhibition with various artefacts excavated here. Audio tours are also available and tell the interesting tale of the castle's rich history. Located across the road is the Mint House, which was built in the mid-14th century and is currently home to one of the most unique and strange collections of antiquities that you are ever likely to encounter.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 10:00 to 18:00; October and early November, daily - 10:00 to 16:00; early November to March, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, seniors and families, free to members of the English Heritage

Heritage Centre

Address: Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4BT, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 411189
The Heritage Centre on Carlisle Road offers a real insight into the town's past and explores the history from prehistoric times, right up to the present. Situated within a splendid Victorian building formerly known as 'Park Cottage' and conveniently located close to both the cultural quarter and the beachfront, the Heritage Centre is run by the Eastbourne Society and contains an appealing mixture of pictures, maps and local artefacts.
Open hours: mid-April to early October, daily - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, seniors, families and groups

Lifeboat Museum

Address: King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4BY, England, UK
Tel: +44 01323 730717
Standing on King Edward's Parade and alongside the Western Lawns, the Lifeboat Museum recounts the history and heritage of the town's important lifeboat service, which commenced in 1822. Housed within the original lifeboat station (RNLI boathouse), which was built at the very end of the 19th century, this attraction was established in 1937 and was for many years the only permanent lifeboat museum operating in England. Visitors will find the photographs and information relating to the town's two current lifeboats (the 'Royal Theatres' and the 'Joan and Ted Wiseman') particularly interesting.
Open hours: January to March, Saturday and Sunday - 10:30 to 14:30; April to December, daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free