Eastbourne

AN ICONIC COASTAL TOWN, EASTBOURNE IS FAMOUS FOR ITS ATTRACTIVE GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE AND STRIKING CHALK CLIFFS

- Amy Noton

Despite its seafront location, Eastbourne’s earliest origins were as a downland village rather than a seaside town and the Old Town stands some distance from the sea at the source of the Bourne, the stream from which Eastbourne gets its name.

Eastbourne has been settled since at least Roman times but the town’s growth truly flourished in the 19th century under William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 7th Duke of Devonshire. Regarded as the ‘father of Eastbourne’, he developed the town with parks, baths and squares, resulting in an architectural mix that is typically Victorian with a Mediterranean flavour.

Important landmarks today include the Redoubt Fortress, a fine example of an early 19th century Georgian fort, now home to a museum; the Grade II listed, 300m-long pier, which was opened by the Duke of Devonshire in 1870 and includes gift shops, a glass-blowing centre, a tea room and a music venue; and the semi-circular bandstand, which was built in 1935 and provides live music and performances throughout the summer. Other popular events include the annual Airbourne festival each August, the Beach Life festival in early July, the Nature Valley international tennis tournament, now in its 44th year, and the new Eastbourne Pride festival.