Eastbourne Family Attractions Blue Flag Beach Watersports Golf Theme Parks Harbour

Eastbourne Blue Flag Beach & Eastern Seafront Beach Family Attractions

Eastbourne is fast becoming one of the South Coast's meccas for watersports including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, body-boarding and power boating. The resort boasts around 5 miles of shingle beach with one beach a prestigious holder of the Blue Flag Beach award and other beach areas boasting the Highest Water Quality Standards. Eastbourne Blue Flag beach stetch runs from Eastbourne Pier west to the Wish Tower (Martello round tower). This is the highest of the beach awards signifying clean bathing water, lifeguard and first aid cover, showers and toilets, ample refreshment facilities and kidzone wristband and safe bathing zone system in operation.

East of the pier the beach area pushing all the way to Sovereign Harbour is recommended by the Marine Conservation Society and has a High Standard of Water Quality. The Eastern Seafront along Royal Parade is the resort's hub for family attractions and watersports. An outstanding choice of seaside attractions are in this area including Treasure Island Adventure Park and Advenutre Golf, the Spray Water Sports Centre, Fort Fun Family Theme Park, Princes Park Boating Lake and more miniature golf and to the far east the spectacular Sovereign Harbour Marina and Sovereign Leisure Centre. Just inland from Princes Park sits Eastbourne's popular family attraction the Miniature Steam Railway.

The mini Dotto Eastbourne Road Train runs the full stretch of Eastbourne seafront with stops on the Eastern Seafront at Eastbourne Pier, Treasure Island, Fort Fun and the Sovereign Centre. Family attractions and facilities are extensive within Princes Park and include charming gardens with feature rose garden, an 18 hole putting green, two kids playgrounds one of which has a paddling pool and a boating lake popular for model boats. A cafe, toilets and plenty of lawn space is on-site. Sovereign Harbour stands as one of Europe's largest marina complexes. With adjacent free parking, the harbour is superb for families with a wide selection of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants with alfresco dining and boat trips and charters. Cycle paths connect the harbour to Eastbourne Promenade and during summer and half-term holidays the harbour has free entertainment for children such as magicians.

Eastbourne Pier offers more seafront attractions including the Victorian Camera Obscura which is not to be missed for its stunning views of the Eastbourne Seafront particularly towards Beachy Head. Also on the pier are amuseuments, fish and chip shops, a Victorian styled tearoom and family restaurants. For watersports on the Sussex Coast, Eastbourne is one of the best locations boasting the Spray Watersports Centre which offers sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, body-boarding and power boating lessons. Within the Harbour complex the Sovereign Centre is home to a cutting edge Isospa Gym, a fun pool with wave machine and flume and a 25 metre swimming pool. Planet Divers (see weblink right) also offer scuba diving lessons at Eastbourne. The annual July Eastbourne Extreme Sports Festival based around Fort Fun and the Eastern Seafront offers two days of exciting sports demonstrations, live music and watersports events and activities.

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Fort Fun Theme Park & Treasure Island Adventure Park

Eastbourne is a resort that caters well for families with two fun packed theme parks and a huge choice of miniature golf, paddling pools, watersports and boat trips also along the Eastern Seafront. Fort Fun Adventure Park sits to the far east near Sovereign Harbour and offers a choice of both indoor and outdoor rides and play centres. Rides include the Run-Away Train Roller Coaster, the new Thunder Falls water ride, traditional dodgems and carousels and a choice of small rides for the tots. Also great for the tots is the indoor under 5s Rocky's Adventure Land play area which is huge with Niagara Slide and 50,000 soft balls to romp your way through. Become a member of Rocky's and receive discounts all year round. You choose whether to purchase a wristband for unlimited use of rides or to pay for individual rides via tokens. An American Style adventure crazy golf course is also within the Fort Fun complex.

Treasure Island pirate themed adventure park is a longstanding family favourite in Eastbourne. Many have happy memories of clambering around Long John Silvers Shipwreck, the huge themed pirate adventure playground with slides and giant play ship. Also within Treasure Island is the Little Buccaneers indoor soft play area, the Splash Lagoon Paddling Pool, a Fun Deck with a choice of funfair stalls and small children's rides, adventure golf, amusement arcades, the Treasure Chest Gift and Toy Shop and a choice of food outlets. All on-site has a fun pirate theme a la Shiver me timbers ye hearties. Great fun for all the family is guaranteed in both these Eastbourne Theme Parks.

Fort Fun Family Theme Park, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 LQ. Tel. 01323 642833. See Fort Fun's webguide for opening times and attraction details.

Treasure Island, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, BN22 7AA. Tel.01323 411077. See Treasure Island's webguide for opening times and attraction details.

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Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway

The family fun Eastbourne Miniature Railway is located just inland from Princes Park and the Seafront in the park area around Southbourne Lake (follow Lottbridge Drove up from Sovereign Harbour). Run by the Wadey family, this charming miniature heritage railway is one of Eastbourne's most popular family attractions.

The miniature trains are one-eighth scale steam locomotives and the track runs for around one mile taking in the beautiful parklands of Southbourne and the five acre lake which is a haven for wildlife. An award winning tearoom and gardens are on-site. For opening times and train timetable see the miniature railway's webguide.

The story of the construction of Eastbourne Miniature Railway by the Wadey Family is legendary. Christopher Awdry, author of the popular children's Thomas the Tank Engine books was inspired recently by visits to Eastbourne Miniature Railway and his friendship with the Wadey family to write a new series of children's books. Clearly influenced by this magical miniature railway the book titles include 'Eastbourne's Wedding Special' 'The Chips Express' and 'Oily and the Flood'. Find out more via the Miniature Railway and Christopher Awdry's webguides.

Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, East Sussex. BN23 6QJ. Tel.01323 520229. Open daily from Mid March to late September 10am to 5pm & weekends during October. Railway shop open daily from 10am to 5pm. See the Miniature Railway's webguide for details on Christmas Santa Specials.

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Eastbourne Spray Watersports Centre & Sovereign Leisure Centre

All are welcome to learn how to sail, windsurf, canoe or take power boating lessons via Eastbourne's Spray Water Sports Centre situated on the Eastern seafront. This watersports centre caters well for families, school groups and corporate groups with fully qualified instructors supervising a choice of courses. Course choice includes two hour tasters available to all over the age of 6 years.

Outstanding family leisure facilities are at the Sovereign Centre on the Eastern Seafront. Facilities are inclusive of a huge Isospa Gym, a large fun pool with wave machine and flume, a 25 metre swimming pool and teaching pool, swimming lessons, a health suite with sauna and steam room, a workout studio, a sports hall, sports shop, treatment room and a choice of children's courses. A cafe is also on-site. The Sovey Tumblers activity sessions which offer a host of games, soft play activiites including bouncy castle and musical games run three times daily at the centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 1015am, 10.30am to 11.15am and 11.30am to 12.15pm. See the Sovereign Centre's webguide for details and opening times.

Sovereign Leisure Centre, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7LQ. Tel.01323 738822.

Spray Water Sports Centre, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7LD. Tel.01323 417023. Open all year except Christmas School Holidays. From May to August open 7 days a week, from Sept to April 6 days a week.

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Eastbourne Golf

Eastbourne Downs Golf Club, East Dean Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 8ES. Tel. 01323 720827 for office, 01323 732264 for pro shop.

Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, Paradise Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 8BP. Tel. 01323 744045.

Eastbourne Golfing Park, Lottbridge Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6QJ. Tel. 01323 520400.

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