Eastbourne Tourist Information Museums Theatre Art Seaside Architecture East Sussex UK

Eastbourne Tourist Information

Eastbourne's rise as a seaside resort really took off from the mid-Victorian period from 1858. It was from this date that William Cavendish, the 2nd Earl of Burlington and his architect Henry Currey errected the elegant Eastbourne we see today along the seafront particularly west of Devonshire Place and around the Meads and Western Parades. The beautifully designed huge Eastbourne hotels were aimed then at the upper classes and later in the 1870s Devonshire Place and Devonshire Park were added. By the Edwardian period Eastbourne was firmly established as 'The Watering Place of the South'. Today the Devonshire area of Eastbourne is fast developing into the resort's cultural centre and in this area you'll find the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, Eastbourne Theatres and the outstanding New Art Gallery. Eastbourne's spectacular Victorian Pier came in 1865 and was the work of genius seaside architect Eugenius Birch. Much of Birch's original design remains on the pier which has a distinctly charming Victorian feel with on-site Victorian tearooms and Camera Obscura.

Eastbourne's long promenade and beach stretching from Langney Point in the east towards Beachy Head in the west is one of the most beautiful on the South Coast. Lined by exquisite floral carpet gardens along Grand Parade and the Art Deco 1935 Bandstand to the west of the Pier, to the east sit the popular family attractions Fort Fun Theme Park, Princes Park and the Boating Lake and the new Sovereign Harbour Marina, one of the largest marinas in the UK.

One of the South's treasured Blue Flag Award Winning beaches is here in Eastbourne between Eastbourne Pier and west to the Wish Tower - the conical Martello Tower. The miniature Eastbourne Dotto Train runs the full length of the seafront promenade and City Sightseeing offer open top bus tours around the resort from the Pier and up to Beachy Head. Eastbourne is easy to get to, served by direct trains from London via Southern Railway and with London Gatwick Airport just an hour away by car or rail. The Port of Newhaven, with ferries from La Havre and Dieppe is also within easy driving distance as are the ferry services at Dover and Eurotunnel at Folkestone.

Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre, Cornfield Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4QA. Tel.0871 6630031.

• Eastbourne Hotels
• Hotels in Eastbourne
• Bed and Breakfast in Eastbourne

Eastbourne Heritage Centre Redoubt Fortress & The Museum of Shops

The Eastbourne Heritage Centre sits to the west of the pier in the historic Devonshire area. The Centre is housed within a striking Victorian building once called Park Cottage. Devonshire Baths once sat adjacent and Park Cottage was the Bath Manager's home. The museum hosts a selection of permanent galleries exploring Eastbourne's history from the pre-historic first settlements on the Downs to Edwardian watering hole and popular seaside resort. Highlights include Roman artefacts from Eastbourne's Roman villa discovered in 1841 near the entrance to Eastbourne Pier! This Roman Villa is essentially buried now under the Queens Hotel.

To the east of Eastbourne Pier on the seafront is the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum. The Redoubt Fortress, dating from the early 1800s, forms the centre for the string of Martello Napoleonic defence Towers along the South East Coast from Folkestone to Seaford. Home to the Royal Sussex Regiment archive, a regiment which was raised as far back as 1701, Redoubt is now the largest military museum on the south coast. As well as the Royal Sussex Regiment collection, also here are the collections of The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and the Sussex Combined Services.

Redoubt Fortress at Eastbourne and the Martello Towers along the coast either side were built specifically to defend the British coast from French attack by Napoleon's forces. By 1805 Nelson had seen victory at Trafalgar and the threat was dissipated. Constructed from 1804 to 1810 the Redoubt Fortress consists of 24 Casemates laid out in a ring and surrounded by a moat. Exhibitions inside include permanent displays from the three collections and feature topics have included Eastbourne and the Homefront. Both the Heritage Centre and Redoubt are excellent museums for children with at Redoubt a chance to try on military uniforms. Just inland from the Eastbourne Bandstand sits 'How We Lived Then' - The Museum of Shops, another great Eastbourne Museum for children crammed with nostalgic shop items from days of old including Rinso, Oxo, powdered egg and so forth. Kids can sample sweets like aniseed-balls and liquorice and demonstations include an Edwardian scullery maid black-leading a stove and preparing trays for the posh folk upstairs. Such demonstrations offer interesting insights into the other world of Eastbourne during the Victorian and Edwardian era for those working in the hotels or in domestic service.

Eastbourne Heritage Centre, 2 Carlisle Road, Eastbourne opposite Winter Gardens. Open Mid-March to early October. Tel. 01323 411189. 'How We Lived Then' Museum of Shops, 20 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 4NS. Open daily from 10am.

• Eastbourne B&B
• Eastbourne Bed and Breakfast
• Eastbourne Holiday Cottages

Eastbourne Theatres

Eastbourne is the Sussex East Coast's premier location for theatre breaks. Four outstanding theatres are in the town including the spectacular Victorian theatres Devonshire Park, Winter Garden and the Royal Hippodrome Theatre as well as the modern purpose built Congress Theatre and Conference Venue. Two of Eastbourne's three heritage theatres are Grade II Listed.

The Grade II Listed Devonshire Park Theatre is the work of architect Henry Currey who was responsible for the design of many of the heritage buildings around the Devonshire area of Eastbourne. The hand of the great theatre designer Frank Matcham is also here. Matcham was responsible for improvements to the Devonshire Park in 1903. This is one of the great small Victorian theatres in Britain and today's programme is a fine mix of drama, comedy and children's theatre as well as the annual celebrated Christmas pantomime. The nearby modern large Congress Theatre plays host to Evening Talks, comedy, big musicals, concerts, ballet and big glamour shows.

Also Grade II Listed and designed by Henry Currey is Eastbourne's Winter Garden dating from 1875. The Floral Hall inside started life as a skating rink reverting to a concert hall in summer. Refurbished throughout in the mid 1990s, Winter Garden hosts a mix of children's theatre, comedy clubs, tea dances, musical proms and popular wrestling spectaculars! Finally the stunning Victorian Royal Hippodrome Theatre, which first opened in 1883 then called the New Theatre Royal & Opera House, is Eastbourne's music hall home. All the greats of music hall have performed here including Gracie Fields and Max Miller. You are touching theatre heritage indeed in Eastbourne which stands with the best of British seaside resorts, Brighton and Blackpool, for spectacular heritage Victorian theatres.

Devonshire Park Theatre, Compton Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4BP. Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne BN21 4BP. Royal Hippodrome Theatre, 108-112 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3PF. Winter Garden, Compton Street, Eastbourne BN21 4BP. General Enq Tel.01323 415500. Box Office Tel.01323 412000. See the Eastbourne Theatres webguide for forthcoming shows and how to book.

• Eastbourne Guest Houses
• Eastbourne Accommodation
• Accommodation in Eastbourne

Eastbourne Art - The New Art Gallery & Towner Art Collection

Exciting work is afoot in the Devonshire cultural quarter of Eastbourne. Together with the cluster of heritage theatres in this area west of Eastbourne Pier the soon to open New Art Gallery (expected Spring 2009) will be one of the best of the South East's new Art Galleries.

The New Art Gallery will house Eastbourne's own outstanding Towner Art Collection which consists of over 4000 artworks covering a broad range of oils, watercolours, prints, sculpture and more. Artists featuring in the collection include Sickert, Picasso, Henry Moore, Victor Pasmore and Eastbourne's famous son Eric Ravilious who taught at Eastbourne School of Art.

Inclusive too in the Towner Collection is the Arts Council England South East's Collection of Contemporary Art. Names featuring in this collection include Jonathan Monk, Julian Opie and Tacita Dean. The new gallery's design is by Rick Mather Architects whose recent projects have included work on the National Maritime Museum and Natural History Museum in London. For more details on the Towner Collection and the planned opening of what promises to be a spectacular gallery see the Towner Trust's webguide.

• Bed and Breakfast in Eastbourne
• Hotels in Eastbourne
• B&Bs in Eastbourne