We recently returned from a lovely weekend break in Eastbourne, East Sussex. As someone who loves being by the sea and previously enjoyed visiting other coastal areas such as Dorset and Brighton, we were keen to explore what Eastbourne has to offer.

Where We Stayed

We stayed in a wonderful boutique hotel called Ravilious, which was situated in the heart of Eastbourne’s cultural quarter and a stone’s throw away from the beach. The hotel has 10 spacious and contemporary rooms and we stayed in a superior double room on the ground floor, which was spotlessly clean and a very relaxing ‘home away from home’. The cooked to order breakfast was outstanding – one of the best Full English and Eggs Benedict we’ve ever had. What made our stay even more special was the welcoming nature and hospitality of the owners, who gave us tips and recommendations for our trip.

What We Did

Eastbourne Beach

Our first day consisted of exploring the town and taking a stroll along Eastbourne beach. The promenade has lots of little market stalls, eateries and bars, and we soon found ourselves a favourite spot to enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. Although the pier was closed during our trip, it’s nice to look at from a distance and there is still plenty to see and do.

Birling Gap & Beachy Head

One of the main motivators for our trip was to do a coastal walk along the chalk cliffs of East Sussex. We took a bus from Eastbourne to East Dean and started our walk at Birling Gap, which has a lovely beach and fantastic views of the iconic Seven Sisters. We then followed the South Downs Way trail and walked a few miles onto Beachy Head, stopping off along the way to catch our breath (there were some very steep sections!) and to admire the breath-taking views.

Where We Ate

As with any trip, we love getting out and finding the best restaurants and places to eat. Since our hearty breakfast at Ravilious Hotel filled us up for most of the day, we didn’t get to try as many places as we would have liked (such as Harry Ramsden’s famous fish & chips) but we did have some delicious meals out. Our highlights were the delicious chicken & lamb souvlaki at Agora Turkish & Greek Restaurant and the authentic Italian pasta and pizza at family-run Anema e Core.

If you’re looking for a relaxing seaside break or summer staycation, we would definitely recommend taking a visit to Eastbourne.