Hotels in Eastbourne

Where to base yourself in Eastbourne depends largely on what you want from the trip. The seafront hotels along Grand Parade and the Western Lawns put you within steps of the pier, the bandstand and the town's flower gardens, and suit anyone who wants a traditional seaside stay with sea views from the room and no need for a car once you have arrived. This stretch holds the town's grandest and most historic properties, several dating from Eastbourne's Victorian heyday, and works particularly well for couples and older visitors drawn to the town's classic resort character.

Further along the coast, Sovereign Harbour offers a more contemporary alternative, with modern hotels and self-catering apartments set around the marina, well suited to families or anyone who wants restaurants, a cinema and waterside walks close by, plus easier parking than the central seafront. The Old Town and Meads, both set back from the promenade, suit visitors prioritising quiet streets and quick access to the South Downs Way over sea views, and tend to offer better value than the seafront proper, particularly at smaller guest houses and B&Bs. Budget-conscious travellers and walkers passing through on the South Downs Way will find simpler guest houses clustered around the station and in the streets just behind the seafront, a short walk from everything but at noticeably lower rates in peak season. Whichever area you choose, Eastbourne is compact enough that nothing is more than a twenty-minute walk away, so the decision comes down to atmosphere and budget rather than practicality. Booking ahead matters most around the Eastbourne International tennis in June and the Airbourne airshow in August, when seafront rooms sell out weeks in advance and prices rise accordingly.