Family Holidays: Eastbourne family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

OK. They may call Eastbourne ‘God's Waiting Room’ but if you've got little ones who are three rather than 93, this Sussex town still has plenty to offer. And if it's wheelchair friendly, you know what, it's buggy friendly too. And these days the town is changing and you're just as likely to see someone speeding along the seafront on rollerblades as creeping along in a Zimmer-frame. Families have been coming back to Eastbourne for decades because it's got everything you need – a beach, a pier, a great atmosphere and (in British terms at least) plenty of sunshine.

Above left: The Promenade
Above middle: Eastbourne pier
Above right: Kids enjoying icecream

When

Summer is the obvious time because you'll see the town at its best and it's warm enough to swim in the sea and explore the rock pools when the tide is out. Plus that's when many of the town's biggest and most popular events take place. But it's great fun all year round – lovely at Easter and just as good at Christmas when you can enjoy mulled wine as you listen to carols at the bandstand before strolling along to a classic panto.

How

take the train or coach

Direct trains depart from London Victoria (it takes 90 minutes and trains leave every half hour) or Brighton (approx 30 minutes). Buy Train tickets from The Trainline.com, the UKs leading seller of train tickets online to all UK mainland destinations. Check coach deals to 100s of destiations with National Express. Fares are low, plus one child under 3 not occupying a seat carried free with each adult fare paying passenger, making this one of the cheapest ways to travel.

take the car

Or just drive there, Eastbourne is easy to reach in about two hours pleasant drive through stunning Sussex countryside from central London. If you need a hire car search for great deals on our car hire travel partners page.

Stay

If your budget allows, we recommend splashing out for a stay at the White Palace – the Grand Hotel. There are, of course, numerous other options in and around Eastbourne from cottages and B&B's to suit all budgets. Check availability at a range of cottages near Eastbourne with our partners Cottages4you, and book for your family, and take advantage of the exclusive 5% discount that Cottages4you offer TaketheFamily users. Alternatively, there are a wide range of hotels, some offering childcare and activities for children, throughout the area that specialise in catering for the needs of families. Search for family hotels in Eastbourne with our partners Active Hotels

Do

Where do you start – there’s the lovely old pier – walk along the outside to avoid the fruit machine madness of inside. Listen to music at the bandstand. If you have little ones, take the Dotto train along the seafront. Stroll along the South Downs way (careful of steep drops at Beach Head). See Airbourne – a truly amazing air show when a flotilla of yachts drops anchor just off shore – if you close your eyes it could almost be the Cannes Film Festival (well almost!). Swim – it’s surprisingly warm on a hot day. Or best of all, buy an ice cream, find a nice spot and just sit on the beach.

Eat

Even if you can’t afford to stay there, it’s worth nipping into the Grand Hotel for afternoon tea (with accompanying band during peak times).

There’s a great selection of fish and chip restaurants around the pier area.

And a very useful café at the far end of the seafront promenade –

Cost

Unless you take a suite at the Grand and dine every night at its Michelin starred restaurant Mirabelle, you should be able to escape from Eastbourne reasonably unscathed. Mind you, your coins can soon disappear at the pier and – OK then – just one more ice cream cone.

Travel reading

Take the Kids: England

by Joseph Fullman

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Family friendly coverage of England.

Days Out 2008

by Days Out

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Days Out magazine offers hundreds of ideas for a perfect day out AND over £700 of discount vouchers at the most popular attractions. Buy the magazine from the Days Out website where Takethefamily visitors will receive £1 off by using discount code TTF0601.