Things to do in Eastbourne
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Camera Obscura
A lovely vantage point for the sunset, Eastbourne's pretty filigree-trimmed pier also has a curious Victorian Camera Obscura that projects images of the outside world into a dish within a darkened room. In July daredevils in feathery frocks hurl themselves from the pier in the annual birdman competition.
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Eastbourne Heritage Centre
Livens up exhibits on the town's history with eccentric asides, such as on Donald McGill, the pioneer of the 'naughty postcard'.
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Café Belge
A fabulous position near the pier with large windows facing the seafront, a ridiculous choice of seafood dishes with an emphasis on mussels, and three-score choices of Belgian beer make this a hard restaurant to resist.
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Spray Water Sports Centre
As part of Eastbourne's drive to attract younger visitors, water sports are increasingly popular. Spray Water Sports Centre offers courses in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and power boating.
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Lamb
About 1km inland, this atmospheric old pub is worth the walk for its creaky old dining room with a giant stone fireplace, laid-back service, low ceiling and lack of loud music.
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Ye Old Fashioned Humbugge Shoppe
Willy Wonka wouldn't look out of place in this classic rock-candy and sweets shop complete with chequered floors, twinkly-eyed counter lady and salivating children.
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Museum of Shops
This small museum is swamped by an obsessive collection of how-we-used-to-live memorabilia.
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Towner Art Gallery
Until Turner Margate is up and running, Eastbourne's Towner Gallery will be far and away the most exciting new exhibition space on the south coast. The purpose-built, state-of-the-art gallery building has temporary shows of contemporary work on the ground and second floors, while the first floor is given over to rotating themed shows created from the 4000-piece-strong Towner collection. Building tours include a peek inside the climate-controlled art store.
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Redoubt Fortress
One in a chain of 77 strongholds built in the early 19th century to defend the south coast from Napoleon's planned invasion. It now houses a small military museum.
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Pier
Eastbourne's striking filigree-trimmed pier is a lovely place to watch the sunset, and also has a curious Victorian Camera Obscura that projects images of the outside world into a dish within a darkened room (when it's working).
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Oastler's Pie & Mash
What could be more 'south coast' than good ole pie, mash, stewed oysters and liquor (parsley sauce) for the London day-tripper crowd. Austere 1950s setting and simple but delicious grub.
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Lamb Inn
This Eastbourne institution located less than a mile northwest of the train station in the undervisited Old Town has been plonking Sussex wet ones on the bar for eight centuries. A holidaying Dickens also left a few beer rings and smudged napkins here (he stayed across the road). Take bus 1, 1A or 10.
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Dal Maestro
This chic new Italian job near the Towner Gallery has old curved-glass vitrines, an elegantly contemporary dining room and perfectly crafted meat dishes, pastas, salads and desserts.
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Camilla's Bookshop
Literally packed to the rafters with musty volumes, this incredible book repository, a short amble from the train station, fills three floors of a crumbling Victorian town house. The owner claims to have over a million books for sale, making it the best stocked, if not the biggest, secondhand bookstore in England.
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Allchorn Pleasure Boats
The dramatic white cliffs to the west are best viewed from the sea; tours leave from just west of the pier, weather permitting.
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