Eastbourne and the Bluebell Railway 2025

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About the break

Thursday 31 July to Sunday 3 August 2025

Join the Social Breaks and Holidays Group for a fantastic three-night summer escape to Eastbourne.

Three night stay with dinner, bed and breakfast.

Welcome drink on the first evening.

Coach excursion and return journey on the Bluebell Railway.

No on-site parking, permits available from the hotel at additional cost.

Enjoy a seaside break on the South Coast at the East Beach Hotel, located just 700 yards from Eastbourne Pier and overlooking breathtaking ocean views. This beachfront hotel enjoys an enviable position on the promenade, featuring a sun lounge and patio garden where guests can relax and take in the scenery.

On Friday, enjoy a coach excursion to the Bluebell Railway, with a return journey included in the cost. Travel through 11 miles of glorious East Sussex countryside on a heritage railway, and get up close to a working steam locomotive while learning about the history and science of the industrial age.

Your free days are perfect for exploring Eastbourne at your own pace. Whether you prefer sunbathing, water sports, or leisurely strolls, there’s something for everyone. The beach is right at your doorstep, with opportunities for swimming, paddleboarding, and more. Eastbourne Pier, with its Victorian Tea Room, chippy, and Jazz Lounge, is just an 8-minute walk along the coast.

Water sports are popular in Eastbourne during the summer. You can take part in sailing, windsurfing, or kayaking along the coast, with Eastbourne Sailing Club offering various courses. Paddleboarding is another great way to explore the coastline from a different perspective.

Eastbourne also has several beautiful parks and gardens. The seafront is lined with picturesque gardens like the Carpet Gardens, Italian Gardens, and Helen Garden. Princes Park, with its boating lake and playground, is perfect for families. Locomotive enthusiasts will also enjoy the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park, where you can travel behind one-eighth scale miniature locomotives around the beautiful country park or enjoy a pleasant stroll around the five-acre lake.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby South Downs National Park is a must-visit. This stunning area offers numerous trails for walking, cycling, or horseback riding, with panoramic views over the countryside and coast. Cuckmere Haven, part of the Seven Sisters Country Park, with its meandering river and white cliffs, is a great place to explore on foot, by bicycle, or by canoe, particularly along the Cuckmere River. Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The iconic cliffs and lighthouse offer breathtaking views over the English Channel, especially at sunset.

For art lovers, the Towner Art Gallery, an award-winning venue, features contemporary art exhibitions that attract visitors from all over. History enthusiasts will appreciate the Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress, a Napoleonic-era military museum that often hosts special events. Devonshire Park Theatre also offers a variety of plays and live performances in a historic setting.

For those wanting to venture further out of the town, the picturesque town of Battle is just a 40-minute drive away. Here, you can visit the famous Battle Abbey (English Heritage) and explore the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Slightly further east is the charming medieval town of Rye, offering cobbled streets filled with unique shops, art galleries, and cozy tea rooms.

To the west of Eastbourne, you’ll find the historic market town of Lewes, just a 40-minute drive or half-hour direct train from Eastbourne. Here, you’ll discover independent shops, riverside walks, Lewes Castle, and Anne of Cleves House (the East Sussex home of Henry VIII’s fourth wife). Lewes has 21 pubs and is also home to the famous Harvey’s Brewery and Harvey’s Shop. You can take a tour of the brewery or head to the shop to pick up some local beers.

To find out more about things to do in and around Eastbourne, please click here to visit the Visit Eastbourne website.

Included in this break are three nights with dinner, bed and full English breakfasts, plus a welcome drink on the first evening. Your coach trip and return journey on the Bluebell Railway are also covered. Please note, there is no on-site car park but parking permits are available at the hotel for an additional cost, but they cannot be reserved in advance. The hotel is a 20-minute walk or a 6-minute drive from Eastbourne train station for those wishing to travel by train instead.

For more information or to book online, please click here to go to the break page on the Just for Groups website.

For any queries regarding this break, please email the Social Group at social.group@boundless.co.uk.

Price

£339 per person based on two sharing a double or twin room

No single supplement

Deposit of £50 per person will be taken at the time of booking