Why Eastbourne is the number 1 travel hotspot in the UK

The secret is out! Watch out for the crowds of tourists as everyone discovers what we've always known and Eastbourne is named the UK’s and one of the world's hottest destination to visit in 2023   

With its art gallery hosting the prestigious Turner Prize, the only five-star seaside hotel on the British coastline, and the warm up to Wimbledon being held here each year, we’ve long known that Eastbourne is the (Duncan in italics please) place to visit in 2023.  

But now it’s official: the pretty East Sussex town has beaten the likes of Amsterdam, Kyushu in Japan and the Nordic charms of Norway, as well as the rest of the UK, to be named top of the world’s hotspots by travel experts.  

Time Out has heralded Eastbourne’s ‘rising status as a creative and cultural hub’ after Towner Eastbourne, which is celebrating its Centennial anniversary, was named the host of the Turner Prize, Britain’s most revered art award.  

Eastbourne has plenty of style as well as seaside charm (Image: supplied)

Citing the coastal town as ‘the best place in the UK to go on a day or overnight trip in 2023,’ the global media and hospitality brand singled out the catalogue of events Eastbourne has lined up for the year ahead, including The Screen International Film Festival, Beach Life Music Festival and the International Tennis Week at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club between 23 June – 1 July (subs note: every website has a different date so not sure which one is correct), as calendar highlights.  

But it’s not just the UK top title that Eastbourne has claimed – it has dispensed with global favourites Japan, Norway and even Holland to take the number one spot on the Hot Destinations 2023 list, according to Travel PR, who represent Visit Faroe Islands, National Coastal Tourism Academy, and Expert Africa among others.  

The seaside resort of Eastbourne has barely changed since Victorian times thanks to covenants to protect the promenade and seafront (Image: Getty)

‘Previously overlooked in favour of buzzing Brighton or hip Hastings, Eastbourne’s star is rising,’ a spokesperson for Travel PR told Sussex Life, ‘with many catching on to the appeal of this coastal town, now seeing the regeneration previously enjoyed by other UK coastal destinations, including a £20million levelling-up fund award to boost the Terminus Road area.’  

As well as being home to the ‘magnificent’ Towner Eastbourne (see page XX for an interview with the art gallery’s director Joe Hill and his plans for the Centennial anniversary and Turner Prize), Eastbourne also sits on the edge of the South Downs National Park and at the start of the South Downs Way, which has just turned 50.  

The sun won't go down on Eastbourne with stunning views like this of Birling Gap (Image: Jonathan Webley)

Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the English Channel while walking towards the iconic Seven Sisters, Birling Gap and Beachy Head with its candy striped light house while the rolling South Downs make a verdant backdrop, giving this gem of a town the best of both coast and country.  

To show off its natural charms, the town even hosts a Walking Festival in the summer (from June to August) with events and organised walks in the South Downs.  

You can walk along the South Downs Way which takes in Beachy Head and the lighthouse (Image: Getty)

There’s the promise of an environmental venture headed up by the world-famous Eden project, which is based in Cornwall, and has been looking at ways to connect people in Eastbourne ‘with the natural world in exciting and engaging ways.’   

Local resident, Lord Lucas introduced Eden Project International, the global wing of the Eden Project, to the idea of working with Eastbourne after sitting on the House of Lords committee on regenerating seaside towns and communities.  

‘I have seen the great work of The Eden Project and suggested they should spend a few days in Eastbourne,’ Lord Lucas said at the time. ‘We toured the area and explored some of our beautiful downlands. They were excited by the possibilities of bringing some of their knowledge and expertise to the area.’ 

Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of The Eden Project, told local media: ‘We have been inspired by the people we have met in Eastbourne and their desire to encourage a new vision of the future to take hold in this beautiful part of the world.’ 

The coastal town has a burgeoning culinary scene with independent cafes, bars and restaurants springing up all over the town. Hyde Corner coffee shop is a favourite, with hand-roasted Union Coffee and tempting treats, while the Mad Catter offers cake, coffee and cat cuddles in a 1940s-themed café not far from the train station in the town centre.  The Grand Eastbourne is the only five-star hotel on the British coast (Image: supplied)

Cocktail lovers have plenty on offer with the Eastbourne Cocktail Club, The Belgian Café and Cru wine bar creating upscale evenings that are shaken and not stirred while myriad restaurants serving everything from Italian (we love Pomodoro e Mozzarella) to traditional Turkish dishes at Meze and thrice weekly candle-lit suppers at Skylark restaurant, serving local produce cater for every appetite.  

For fine dining, nothing is finer than The Grand on the seafront, with its sweeping sea views, silver service and decadent history. Known by the locals as The White Palace, it’s the perfect place for afternoon tea, or dinner at one of the two restaurants, Mirabelle and The Garden Room. There are 152 luxury rooms and suites, a spa with indoor pool, an outdoor pool and stylish cocktail bar with floor to ceiling sea views. A stay starts from £220 per room per night (two sharing), including breakfast. Contact The Grand Hotel on 01323 412345 (www.grandeastbourne.com).   

You might even spot several stars there as the Congress Theatre and Devonshire Park Theatre puts on a packed calendar of musicals, plays and shows. From Strictly’s Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer performing their Firedance on 1 March through to Madame Butterfly (11 March) and Pride & Prejudice (*sort of) on 4 – 8 April, and Heathers The Musical (18-22 April) there’s a variety of theatre for every taste and age.  

And you can even get your pre-Wimbledon fix of tennis when many of the greats warm up for the Grand Slam in the capital at Eastbourne. The Rothesay International is the ultimate Wimbledon warm up, and has played host to some of the game’s legends and champions including Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters and Lindsey Davenport.  

Eastbourne International Week is the warm up to Wimbledon (Image: supplied)

Bask in the sun watching men’s, women’s and doubles matches or treat yourself to some of the best seats in the house with all-inclusive hospitality. There are three new packages for this year, including brunch and afternoon tea with free-flowing beverages and music in the Winter Garden before (Baseline First Serve, starting from £140 per person), or after (Baseline Second Serve package, from £140pp) watching the tennis from the Centre Court East Stand or even during with the Love Fifteen Package (from £170pp) where you can enjoy a 3-course plated summer menu with prime Centre Court South tickets, which are positioned directly behind the server.  

Anyone for tennis? Dine in style at the winter garden and then watch the matches (Image: supplied)

For the ultimate tennis day, there’s the Sky Lounge package where guests can enjoy a range of food offerings from breakfast, lunch and traditional afternoon tea while overlooking Centre and No. 1 Courts (from £310pp), available from www.Keith Prowse.co.uk  With everything else Eastbourne has to offer, the tennis is a date for the diary – after all what’s not to love?  

Travel PR’s Hot Destinations 2023  

1. Eastbourne 

2. Amsterdam 

3. Kyushu, Japan  

4. Norway 

5. Pembrokeshire 

Time Out’s Best Places to Visit in the UK in 2023 

1.Eastbourne 

2 Birmingham 

3 Cardigan 

4 Manchester 

5 Scarborough 

6 Glasgow 

7 Dorset 

8 London 

9 Edinburgh 

10 Liverpool 

11 Padstow 

12 Orkney 

13 Margate 

14 Sheffield 

15 Cheshire