Killer Facts About Eastbourne

Other killer facts...

We are the Gateway to Britain’s newest National Park and the nearest National Park to London

Award winning events include Airbourne, the largest free airshow in Europe

Eastbourne was one of only 5 Christmas Markets in the UK in 2020

The international Lawn Tennis in Eastbourne goes out to 20 million viewers globally and attracts 55,000 visitors annually

The Eastbourne Tennis Tournament has seen winners like Novak Djokavic, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniaki, Kim Clijsters, and Andy Roddick,

Eastbourne Lawn Tennis is like Wimbledon 50 years ago; intimate, laid back and relaxed

The Environment Agency rates Eastbourne seawater “Good”

According to the Met Office, Eastbourne is the sunniest place in the UK

31.4% of the population of Eastbourne is under 30 years old

Eastbourne has the UK’s only 5* seaside hotel – the much loved Grand Hotel

Eastbourne has appeared in these blockbuster movies; Harry Potter; James Bond The Living Daylights; Brighton Rock; Made in Dagenham; Pearl Harbour; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Diana to name but a few!

Eastbourne has featured in some great Television shows including; Poirot; The Lives and Loves of a She Devil;  Little Britain; Foyle’s War; Miss Marple; Top Gear; That Mitchell and Webb Look

With perfect temperatures and chalky soil East Sussex is excellent for producing world class Sussex Sparkling wines and frequently beats Champagne in blind tastings

Debussy wrote “La Mer” at The Grand Hotel in 1905

We have the UK’s busiest Bandstand

Sovereign Harbour is Europe’s largest man-made marina

‍

Historic Firsts

Eastbourne is the birthplace of shoe empires Russell and Bromley and Jones the Bootmaker

Eastbourne introduced the world’s first municipal motorbus service in 1903

Eastbourne built the first seaplanes in 1912

Eastbourne hosted the first roller skating rink in the UK at the Winter Garden's Floral Hall

Eastbourne was the first to install British made traffic lights in 1931

Eastbourne was a pilot town for the introduction of STOP lines at junctions

The Royal Sovereign was the first lightship in the world with a revolving light in 1875

Eastbourne ran the country’s largest indoor saltwater baths

The first motor dealer electric car lift was installed at Caffyns in Eastbourne

Eastbourne was the first council to use CPO powers for amenity purposes when it acquired the Downs

William the Conqueror landed at Pevensey in 1066 and we haven’t looked back since!

‍