Eastbourne
Eastbourne is said to have the most hours sunshine in England. Therefore it is often called the “Sunshine Coast“. This, the salubrious air, and the mild climate have attracted vacationists and mostly elderly spa visitors for more than a century. Eastbourne´s promenade is famous for pensioners sitting in their hotel´s veranda, watching the busy street and the sea. However, many language students come to Eastbourne as well because the local dialect is quite similar to Oxford English.
Eastbourne´s neat promenade reaches 4 kilometers along the seaside. Dazzling white mansions, splendid hotels and manicured gardens complete the stunning sea front of one of the most beautiful seaside resorts at the south coast.
First of all, most visitors probably visit Eastbourne Pier. At its end some stairs lead to a platform from where a lot of the coast line and the town itself can be seen. Many benches and deckchairs offer some rest and relaxation above the water.
At the southern end of the promenade you can find the Wish Tower. It was built to repel the Napoleonic invasion. It is the biggest of the 70 so-called Martello Towers that were built along the coast.
Another stronghold is Redoubt Fortress. This circular building was constructed in the North of Eastbourne in 1810. Nowadays there are three little military museums and during summertime concerts take place in the inner courtyard.
Eastbourne has been visited by some celebrated men, e.g. Charles Dickens. Here he recovered from a severe illness. George Orwell went to school in Eastbourne, and Friedrich Engels loved this place so much after he spent a couple of summers there that in his last will he commanded his ashes to be spread near Beachy Head.
Peace and quiet can be found in beautiful parks all over the town. Clubs, pubs, theatres, the cinema, concerts and all sorts of events, the Bowling Centre, the adventure pool and all the shops in the town centre supply entertainment. Therefore Eastbourne is not only popular with language students and tourists but as well liked as venue for meetings and conferences.
