There’s lots going on this Summer in and around Eastbourne.
Discover Eastbourne’s Coastline, Culture and Coastal Walks
There are few places in Britain where summer feels quite as cinematic as Eastbourne. With dramatic chalk cliffs, sea air rolling across the South Downs and long golden evenings over the English Channel, the Sussex coast comes alive during the warmer months — and there may be no more memorable place to experience it from than Belle Tout Lighthouse.
Perched high above Beachy Head, the lovingly restored lighthouse offers panoramic coastal views, stylish rooms and one of the most unique overnight stays in the UK.
This summer, there’s even more reason to plan a spontaneous seaside escape: single-night stays are now available Monday to Thursday, making it easier than ever to enjoy a midweek coastal retreat without committing to a longer break.
Why Eastbourne Works So Well in Summer
There’s a reason Visit Eastbourne continues to attract visitors year after year. Eastbourne blends classic seaside charm with some of the South Coast’s most striking natural scenery.
Spend mornings walking the cliffs, afternoons exploring independent cafés and galleries, and evenings watching the sunset from the lighthouse terrace. Nearby highlights include:
– Beachy Head
– Seven Sisters
– Eastbourne Pier
– South Downs National Park
And after a day outdoors, few experiences compare to returning to a lighthouse perched above the sea, where the sound of waves and open skies create a sense of calm that’s increasingly hard to find.
King Charles III Coastal Path
The new King Charles III England Coast Path in the South East offers fabulous coastal walking through changing landscapes full of wildlife. Explore coastal towns with long sandy beaches, Roman sites, Napoleonic Martello towers, the White Cliffs of Dover and many wartime remains.
Among the highlights is the iconic chalk downland of the Seven Sisters in East Sussex, which also forms part of a newly designated National Nature Reserve being announced by Natural England.
The King inaugurated the coastal path and the new nature reserve at a reception hosted by the South Downs National Park Authority. He walked a section of the newly completed path at Seven Sisters in March, joined by Natural England Chair Tony Juniper and Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds.
Eastbourne Airshow – Airbourne, 13 – 16 August 2026
One of Europe’s biggest free seafront airshows, Eastbourne International Airshow attracts huge crowds along the 2 mile flying display line on Eastbourne seafront. Featuring four days of flying displays, military exhibitions, ground attractions, children’s entertainment, fireworks, tribute shows and more, marvel at the fast jets, historic warbirds and precision aerobatic teams, as they perform across Eastbourne’s stunning seafront.
2026 Confirmed Flying Displays So Far:
RAF Red Arrows (Friday – Sunday)
RAF Typhoon (Friday – Sunday)
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Dakota, Spitfire & Hurricane (Thursday – Sunday)
RAF Tutor Display Team (Friday – Sunday)
NEW Mélanie Astles Extra 330 (Thursday – Sunday)
Rich Goodwin’s Jet Pitts (Saturday – Sunday)
The Starlings Aerobatics Team (Saturday – Sunday)
NEW P-51 Mustang ‘Marinell’ (Thursday – Sunday)
Stampe Formation Team (Thursday – Friday)
Aerosuperbatics WingWalkers (Thursday & Friday Solo, Saturday and Sunday Duo)
Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Solo Display (Thursday – Sunday)
MiG-17 (Saturday – Sunday)
The Firebirds (Thursday – Friday)
F-86 Sabre (Thursday)
Towner Gallery
Did you know The Towner Collection in Eastbourne is an ever-growing collection of 5,000 works of modern British and international contemporary art, with a focus on landscape, women artists and moving image?
Too much to display in the actual gallery – so why not Experience the Towner Collection: behind the scenes of the Art Store – Alternating Sundays (2.00pm) and Tuesdays (11.00am). £11/£10 concession & Towner Members.
Go behind the scenes and enjoy a fascinating introduction to the impressive Collection of over 5,000 works in the gallery’s bespoke art store. Starting with the original Victorian bequest, your tour will then cover works by artists such as Eric Ravilious, Duncan Grant, Sandra Blow, Alfred Wallis and Tacita Dean.
Eastbourne Congress Theatre
We get some amazing ‘West End’ shows here in Eastbourne, including the ABBA-lovers juke box musical, Mamma Mia! Tues 14th – Sun 19th July. In August we have Operation Mincemeat Tue 4 – Sat 8 Aug 2026.
Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical. It’s London’s biggest hit with 88 Five-Star reviews, making it the best-reviewed show in West End history. Now also a Tony Award-winning musical on Broadway!
The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II.
Mon 17 – Sat 22 Aug 2026 is The Bodyguard. The international, award-winning smash-hit musical THE BODYGUARD is back! A ‘BRILLIANT!’ (The Times), breathtakingly romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a whole host of irresistible classics, including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, Greatest Love Of All, Million Dollar Bill, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Glyndebourne Festival, 21 MAY – 30 AUGUST 2026
A summer programme of world class opera, just 17 miles / 40 min drive from Belle Tout.
The Festival 2026 features Glyndebourne’s first ever production of Puccini’s Tosca as well as new productions of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos. There will also be revivals of Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia, Britten’s Billy Budd, and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Whatever you do this Summer, do it at Belle Tout Lighthouse – Britain’s Most Dramatic Stay.