Described as the sunniest town in the UK, Eastbourne's five-kilometer-long, palm-lined promenade leaves little doubt that life here can be very relaxing. Located on the south coast of England, Eastbourne is a popular vacation resort with clean beaches, a car-free pedestrian zone and a beautiful pier. So why not do a language study trip there and get to know Eastbourne really well over a few weeks?
With a population of just 100,000, Eastbourne is a relatively small town, about the size of Winterthur. Most of the town's language schools are quite central to the town center, so the location of the school hardly needs to be taken into account when making your choice. You can walk from almost any language school to the pier in just under fifteen minutes and relax from your English lessons on the promenade. Some schools are barely two minutes away from the beach.
More important for you when choosing a school should be whether the language school also offers the language courses you want. Can you attend a business course or take a Cambridge diploma? Are intensive courses possible or are English courses offered for beginners? Reviews from other former language students can also be very helpful when making your choice. Many language travel providers have this information on their website for the individual schools or will pass it on to you on request. This will give you an initial indication of the quality of the school and you can benefit from the experiences of former students. You can also use the Google Maps search to view such reviews. However, please also pay attention to the number of reviews - a single positive or negative review is not meaningful enough. Also in our guide "Language study trip to England" you will find lots of useful information about choosing a suitable language school in England.
Most language students planning a language study trip to Eastbourne choose to stay with a host family/homestay. These are usually around 20 to 30 minutes' walk from the school, although you will of course be quicker by bus. With a host family, you will often have a single room with half board, or even full board at the weekends, and you can take part in family life after your English lessons if you wish. However, especially in the high season, you may have to share a room with another language student, which has its advantages. As a rule, this other person is a different native language and preferably the same age, so you will be using your English continuously. However, if you don't want to share your room, it's best to clarify this with the language travel organizers in advance.
Alternatively, you can also choose guest houses or hotels, which offer you more privacy, but also far less social contact than within a family, especially if you choose a hotel. Student accommodation, which is offered by some schools, are halls of residence in which you have your own room, possibly with your own small bathroom, and share the communal areas. The organizers will be happy to inform you about the possible accommodation options and give you the exact location (except in the case of host families).
In 2014, a large part of Eastbourne Pier went up in flames, was subsequently restored and renovated and now shines in all new splendor. The pier is home to stores, snack bars, a café, Victorian tea rooms, a jazz lounge and the Atlantis Nightclub, which is open from 10 pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays. A visit to the pier is worthwhile in any case, whether during the day or in the evening. And not just the pier, of course. The entire promenade in Eastbourne is full of lovely restaurants, bars and cafés that invite you to linger and enjoy yourself.
For something a little more cultural, visit the Towner Art Gallery, which attracts visitors with contemporary art and temporary exhibitions. The Redoubt Fortress, the historic fortress built during the Napoleonic Wars, is also worth a visit. From Sovereign Harbour you can take various boat trips, for example for fishing, party trips, along the Sussex coast or for diving.
You should definitely pack sturdy shoes for your language course in Eastbourne, as the South Downs National Park with the South Downs Way hiking trail is definitely worth a visit. In the south of the park, which covers more than 1554 square kilometers, you will come across the cliffs Beachy Head and Seven Sisters, the highest chalk cliffs in Great Britain, which offer a breathtaking view and should definitely be at the top of your to-do list.
The Visit Eastbourne website informs you about all the sights and important events in the town, such as the annual Airbourne, a spectacular air show over the English Channel, the Eastbourne International Tennis Tournament, the Beer Festival and other events, exhibitions, concerts, as well as restaurants and bars.
Exploring Eastbourne is mostly possible on foot, but the Dotto Mini Train is also an excellent way to explore the seafront and is a great way to relax. A harbor cruise is also a nice alternative to see the town from a different angle and sail along the coast.
As a language student, you can usually cover many distances on foot, but buses are probably more suitable for longer distances. The Loop Bus makes its rounds through Eastbourne and makes it possible to reach many locations quite quickly.
Language schools in Eastbourne are usually a little more expensive than in many other cities, such as London or Brighton. However, this is quickly put into perspective, as life in Eastbourne is very affordable. You can get a good main course for around £8, have free entry to the Towner Art Gallery, lie on the beach for free and wander around the national park for free. Guided tours are of course not completely free, with a one and a half hour boat trip to Beachy Head costing around £25, a visit to a musical from £18 and a ride on the miniature locomotive for almost a mile for £5.25. However, as a large part of life in Eastbourne takes place on the beach and you will probably often meet up with your fellow students there after class, the cost of living for your language study trip in Eastbourne will certainly be limited.
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