Free guided walks from May to October. See dates for 2026 below...
About the Walks
Experienced Local Guides
Kim Adams has a background in social history and trained as a tour guide in 2006. He is an enthusiastic local historian and has written books and articles on various aspects of Eastbourne's history, including a 'Guide to Historic Meads'.
Dave Bignell joins 'Eastbourne Walks' this year, having had a long and varied career in education and with extensive experience of providing guided walks for language students.
Walk One: Eastbourne Promenade
Kim and Dave will be offering Promenade Walks throughout the summer. Find out how Eastbourne developed as a seaside resort thanks to the coming of the railways and the vision and finances of the 7th Duke of Devonshire.
The Promenade Walk starts outside the Lifeboat Museum (BN21 4BY). We walk along the main promenade visiting the bandstand and the pier and looking at many of the seafront hotels to see how Eastbourne developed as one of England's finest seaside resorts, known as 'the Empress of Watering Places'. Then back along the seafront promenade to the Wish Tower, finishing opposite the Grand Hotel with views towards the Downs.
See dates and times for 2026 in the box below...
Walk Two: Historic Meads
Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Meads area of Eastbourne, "where the Downs meet the sea". Includes the Italian Gardens, St John's Church, Meads Village and the wonderful mansion houses nestling at the foot of the South Downs. Find out about some of the famous local residents, including a scientist known as 'Darwin's Bulldog', an intrepid Antarctic explorer and a notorious local Doctor. The walk starts at the Cadence Cafe in The Helen Garden (Dukes Drive, BN20 7XL). See dates and times for 2026 in the box below...
Walk Three: The Devonshire Quarter
A guided walk around the Devonshire Quarter, starting outside the Welcome Centre (BN21 4BP) and lasting around 90 minutes. The walk includes the Congress and Devonshire Park theatres, Burlington Walk, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne College and the Towner Gallery, and you'll hear about a Nobel prize winner and a WWI flying ace. A fascinating look at some of Eastbourne's most famous attractions, suitable for groups of up to 20 people.
Guided walks available from April to October
Eastbourne Promenade walks
Eastbourne Promenade walks
Eastbourne Promenade walks
There will be a free Promenade guided walk at 11am on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from April to October starting outside the Lifeboat Museum on Grand Parade (BN21 4BY).
Here are the remaining dates for 2026, all starting at 11am outside the Lifeboat Museum:
May 10th and 24th,
June 14th and 28th,
July 12th and 26th
August 9th
There will be a free Promenade guided walk at 11am on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from April to October starting outside the Lifeboat Museum on Grand Parade (BN21 4BY).
Here are the remaining dates for 2026, all starting at 11am outside the Lifeboat Museum:
May 10th and 24th,
June 14th and 28th,
July 12th and 26th
August 9th and 23rd
September 13th and 27th
October 11th and 25th.
The walks are free, last around 90 minutes and will go ahead whatever the weather. There's no need to book, just turn up on the day!
You can also book a Promenade walk at a time to suit you for just £9 per person (minimum of 2 people). Maximum fee of £35 applies so bring friends or family at no extra cost! Just get in touch using the contact form below or on 07941 881212.
Historic Meads walks
Eastbourne Promenade walks
Eastbourne Promenade walks
There will be a free Historic Meads guided walk at 2pm on the first Wednesday of each month from May to October, starting outside the Cadence Cafe in the Helen Garden (BN20 7XL).
Here are the dates for 2026, all starting at 2pm outside the Cadence Cafe in the Helen Garden:
May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, August 5th, September 2nd and October
There will be a free Historic Meads guided walk at 2pm on the first Wednesday of each month from May to October, starting outside the Cadence Cafe in the Helen Garden (BN20 7XL).
Here are the dates for 2026, all starting at 2pm outside the Cadence Cafe in the Helen Garden:
May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, August 5th, September 2nd and October 7th.
The walks are free, last around 90 minutes and will go ahead whatever the weather. There's no need to book, just turn up on the day!
Historic Meads walks can also be booked at a time to suit you. Contact me using the contact form below or on 07941 881212. Just £9 per person (minimum 2 people) for a guided walk of around 90 minutes. Maximum fee of £35 applies so bring friends or family at no extra cost!
Devonshire Quarter walk
Eastbourne Promenade walks
Devonshire Quarter walk
Starting outside the Welcome Centre, this circular tour of Eastbourne's Devonshire Quarter can be booked at a time that suits you - just get in touch using the contact form below. Tours last around 90 minutes and cost £9 per person, minimum 2 people. Maximum fee of £35 applies so bring friends or family at no extra cost!
Flexible routes with times to suit you
By arrangement, walks can start at your hotel or anywhere along the seafront.
The walks can be made wheelchair-friendly and step-free if required, just let me know when you book. The cost is £9 per person (minimum of 2 people) and there's a maximum charge of £35 so you can bring friends and family at no extra cost.
Your walk can start and/or finish at one of Eastbourne's excellent local pubs or tea-shops....just ask!
Illustrated talks
Kim can provide an illustrated talk for your club or group. Suitable for local history groups, W.I groups, etc., the talks last around an hour.
Five different talks are available:
1) 'The Dukes who made Eastbourne', telling the story of Eastbourne's development as a seaside resort
2) 'Historic Meads and its residents' - based on my booklet, 'A Guide to Historic Meads'
3) 'The Devonshire Quarter' - the development of Eastbourne's theatre district, Devonshire Park and Eastbourne College
4) 'Holywell and Beachy Head' - how the area developed, including Holywell village, the lighthouses and the WW2 radar station
5) Eastbourne in the 1960s
Contact me using the form below or ring me on
07941 881212 to arrange a talk for your group...