24 Hours in Eastbourne, Eastbourne, England

As we drift along the river as it meanders through the Seven Sisters Country Park, the only sound I can hear is the rhythmic slosh of our paddle and the birds singing. Kayaking along the Cuckmere River is a magical way to spend an afternoon.

My friend, Suzanne and I arrived earlier that day by train and dropped our bags off at The View Hotel, looking forward to spending the rest of the day and the following morning enjoying a number of outdoor pleasures in an around the lovely seaside town of Eastbourne on the south coast of England.

With Eastbourne’s beautiful Victorian pier, its gold dome gleaming in the sunshine, the town’s seafront is wonderful to stroll along on a sunny day, whatever the time of year. The bandstand is possibly the most beautiful I’ve ever seen - it’s certainly the most unusual. They have concerts there every Friday and Saturday night from the end of April, throughout the summer and into October. The pier is also one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen and a walk along it to look back and admire the view of the town is a must.

The Beach Deck is in a prime location on the seafront with a large decking area looking out to sea. It was a little too chilly to sit outside when we visited, but we still had a sea view through the picture windows. So often restaurants and cafes in prime locations, be that a beautiful square in Rome or by the seaside in an English resort, rely on their location alone to bring the customers in, rather than the quality of their food and service. The total opposite can be said of The Beach Deck. Both the service and the food was excellent and my starter was possibly the best calamari I’ve ever tasted. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).