The 8 Best Beaches in East Sussex
Stretching along the south coast of England from Brighton to Camber Sands, the shores of East Sussex are dotted with great beaches within easy reach of London. With swims in the English Channel, views over dramatic cliffs and easy access to the South Downs National Park, it's easy to see why this popular area has such year-round appeal for day trips, weekend escapes and family holidays.
Whether you're planning a trip to a sizzling summer hotspot or are on the hunt for a sleepy shingle beach away from the crowds, our rundown of the area’s beaches should give you a good idea of what you can expect from this spectacular stretch of the British coastline. There’s a great deal of variety here, so to help you find a place you’ll enjoy we’ve chosen eight of the best East Sussex beaches in a list that should have something for everyone.
Lucky locals will be able to visit these beaches whenever they like, but if you’re visiting the area an outdoor break is a fantastic way to make the most of the region’s scenery – whether you stick to the coast or opt for a countryside location – and keep costs down at the same time. Check out Pitchup’s full range of outdoor accommodation below to find a place that suits your style.
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Brighton beach
A buzzing beach within easy reach of London
Known for its laidback lifestyle, stylish Victorian terraces and ease of access (London is just an hour away by train), the seaside resort of Brighton and Hove is an excellent destination in anyone's book. Indie shopping areas like The Lanes, a lively arts scene, great nightlife and some of the UK's finest restaurants mean that the place would still be worth visiting without its trademark pebble beach.
But a beach there is – a steep shingle bank backed by a four-mile promenade that has space for sun-seekers on even the busiest of days. There are plenty of amenities stretched along Brighton beach, including bars, toilets, food stalls, watersports centres and play areas, so this is a beach that caters to all kinds. Best of all, top attractions like Brighton Pier, Hove’s colourful beach huts, Volk's Electric Railway and the i360 viewing tower are a short walk away so there’s plenty to do.
Cuckmere Haven
Swim within view of the Seven Sisters cliffs in the South Downs National Park
Picture a place where a river meanders through a peaceful green landscape until it reaches the sea by dramatic white chalk cliffs. That place is Cuckmere Haven, a National Trust-managed beach on the eastern edge of the South Downs National Park.
The water courses here have rich pickings for anglers and birdspotters, while beachgoers can gaze out over the Seven Sisters cliffs for hours on end without getting tired of the view. Despite being sandwiched between the busy resorts of Brighton and Eastbourne, Cuckmere Haven is often on the quiet side – and it may be handy to know that dogs are allowed here all year round.
Cuckmere is a super spot for a picnic or a peaceful dip, but for something really special, walk along the footpath to Seaford Head Nature Reserve at sunset, or play a round at Seaford Head Golf Course.
Birling Gap
Pebbles, rockpools and the highest chalk cliff in Britain
Up next is Birling Gap, a pebble and sand beach at the foot of Beachy Head, Britain's highest chalk cliff. At low tide, craggy rockpools are exposed and kids of all ages can clamber over the shore in search of sea creatures.
As well as being great for rockpooling, Birling Gap has good facilities including a spacious car park and a National Trust-run café. Don't be tempted to snooze in the shadow cast by the cliffs, though – they are eroding at up to a metre per year in some spots and can sometimes crumble without warning.
Eastbourne
A classic seaside town with a vibrant waterfront area
Eastbourne has been coming up in the world over the past few years and is slowly but surely shaking off its meek and mild reputation following the arrival of the brightly coloured Towner Eastbourne art gallery and several trendy new eateries. Some things have stayed very much the same, though – the seafront is just as lovely as it ever was, and a trip to Eastbourne is still all about enjoying life's gentler pleasures.
After an ice cream on the beach or a stroll along Eastbourne Pier, there's plenty of scope for a pub lunch followed by an afternoon exploring the marina, taking the kids on the miniature steam railway or taking to the waves for some watersports.
Pevensey Bay
A small seaside village with easy public transport access
Just a little way from Eastbourne, the village of Pevensey is a particularly strategic point on the East Sussex coast – in medieval times, the Normans built an imposing castle here that can still be visited today, while during the Napoleonic Wars Martello Towers and other defences were erected along this part of the English Channel.
Visitors to Pevensey these days can expect plenty of space on its beach, but the trade-off is that there's no promenade here, and walking over the mixture of pebbles and shingle can be hard going – so this is not a place for those who aren’t very mobile. The village has a top-rated fish and chip shop and a café though, and it’s a popular spot for fishing – either from the shore or on a boat trip.
Hastings
History, heritage and a well-preserved old town
Sitting on the edge of the High Weald National Landscape, Hastings has plenty of Victorian charm and a storied history that stretches all the way back to medieval times. The town centre is home to a patchwork of streets with a distinctive old-world feel, while more recent additions like the 19th-century cliff railway and pier or Hastings Contemporary art gallery show how the town has grown and adapted through the ages.
Down at the coast, Hastings has an attractive two-tiered promenade backed by grand hotels and turn-of-the-century villas. The beach here is spacious, with a good amount of sand usually accessible at low tide, and plenty of shops and cafés to keep you fed and watered. At low tide, head to the western end of the beach and see if you can spot the wreck of the Amsterdam, which sank here in 1749.
Pett Level beach
A quiet village beach with few amenities and lots of wildlife
Pett Level beach is a peaceful beach on the edge of a small village – and, similarly to many other East Sussex beaches, it’s mostly pebbles with a swathe of sand that appears at low tide. There are few amenities here, so you’ll want to pack your own food and perhaps a good book or magazine, but the reward is a very quiet atmosphere for a stroll, a swim or a picnic.
Pett Level is also known locally for its fossils and for being home to an ancient sunken forest, parts of which are believed to be over 6,000 years old. Just behind the beach are the shallow lakes of Pett Pools, which attract a lot of passing wildlife – if you’re a birdwatcher, don’t forget your binoculars on a trip here.
Camber Sands
One of the only sandy beaches in East Sussex
If you’re heading to East Sussex in search of golden sands, you’ll need to head to the far east of the county, close to the Kent border. Camber Sands, as its name suggests, is a sandy beach – in fact, one of the few non-shingle beaches in East Sussex. And what a fabulous beach it is, too, with around three miles of sand at low tide and a gorgeous system of sand dunes to scramble through as well.
Because of all this, Camber Sands can get quite busy in high season, but if you don’t mind sharing the beach with others there’s plenty to see and do – RIB tours, kitesurfing and other watersports can be arranged, and seals can sometimes be spotted sunning themselves on the shore or playing in the harbour close by.
The sandiest parts of the beach here are around the river Rother and the village of Camber – keep going west and more and more shingle enters the mix. Like many beaches around here, there are dog restrictions from May to September (to find out more about this and other local options, read our guide to dog-friendly East Sussex beaches).
If you’re planning a trip to East Sussex and you can’t get enough of that coastal scenery, how about making the most of those views by booking an outdoor stay near the coast? Pitchup has a great range of campsites and glamping stays near East Sussex beaches, with something for every budget and style. Take a look at the full list below to find the place for you.