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Is Beachy Head / 7 Sisters a reasonable day trip from London?

We are spending only three nights in London on our way to Paris. I am a little less interested in big cities, and would like to get out at least once. Beachy Head looks great, and I'd love to get photos of the 7 sisters around sunset and walk along the cliffs if possible. We will only be using public transportation, but it's hard to figure out how much of one day we would realistically need to devote to this excursion (including travel). Perhaps it is an unreasonable wish.

Any advice/suggestions/tips?

Posted by
9110 posts

About three hours each way just to Beachy Head.

Posted by
33991 posts

About 90 minutes train (Southern) from Victoria to Eastbourne, 15 minutes or so bus to Beachy Head pub, 20 minutes or so walking - each way - plus waiting time.

Quite a long but very fulfilling day.

You can also take a fast train to Brighton and bus towards Eastbourne, but that's quite a bit more bus.

Posted by
2599 posts

The classic shot that you are thinking about of the Severn Sisters is taken from the west. To get to the location you should do this:
Go by train from London (Victoria) to Seaford - this takes 1 and a half hours with 1 change and cost about £26 return. On arriving in Seaford - walk to seafront and turn left. Continue walking east for about 2 miles/3Km and you will come to the viewpoint. At sunset, the sun will be behind you - assuming you have chosen a sunny day. I reckon it will look pretty good at any time on a sunny day.

Please look on Google Earth to see location. (Tick Panoramio from the side menu to see photos from location).

www.nationalrail.co.uk (VIC > SEF)

Posted by
233 posts

It's very doable as a day trip from London. Look into buying a DaySave pass on Southern Railways....it's a pass to travel as much as you want on any of their off peak trains on a given day for £15. http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave-off-peak/

You can either go into Brighton (where you can change for the Seaford train) and take the 12 or 12x bus east, or go to Eastbourne and take the 12 or 12x west. http://www.buses.co.uk/travel/coaster12.aspx You might like to get off at Birling Gap and see the coastguard cottages that are on the edge of the cliff. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birling-gap-and-the-seven-sisters/

The Seven Sisters are really lovely. They are the true classic white cliffs - most of the time whenever film company shows the white cliffs of Dover, it's really the Seven Sisters are they are so much prettier! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sisters,_Sussex

Posted by
2599 posts

To get to Seaford from London (Victoria), you change trains at Lewes. Should you have spare time on your return, you may wish to go and see Brighton - which would be included in the Day Ranger ticket. Without such a ticket you would pay for a Lewes > Brighton return to cover this short hop.

Posted by
37 posts

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies, I really appreciate the information!