First week in June we will be traveling by car in southern England. Looking for somewhere to spend the evening/night after we stop at Beachy head. Is Eastbourne worth spending the evening/night? Next day we will be moving on to Battle, looking at Rye as our next overnight stop. Any accommodation recommendations for Rye?
What I'm searching for is "does anyone have any recommendations on where to stay after Beachy Head and/or during our stay in Rye"?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
You know what Eastbourne is called in jest? “God’s Waiting Room”, for all the senior citizens there.
I see a string of hotels along the Grand Parade, across the street from a nice long beach, and one of them might be nice, especially if you envision a walk on the beach.
However, I have also read nice things about Hastings, and that might be a better choice, especially if you are a fan of the Foyle’s War series. There are multiple hotels near the beach there as well.
I have no specific recommendations, as we have not been down there yet. But I can tell you how I pick a hotel in an unfamiliar place if I cannot get recommendations: I look on booking.com at places with a rating of 8.5 and above, look at the location (which they give exactly), the photos, and the reviews (which are legitimate on that site) and pick several that look promising. Then I go to the individual hotels’ websites and explore further.
This process usually produces 1 or 2 clear winners.
Whatever you pick, make sure they have a carpark
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4624 posts
If you check out days 9 and 10 from the link of my Trip Report it describes Eastbourne and Rye. I didn't find much interesting in Eastbourne but it was a convenient overnight stop. We stayed at the View Hotel. It was fine.
In Rye we splurged for the Mermaid Inn. Very cool hotel but I don't think it was worth the expense. Loved wandering Rye for the evening.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-the-south-of-england
Posted by
New England
701 posts
At Beachy Head, I was going to suggest Belle Tout Lighthouse B&B, a decommissioned lighthouse right on the cliffs. We enjoyed our stays in Sept 2018 and May 2023. The rooms have views over the cliffs and Channel or over the Downs (or both), beds are comfortable, breakfast is made to order, and the innkeepers are friendly. Perfectly situated for a scenic stroll (or strenuous hike-your choice) along the South Downs way and the Seven Sisters. They book up quickly though and, alas, have a 2-night minimum.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7206 posts
When we visited Rye back in 2013 we stayed at what is now The Lookout Rye. It was the Rye Lodge back then. We liked it then, but have no idea what it’s like now.