Fall in love in Eastbourne this Valentine's Day with Stargazing, Ballroom Dancing and More!

Whatever your budget and whatever your style, if you're looking to spoil someone special this Valentine's Day, Eastbourne is the perfect romantic escape!

For culture and passion on the stage, the Congress Theatre has it covered this Valentine's weekend! On 12 February, Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke and Erin Boag bring the heat of the ballroom to the stage of the Congress Theatre when their sizzling new dance tour stops in Eastbourne, bringing passionate ballroom dances performed to hits of the golden age! 

If dreamy romanticism is more what you're after, then an afternoon at the Congress on Valentine's Day listening to the London Philharmonic Orchestra perform a romantic classical variety is the one for you. The beautifully relaxing concert will include Schumann's musical love letter to his wife: his Piano Concerto; and Sibelius's beautiful and uplifting Symphony No. 5.

For the most romantic of outdoor activities, head to the Redoubt Fortress on Eastbourne's seafront for an evening of stargazing. In the company of your loved-one, gaze at the sky through the eye of the telescope on Saturday 13 February as the Eastbourne Astronomical Society take you on a romantic guided-tour of the night sky, spotting craters on the moon, stars in the galaxy and the Orion Nebula! It's also a completely free event, so you'll be able to splash out more on dinner later on!

If you're looking for fine dining, The Grand Hotel, the only 5* seaside hotel in the UK, provides the fanciest of settings for a perfect Valentine's dinner! Lovers who lunch can choose between the 'Fine Dining Romance Dinner' in the reputable Mirabelle Restaurant, the 'Garden Restaurant Romance Dinner’ or a ‘Romantic Afternoon Tea’ served in The Great Hall. From just £145.00 per person, dine in the Garden Restaurant and stay at the Grand overnight! Enter our competition for a chance to win a Valentine’s Dinner for Two in the Grand’s Garden Restaurant!

For Afternoon Teas coupled with discovery, an afternoon at either Michelham Priory, an 800 year old country house with seven acres of beautiful gardens or at National Trust run Bateman's will be ideal! Michelham Priory is serving up a luxury Valentines canapé tea, complete with a glass of Prosecco, a special Valentine's gift and full entry to the house on 13 and 14 February. On 14 February visit Bateman’s and enjoy a stroll around the garden at the former home of Rudyard Kipling, followed by a delicious Valentine’s Tea! 

If art is the way to your heart, Eastbourne’s contemporary gallery, Towner Art Gallery has two great exhibitions this Valentine’s weekend; Recording Britain; a collection developed at the outbreak of the Second World War which aimed to document rural and urban

environments under threat, and Peter Sellers: Behind the Camera; a retrospective of the career of his career.

Stay overnight and make the most of the romantic coastal location! Go to VisitEastbourne.com/accommodation for all the best places to stay in Eastbourne and some fabulous Valentine's weekend offers!

A Brand New Season of Fascinating History and Heritage at Eastbourne's Museums!

Eastbourne has a wealth of interesting history just waiting for you to discover in its cultural hubs and museums! Both the Redoubt Fortress and the Pavilion re-opened earlier this month, offering visitors many fascinating new exhibitions to explore!

Read a preview of some of the exciting heritage and history to be found this year at Eastbourne's Redoubt Fortress and Pavilion.

Treasure can come in many forms, and the new 'Treasure' exhibition at the Redoubt uncovers the vast mount of objects and items which are cherished by different people. Children will love this fun sensory exhibition, with Roman coins found at Beachy Head, precious metals and the diary of a young girl on holiday in Eastbourne, kept for its sentimental value, painting pictures of years gone by. Head to the Redoubt to be wowed by this, and much more this season.

The Summerdown Camp exhibition at the Pavilion on Marine Parade, tells the never before told story of the many thousands of injured soldiers who recuperated and recovered at the UK's first and largest World War One convalescent camp in Eastbourne 100 years ago! Open daily from now until 15 November, the amazing  and uplifting stories told at this free exhibition will astound both history buffs and novices. Try on a 'Blue Boy's' uniform, decode the soldiers slang and discover the heartwarming stories told by wounded soldiers and the heroic women who worked at Summerdown Camp.

The last in a trio of 'Stargazing for Everyone' evenings will provide another magical evening for keen astronomers at the Redoubt Fortress at 8pm on 28 March! Be dazzled up-close by the night sky, with its beautiful stars, moon and planets whilst gazing through telescopes provided by the Eastbourne Astronomical Society. Don't miss this great family event, which is free to attend!

'Carry on Curator' brings a series of engaging and interactive talks, in which visitors can handle objects and artefacts that tell many different stories from Eastbourne's past. The first in the series "Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!" on 31 March looks back on the development of gas used in warfare. The Redoubt's curator, Damian Etherington will provide a 'show and tell' type talk, passing round many objects including an original German mask from the First World War. Don't miss out, book your place now!

And here's an egg-citing competition to enter this Easter! The Redoubt Fortress are giving away a Family Ticket, plus a Redoubt Guide Book so that one lucky family can explore the fascinating Napoleonic Redoubt and discover the history behind the stone walls for free this Easter Holiday! 

For more information about all the exciting discoveries to be made at the Redoubt and the Pavilion this year go to www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk!

Put the Spring Back in Your Step in Eastbourne!

Today is an absolutely beautiful day in Eastbourne, and with the temperature warming up and the sun shining daily, the team at Visit Eastbourne has become extremely excited for Spring, inspiring this week's blog post!

Daffodils are starting to pop up in places all around the town, and a walk in the fresh Eastbourne air is the perfect way to get in touch with nature this Spring. Whether it's taking in the sea air with a walk along the promenade, or a longer country walk over the South Downs, your senses will be spoiled with the wonders of Spring time in Eastbourne. Why not make a day of it and enjoy a coastal walk over the Downs, walking the 17.5 kilometers from Eastbourne to Alfriston? Pack a picnic and find a sunny spot for lunch, or refuel at the Eight Bells pub in Jevington, who serve delicious seasonal food and locally brewed ales.

Another essential South Downs Spring time experience, is the beginning of the lambing season at the Seven Sisters Sheep Centre. Not just for children, everyone can enjoy the heart-warming experience of seeing new life come into the world, in the form of four-legged white fluffy animals. Lambing season begins on 7 March, continuing through until 4 May. In this time, meet 50 different breeds of sheep, help to bottle feed the lambs at feeding times of 11.30am and 3.30pm, and hopefully see some lambs being born in the lambing yard! For an extra special outing, experience the life of a farmer and attend night time lambing, at exclusive bookable time-slots.

For a magical Spring evening, attend one of the two remaining 'Stargazing for Everyone' nights at the Redoubt Fortress. The Eastbourne Astronomical Society are sharing their extensive knowledge of the dazzling night sky, providing telescopes and binoculars for all to use. Jupiter, stars and craters on the moon; all of these can be seen from the gun platform of the Redoubt on 28 February from 7pm and 28 March from 8pm. These events are free to attend, making for a great family outing or a romantic evening for two - just make sure to wrap up warm!

Visit the emotive World War One exhibition of Summerdown Camp - the UK's first and largest convalescent camp which opened in Eastbourne 100 years ago. The exhibition, which uncovers the stories of the thousands of injured soldiers who recovered at the camp and working women who nursed them back to health, is open at Eastbourne Pavilion from 16 March until 15 November. A special commemorative event will be held on 8 April, 100 years to the day that the camp opened. Step back in time and experience the daily life of Summerdown Camp residents. Take part in basket making and embroidery, two vital therapies undertaken at Summerdown; try on a 'Blue Boys' uniform, have a guided tour of the exhibition and talk to relatives of camp soldiers about their ancestor's experiences.

Towner has a very moving exhibition from Israeli artist, Ori Gersht, on throughout the Spring; visit the free exhibition from now until 26 April. Take in the beauty of the two major moving image works, Evaders (2009 from the Towner collection) and The Forest (2005), along with a series of mesmerizing large scale photographs; all tracing the journey of writer and poet, Walter Benjamin through the Pyrnees in his escape from 1940's Nazi regime.

With Easter not too far away, now is an egg-cellent time to start making plans for the Easter weekend and school holidays. Eastbourne Miniature Railway Park will have free Easter Eggs (while stocks last) for all children riding the railway over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The Bandstand will hold its much-loved traditional annual Easter Sunday Concert (5 April). Enjoy the sounds of the Eastbourne Silver Band with family and friends from 2.30pm. The Seven Sisters Country Park are holding a special Easter family event on March 30. Children aged 5-11 can get creative, decorating eggs with paint, glue and more, sow seeds to celebrate new life this Spring and follow a wildlife Easter trail through the woods.

Look out for more inspiring ways to spend Spring days in and around Eastbourne!