Eastbourne is a town and seaside resort located in the East Sussex county of South East England. It lies approximately 19 miles east of Brighton and 54 miles south of London, positioned immediately to the east of Beachy Head, which is the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain. The area forms part of the larger Eastbourne Downland Estate and serves as a local government district with borough status.

Evidence of human occupation in the region dates back to the Stone Age, with Bronze Age sites and Celtic settlements also identified. The original name derived from the Burne stream, with 'East' added in the 13th century. Following the Norman conquest, the area was held by Robert, Count of Mortain. In the mid-19th century, prominent landowner William Cavendish, later the Duke of Devonshire, appointed architect Henry Currey to design a new town plan, accelerating growth after the railway arrived in 1849.

The town features a mix of Victorian architecture and remains largely undeveloped along its seafront, which is composed mainly of Victorian hotels, a pier, and a theatre. Notable landmarks include the Napoleonic-era Eastbourne Redoubt fort, the Wish Tower, and St Mary's Church, a Norman structure built on a potential Saxon meeting site. The town also contains Gildredge House and Motcombe Gardens, overlooking the church.

Eastbourne derives significant income from tourism, augmented by conferences, public events, and cultural sightseeing. It hosts traditional seafront concerts and the annual Airbourne air display in mid-August, featuring the RAF Red Arrows. The town claims to be the Sunniest Place in the UK and has a reputation as a fashionable resort, historically attracting visitors seeking medicinal seaside benefits and later serving as a convalescent facility during the First World War.

The population was recorded at 101,689 in the 2021 census, having grown steadily from previous decades. The economy relies on tourism, trade, retail, healthcare, education, and professional sectors. Access is provided via the A27, A259, and A22 roads, as well as Southern Railway services linking to London, Brighton, and Hastings. The climate is notable for high sunshine levels throughout the year.