Our Location

A sunny spot where the hills meet the sea

Eastbourne is, and always has been, a healthy town. Situated at the eastern end of the South Downs National Park, it boasts the iconic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs as its backdrop and is home to the dramatic Beachy Head and a wealth of extensive safe beaches. The main town lies sheltered to the east of the cliffs helping to contribute to its sunshine record and, for a number of years, crowning it officially one of the sunniest locations in Great Britain! 

With a population of around 99,000, the modern town has gently emerged from its mid-19th century origins as a Victorian seaside resort. Assisted by the arrival of the railway in 1849 and Queen Victoria’s endorsement of the benefits of sea air and bathing, the town retains a cultured and pleasant air.

With a seafront promenade stretching over four miles, sub-tropical flora, a wonderful climate, and a quiet charm, it is a safe, active and delightful place in which to raise and educate children. 

In the last couple of years, Eastbourne town has benefitted enormously from a multi-million pound investment in a large number of areas including its new, state-of-the-art shopping centre called The Beacon, a multiplex cinema and a complete overhaul and refurbishment of the town’s Grade II listed Congress Theatre which sits in the heart of the Devonshire Quarter. There are four theatres in the town which boast wide and varied programmes include large West End musicals, national orchestral concerts, comedy acts and more.   

The Congress Theatre nestles between the Winter Garden, The Devonshire Park Tennis Centre (home to the Rothesay International Eastbourne Tennis Tournament) and the Towner Art Gallery, a contemporary exhibition space which exhibits quality modern and contemporary artwork through collection based exhibitions, talks, events and creative activities. In 2023, the gallery hosted the Turner Prize. 

And opposite the Towner, is Eastbourne College, with whom St Andrew’s Prep amalgamated in 2010 to form one charity. Eastbourne College is just one mile away from St Andrew’s Prep.  In 2019, Eastbourne College completed its £54m Project 150 which, alongside its Blue Health philosophy has been transformative in helping the school to secure its position as a sector-leading education provider for many years to come. The investment has provided the historic and inspiring school site with: 

• a dynamic music, drama and arts centre with an auditorium, recording studio and exhibition space
• 32 state-of-the-art classrooms
• two specialist IT suites
• a cricket pavilion
• a school shop
• several stunning entertaining areas
• a Sport England-compliant sports hall
• a six-lane Olympic standard 25m swimming pool with full Swiss touch-pad timing system
• two glass-backed squash courts
• a dance studio (with recess in ceiling for aerial techniques)
• a state-of-the-art fitness suite
• an alfresco-feel dining hall catering for 600 per sitting
• a pupil café with full barista service

Excellent Transport Links

With a direct train route to London, St Andrew’s Prep is easily accessible: 90 minutes from Victoria station, 80 minutes from Clapham Junction, 60 minutes from Gatwick Airport, 45 minutes from Haywards Heath and 20 minutes from Lewes, and then a five minute taxi ride to the St Andrew’s Prep site. There is also a direct train route from Eastbourne railway station to Ashford International Station. This journey takes 80 minutes.

Eastbourne has good access to national road networks linking the town to the South East region, London and the rest of the UK.