Eastbourne & the Bluebell Railway - JG Explorer

Included Excursions

Bluebell Railway & Lewes (full day)

We start the day with a trip into yesteryear by boarding the Bluebell Railway, one of the UK’s best-preserved heritage railways. From Sheffield Park station we journey through the idyllic Sussex countryside towards East Grinstead, enjoying the lovely vistas along the way.

Afterwards, we explore the bustling market town of Lewes, surrounded by chalk cliffs in the South Downs. There are plenty of welcoming cafés and historic buildings to admire, including the Norman castle which dominates the townscape.

Alfriston via Beachy Head (half day)

On our next included day out we enjoy a scenic drive along the glorious Sussex Heritage Coast, stopping to marvel at the spectacular chalk cliffs at Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters. We continue to the picturesque village of Alfriston, nestled in the valley of the River Cuckmere and full of charming old buildings, gift shops, tearooms and traditional inns.

Optional Excursion

Rye & Hastings – £14pp (full day)

We explore 1066 Country, calling first at the fortified hilltop town of Rye, a charming place of cobbled lanes, secret passages and historic architecture. We then head to the coastal town of Hastings, which boasts the remains of the first castle in England to be built by William the Conqueror and a lovely preserved Old Town with half-timbered houses and narrow streets.

The popular and elegant seaside town of Eastbourne is one of England’s most appealing resorts famous for its miles of award winning, clean and sandy beaches.

Often referred to as one of the sunniest places in the UK owing to its sheltered position alongside the famous Beachy Head cliff, Eastbourne is a spectacular place to visit.

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The Bluebell Railway, one of the UK’s best-preserved heritage railways, commenced train services in August 1960. From Sheffield Park station, through the idyllic Sussex countryside towards Grinstead, the scenic journey gives us the opportunity to learn about the history and science of the industrial age, experience the thrill of getting up close to a working steam locomotive, and luxuriate in the comfort and style of a bygone era - enjoying the lovely vistas along the way.

JG Explorer coaches
We are pleased to introduce JG Explorer – a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.

Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind – with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There’s improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it’s the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so our JG Explorer coaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.

On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on the JG Explorer, with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.

The layout of the JG Explorer includes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment.