Collecting and exhibiting contemporary art for almost 100 years, Towner Eastbourne sits where the coast and the South Downs meet. Towner presents exhibitions of national and international importance for audiences in Eastbourne, the UK, and beyond, showcasing the most exciting and creative developments in modern and contemporary art.
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 5.00pm, and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Address
Towner Eastbourne
Devonshire Park, College Road
Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ
+44 (0) 1323434670
towner@townereastbourne.org.uk
By Bus & Train
Find out how to get to Towner car-free
There are regular trains to Eastbourne station from London Victoria, London Bridge, Brighton, Bexhill, Hastings and Ashford. Buses 12, 12A, 12X, 13X, 3, 98 & 99 stop near Towner.
Cycling
Bike racks are available on Devonshire Quarter Plaza in front of Towner.
You can explore the area around us with the beautiful Coastal Culture Trail map which is available to download here.
By Car
For Towner via satnav use postcode BN21 4JJ or for College Road Car Park use BN21 4HZ
Pay and Display car parking is available in College Road Car Park, 100m from Towner which includes blue badge spaces. Charges (except blue badge) apply 8am - 6pm daily, incl. Bank Holidays. Minimum charge is £1.40. Free on-street parking is possible on College Road and other adjacent streets. 5 Blue Badge spaces are available in the layby alongside the Devonshire Quarter Plaza. There is also a drop off/waiting area for blue badge holders immediately outside Towner, with a 30 minute waiting time. The nearest multi-story car parking is at Trinity Place, which is a 10 minute walk to Towner.
Hotels
The Devonshire Park Hotel is conveniently located on Carlisle Road, across the street from Towner. Visit devonshire-park-hotel.co.uk for further information.
Visit: Find and Book Accommodation and Places to Stay in Eastbourne (visiteastbourne.com)
For our ticketed events concessionary rates apply to:
Over 65s, in receipt of job seekers/universal credit benefits, registered disabled, full-time students. Under 18s have free admission into our exhibitions. Please note that concessionary rates do not apply to Membership.
From Thursday 27 January 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory in the gallery but are still encouraged in order to keep our staff and visitors safe.
Sanitisation points continue to be available throughout the building.
We are currently only accepting payment by card in our shop, café, and ticket desk.
We will continue to manage capacity levels to ensure spaces do not become over-crowded and you may be asked to wait for short periods as a result.
Our bright and airy top floor café is open from 10.00am to 4.30pm, serving delicious lunch options, homemade cakes and top-notch coffee. It's an ideal spot to catch up with friends for coffee or lunch or take time to re-charge during your visit. The café leads onto a sunny terrace overlooking the tennis courts of Devonshire Park, an ideal spot for summer drinks with a view. Currently, our shop has re-located upstairs next to the café so there’s a perfect opportunity to combine refreshments with some retail therapy.
We are proud to serve Union Direct Trade coffee which is ethically sourced through long-term direct trade partnerships with farmers, paying a fair price so they can invest in their farm, families and work. Our teas are from Brew Tea Company, a Rainforest Alliance Certified supplier. Where possible we source our food and drink locally and are current suppliers include Poppy Seed Bakery, Northiam Dairy and Long Man Brewery.
Our café area can also be hired for private evening events offering a stylish, versatile and hassle-free venue for celebration events and receptions. Contact us on venuehire@townereastbourne.org.uk for more information.
Our shop offers a wide and varied range of beautiful and unique products, including prints, Ravilious-inspired merchandise, scarves, ceramics, stationery and jewellery. Our products are often influenced by our Collection and current exhibitions, with many bespoke items exclusive to Towner. If you can't make it to Towner in person we also have our online shop, with a selection of the best-loved items from our gallery shop.
Don’t forget that Towner membership entitles you to a discount on all retail purchases made in the gallery. You can join for as little as £35 per year.
At Towner we always aim to to be accessible to all, and will do all that we can to make your visit as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Staff are always available to provide support if needed and you can also contact us in advance if you wish to discuss some specific requirements that you may need some support with. Please contact us on 01323 434675 or towner@townereastbourne.org.uk
We have:
• a very large lift to all floors, which is particularly useful for groups.
• a large, accessible unisex toilet on our second floor
• a manual wheelchair for visitors with mobility difficulties (contact us to book in advance)
• an induction loop system at the welcome desk and in the cinema.
• large print exhibition guides available for all exhibitions
Staff are also available in each exhibition to provide support/assistance as required.
Guide, hearing, and assistance dogs are welcome at Towner – feel free to ask at the welcome desk for a water bowl.
If you have particular needs in the event of an emergency evacuation, please inform the welcome desk on arrival.
Towner is an inspiring space for all types of groups to explore and enjoy and we offer a variety of packages to help you make the most of your visit.
As well as offering regular Art Store Tours on alternate Sundays (see events for more information) we can also accommodate Private Art Store Tours which are a perfect excursion for groups (NADFAS, WI, U3A etc) or social outings for friends. You can also purchase a Gift Voucher for a Private Art Store Tour as a gift for someone else.
If you are planning to visit with a school or other education group (schools, colleges, universities, teachers) please see our Schools section for more information about the various options we can offer to support your visit.
Group and Private Art Store Tours
A behind-the-scenes visit to our Art Store is an ideal outing for a large group or a private visit with friends. We will work with you to tailor the content to suit your specific interests and ensure you get the most from your visit. To complete a special day out, we can also arrange catering on your behalf including reserved seating (where available).
These personalised private tours make an excellent gift for the art-lover in your life.
Private tours are charged at £60 for up to 5 people. This is a special opportunity to go behind the scenes with an expert guide and find out more about the works and artists in our extensive and varied Collection. The tour will last approximately one hour. If you wish to invite more than 5 people you can pay for additional spaces on the day. Additional spaces will be charged at £10 per person, with a maximum number of 12 people in total on one tour.
If you are looking to bring a larger group, please contact us directly to discuss the options for arranging this and costs involved.
Our FAQ document below may be a useful reference point when planning your visit.
For any further queries please contact dutymanagers@townereastbourne.org.uk or call 01323 434675.
To book a private or group tour, please download the booking form below.
Go behind the scenes and enjoy a fascinating introduction to our impressive Collection of over 5000 works in our bespoke art store. Starting with the original Victorian bequest, your tour will then cover works by artists such as Eric Ravilious, Duncan Grant, Sandra Blow, Alfred Wallis, Alice Neel and Tacita Dean. Combine with a visit to our café and our new shop to make a day of it. We also offer gift vouchers for Private Art Store Tours at a time of your choice.
Every second Sunday from 10 April.
2.00pm to 3.00pm
£10/£9 concession & Towner members