Things To Do For FREE

I SPY TRAVEL SHEETS - click for free printable 'I Spy' game cards.

SPOT THE BUS CARDS - click for free printable 'Stop the Bus' game cards, for playing in the car, at home or on the beach.  Click here for the game's rules.
  

October

25 
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA. Polegate Library, Windsor Way. 10am-3pm. A 40th birthday celebration for the library. Storytelling, face-painting, cake and a prize draw to win tickets to the show “The Tiger Who Came To Tea”. FREE event. 

26
"FAMILY FRIENDLY & FREE" FUN DAY.  Community Wise, Ocklynge Road, Old Town, Eastbourne.  12.30-5pm.  Live entertainment, games zones, pamper area, tea, coffee and homemade cakes.  (Food served from 12.30-2.30pm).  (01323) 722924.

27
FREE PARENT AND CHILD MASSAGE SESSION.  Kip McGrath Education Centre, Dental Practice Board main building, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne.  9.30am-12.30pm.  Places are limited, so to apply contact the sponsors, Kip McGrath, on (01323) 720072.  (Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis).  

27
THE BIG PICTURE PARTY.  The British Library, St Pancras, Euston Road, London.  11am - 4.30pm.  You're invited to join authors and performers for  a FREE event including drawing, storytelling and workshops in the Library's courtyard.  Visit the British Library website for full details.

28-31
FREE FAMILY RADIO WORKSHOPS.  Kip McGrath Education Centre, Dental Practice Board main building, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne.  9.30am-12.30pm.  To celebrate Family Learning Week, join a former Southern fm presenter for this free radio workshop for families.  At least one parent must accompany one or two children aged 7-14.  Places are limited, so to apply contact the sponsors, Kip McGrath, on (01323) 720072.  (Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis).    

29
NCT BUMPS AND BABES RELAUNCH PARTY.  Community Wise, Ocklynge Road, Old Town.  10am-12noon.  To celebrate the fact that Bumps and Babes is coming back to Community Wise every Wednesday, all the old members and anyone who would like to join (mums dads, bumps and babes) are invited along to the party.  For more info call Samantha on (01323) 749494.  (£1 donation requested for party).

29
BALLOON MAGIC TRAIN FREE ENTERTAINMENT.  Eastbourne Railway Station to Rye Station.  11am-2pm approx.  To encourage families to travel by train, the Sussex Rail Partnership is laying on free entertainment (a balloon magician and colouring activities) on the 11.08am service from Eastbourne to Rye.  There will then be more entertainment at Rye before the train returns at 12.54pm.  Certainly a new experience for kids who always travel by car!  Check prices of tickets with Eastbourne Railway station before travelling.  

29 
BIG DIWALI DRAW. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens. 10.30am-12pm & 1-4pm. Make beautiful rangoli patterns in celebration of Diwali. All ages. Just drop-in. Entrance and event FREE. (01273) 290900.

November

1 
FIRE & ICE WALK. Eastbourne Rugby Club, Hampden Park. From 6pm. Watch people walk barefoot 20 feet across burning coals or broken glass! Fire-dancing, BBQ, fun stalls, all in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice. Entry FREE.

2
LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN.  The first group of cars to leave Hyde Park in London will be arriving on Brighton seafront some time after 10am.  There will be more cars arriving all through the day until approx 4.30pm.  Little boys (or girls!) who love cars can watch all sorts of amazing vintage vehicles appearing on the seafront in a fun, carnival type atmosphere.

15
LIVE BETTER FOR LESS.  Community Wise, Ocklynge Road, Old Town, Eastbourne.  10am-4pm.  Enjoy a happy, healthy lifestyle while spending less!  Over 35 exhibits, workshops and demos from a wide range of organisations.  Find out about budget shopping, growing your own food, cheap entertainment, local sports and fitness, affordable fashion and freebies.  Cookery demos with delicious samples, advice and free services from employment and small business specialists.  Children's activities include free basketball and hip hop workshops, music, magic and juggling.  Community Wise: (01323) 722924.  www.livebetterforless.org.uk

19 - 21 
EASTBOURNE YOUTH RADIO 2008. Local students (aged 4-19) presenting and broadcasting their own programmes on air. 87.7fm on your radio or www.eyr.org.uk on the web. 

29 
ADVENT WORKSHOP. St Mary’s Church, Old Town, Eastbourne. 9.30-11.30am. Make lovely ‘crafty’ Christmas presents for your family and decorations to take home. Ends with short children’s service (parents welcome). Ages 3-11, under 8s must be accompanied. FREE event.

December

6, 7 
EASTBOURNE’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC. Town Centre. Christmas Farmers’ Market, Father Christmas parades, music and town centre treasure hunt with huge teddy bear prize. 

6, 7 
CHRISTMAS COMFORT & JOY WEEKEND. Alfriston village. 10am-4pm. Lots of old-fashioned Christmas activities around the village. Up-to-date details at www.alfriston.org

6, 7 
TREE DRESSING WEEKEND. Revive the ancient custom of dressing an outdoor tree. Decorate it with ribbons, home-made decorations, twinkly lights - it’s simply a way of showing we value them. Even more fun if you get friends to help you! 

21 
BURNING THE CLOCKS. From 6.30pm. A huge parade where participants carry spectacular paper lanterns from Brighton city centre to the seafront to burn on the beach and mark the Winter Solstice. Ends with a FREE Firework display. 

26 
FREE BOXING DAY BOOGIE. Eastbourne Bandstand. 11am - 12.30pm. Get out into the fresh air and dance to the music of ‘Sounds Easy’. A lovely Christmas tradition for all ages! 

 

Daily

VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.  You can borrow a book, a tape or even a DVD.  It'll cost either nothing or very little (for tapes and DVDs) plus you're house won't be all cluttered up when you've finished with the stuff because you can just take it back.  The ultimate recycling opportunity!

GLASS SCULPTURES. The Glass Studio on Eastbourne Pier. 10am - 6pm. Watch the craftsmen sculpting miniature models out of glass. FREE demonstrations. www.pierglassstudio.co.uk

EASTBOURNE LIFEBOAT MUSEUM. At the foot of the Wish Tower slopes on the seafront. 10am-4pm. A museum covering the history of Eastbourne’s lifeboats from 1822 to the present. FREE entry, gift shop attached.  The Eastbourne RNLI also have a really comprehensive website at:  http://www.eastbournernli.org.uk/
so if you visit it before you go to the museum, you'll feel even more involved.

BEACHY HEAD COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE. Top of Beachy Head. 10am-4pm. Enjoy the Downland Experience: meet the Talking Shepherd and the Saxon Man, plus experience the feel and sound of local wildlife. FREE entry - this is too good to be free - so make the most of it! (01323) 737 273.

FRISTON FOREST. Park either at the Litlington Road car park (signposted from the A259 at Seven Sisters Country Park, or at the Butchershole car park off the B2105, approx 1 mile north of Friston village. (These are ‘pay and display’ car parks £1 per hour, max £2.) Walk, cycle, go nature-spotting, build shelters out of fallen wood, picnic or even try your hand at orienteering (maps are available from the Seven Sisters visitor centre). Trails are waymarked by coloured circles, stick to the one colour and you shouldn’t get (too) lost!

THE BEACHY HEAD WALK. Starts from East Dean village or from Birling Gap. Whole walk lasts approx. 1 ½ hours at adult walking speed, you may want to attempt just a part of it with kids. Click on this link:
www.beachyhead.org.uk/documents/beachy_walk.pdf
and download a wonderful guide with nature and history notes as well as directions.

If you're planning to take the kids to London, make sure you look at this site before you go: www.daysoutguide.co.uk/free-london
Lots of London's best attractions are free and there are also some very good value fares for families travelling there by train (outside peak times).

FARMER’S MARKETS
While only the entry to these is FREE, a visit to a farmer’s market is a much more of an event than a visit to a supermarket, and a lot less stressful. There is also usually something you can buy to keep the children happy - homemade cakes and buns for instance!

East Dean Village Market
Every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm. East Dean Village Hall. Tel: 01323 423481 or 07730 325398.

Hailsham Market
2nd Saturday in every month 9am-12.30pm. Hailsham Cattle Market. Tel: 01323 833359.

Pevensey Bay Village Market
2nd Saturday in every month 9am-11.45am (April – September). St Wilfrid's Hall, Eastbourne Road. Tel: 01323 460178.


Or (weather permitting) ...

Fly a kite up on the Downs.

Pretend you are a tourist. Sit on the beach, paddle in the sea, go rock-pooling, eat a picnic (or take a flask of hot soup - depending on aforementioned weather!)

Take a stroll around the marina and admire all the boats.

Rollerskate / cycle along the Eastern end of the seafront, where you’re in a car free zone.