The area we now call Eastbourne has been settled since 500BC when nomadic Celts put down roots and started farming on the South Downs.

In 43AD, the Romans developed farms, built pavements and baths, the ruins of which were discovered in 1712 and 1841 opposite where the pier now stands. There is also evidence of Roman mosaic flooring beneath the Burlington Hotel.

However, before the famous Dr Richard Russell wrote about the medical benefits of the seaside in 1752 Eastbourne barely existed.

The town grew in popularity following a royal holiday visit by four of George III’s offspring in 1870, and became known as the Empress of Watering Places, while Brighton was merely the Queen of Watering Places.

It was following the arrival of the railway in 1849 that Eastbourne started to expand rapidly into the town that is famous for its pier, cliffs, tennis and its airshow, Its sheltered position in the lee of the South Downs gives the town its famously high sunshine record - the highest recorded amount of sunshine in Britain in a month - 383.9 hours in July 1911.

Eastbourne, like many other East Sussex resorts, was seen as a first line of defence against an invasion by France during the Napoleonic wars and is the site of one of the famous Redoubt Towers, which along with the smaller Martello Towers, dot the coastline.

During the WWII the town was badly bombed and it was known as the most raided town in the south east.

Eastbourne’s Grand Hotel was for many years the venue for the BBC’s popular Palm Court orchestra’s Sunday night broadcasts and composer Claude Debussy stayed at the hotel whilst writing La Mer.

Last year the town’s pier became the latest seaside pier to suffer a major fire. Fortunately the town didn’t wait around for someone else to restore the structure and work is now underway to return the pier to its former glory.

Wimbledon's Centre Court may need a roof to protect against rain but with Eastbourne's excellent weather Devonshire Park, which hosts the annual AEGON International Tennis Championships, has no such problem. The best female tennis players from around the world come to play in this annual tournament and this year men have been invited too.

Along with Devonshire Park, Eastbourne has three other council-owned theatres, Royal Hippodrome, Congress and Winter Garden, all hosting a range of concerts, plays and musicals. There is also the historic Lamb Inn and Theatre, built in the 14th century, where Charles Dickens performed amateur dramatics during the 1830s.

A few miles to the north-east is the village of Pevensey and the famous Pevensey Bay, landing place of William the Conqueror and his invading army in 1066.