How NOT to Be THAT Tourist When You Visit Birling Gap – An Idiot’s Guide

Birling Gap is one of the most beautiful places in England. With its iconic chalk cliffs, views of the Seven Sisters, and that wild, untamed coastline, it’s no surprise that more and more people are flocking here each year. But with popularity comes a whole new breed of tourist, the kind that shows up completely unprepared, unaware, and frankly, a bit obnoxious. Living in Sussex, at least once a year I gather with my friends and we go hiking the Seven Sisters. On my last trip I was pretty shocked by the behaviour of some of the people who come to Birling Gap on the bus and decide to spoil the peace for everyone else.

If you’ve ever found yourself rolling your eyes at people blasting music on a pebble beach, posing on a cliff edge like it’s a catwalk, or shouting at bus drivers like they’re customer service agents at Heathrow, then you know exactly who I’m talking about.

This guide isn’t for them (they won’t read it). This guide however is for the rest of us, those who want to enjoy Birling Gap respectfully, safely, and without being that tourist. Think of it as your idiot-proof manual for not embarrassing yourself on the cliffs. And take it as a light read, born from my frustration of not being able to enjoy this beautiful peace of nature in peace anymore.

Don’t Set Camp Near the Rocks

I get it, you want a beautiful, relaxing day at the beach. You’ve brought your tent with you, a cooler filled with drinks, a full three course lunch, as well as a speaker from where you’re blasting the most recent tunes. You’ve set camp at the bottom of the rocks, so you can have some shade from the sun. You put your baby underneath a gap in cliff, and lie down on your blanket, together with your friends.

Don’t be that tourist! First of all, nobody wants to hear your music. This is a natural place where the only sounds should be coming from the seagulls and the waves crashing into the shore. Secondly, you are sitting under rocks which are constantly crumbling and collapsing. The cliffs at Birling Gap are receding with an average of 70 cm a year! In fact, just last year, the café had to be moved because it was too close to the cliff that collapsed. That’s exactly where you are sitting, where you found that bit of shade. The same cliff under which you baby sleeps peacefully.

Don’t Stand At the Top Of the Stairs

I get it, you want that Instagram picture perfect photo of the Seven Sisters – even if you haven’t put in the effort to hike here. I can tell, by your pretty, flowy dress, and your perfectly blow dried hair. And it may seem that the best place to take this photo is the top of the metal stairs, busy with people walking up and down. And being that selfish tourist, you don’t care about blocking the flow of people.

Don’t be that tourist! If you really want a photo with the cliffs, either go down to the beach, or go to the viewing area, just a few meters up the hill.

Take Note of the Tide Times

I get it, you’re feeling adventurous. You want to walk along the base of the cliffs, explore the rock pools, maybe even get that artsy shot of your feet in the water, with the waves gently rolling in the background. Lovely. But have you checked the tide times?

Don’t be that tourist! The tide at Birling Gap comes in fast and without warning. One minute you’re beachcombing, the next you’re trapped against the cliffs with nowhere to go. Every year, people have to be rescued because they thought they’d “just pop down for a quick walk” without checking the tide tables posted right there at the top of the stairs. It takes 30 seconds to Google it. Do it. Don’t rely on gut instinct or the position of the sun. This isn’t Moana.

Don’t Come in Flip-Flops

I get it, it’s the beach. Sand equals flip-flops, right? Wrong.

Birling Gap is not a soft, tropical paradise with silky sand and calm turquoise waves. It’s a wild, pebbly beach with sharp rocks, slippery algae, uneven ground, and the occasional rogue wave that will absolutely eat your flip-flop and then throw you off balance.

Don’t be that tourist! Wear proper shoes. You’re walking on chalky cliff paths, gravel, and loose stones. Your Instagrammable white sliders may look cute, but they won’t help you when you twist your ankle trying to scramble down to the beach. Bring walking shoes or at least trainers. Your feet (and your dignity) will thank you.

Don’t Ignore the Cliff Edge Signs

Unless you have a death wish. Remember that thing about cliffs collapsing?  You are advised to stay at least 5 meters away from the cliff edge due to the constant erosion. There are signs everywhere letting you know where the cliff edge is, and you shouldn’t pass it. Part of the path that I hiked last year doesn’t exist anymore. It collapsed. And you are just standing there, crossing the  safety edge, just to take that Instagram photo.

Don’t be that tourist! Is your life valued the same as the photo you are about to take, leaning over the edge to see the lighthouse? Just hike for 10 minutes and you will see it without obstructions, from the safety of the path!

Don’t Be Rude With the Bus Drivers

I get it, you’re tired. You’ve walked for miles, you’re sunburned, your water bottle is empty, and all you want is to sit down on the bus and be whisked away back to Eastbourne, or wherever you came from.

But don’t be that tourist. The bus drivers here aren’t your personal chauffeurs. They’re dealing with packed buses, windy roads, and far too many people shouting “can you stop at the lighthouse?” like it’s Uber.

Here’s what I saw:
– The bus filled up quickly, and some passengers shoved their way in like it was the last helicopter out of a zombie apocalypse.
– When the driver said the bus was full, people banged on the windows and tried to get in through the middle of the road.
– Others got aggressive, yelling at the driver like it was his fault that Birling Gap is suddenly the hottest destination in Sussex.

Just… don’t.
Wait for the next bus. Or better yet, plan ahead. Respect the people who keep these services running. They’re doing their best – even when they’re met with the worst of us.

Birling Gap is stunning. It is raw, dramatic, and a little bit dangerous if you don’t treat it with the respect it deserves. It’s not a theme park. There are no fences keeping you safe, no lifeguards watching the tides, and definitely no one here to clean up after your bad decisions.

So, if you’ve made it this far through the guide, congratulations, you’re probably not that tourist. Just remember: keep an eye on the tides, stay away from the cliff edge, leave the Bluetooth speaker at home, and maybe offer the bus driver a smile instead of a complaint. Birling Gap doesn’t need more idiots. Let’s keep it worth visiting.

For more similar articles, check out my recommendations below:

• Hiking the Halnaker Windmill Trail
• The best things to do in Rottingdean

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