Saltdean was open farmland, originally a part of the village of Rottingdean, and almost uninhabited until 1924 when land was sold off for speculative housing and property development.

Some of this was promoted by entrepreneur Charles W. Neville, who had set up a company to develop the site (he also eventually built nearby towns Peacehaven and parts of Rottingdean).

[1] Saltdean has a mainly shingle beach, fronted by a promenade, the Undercliff Walk, which can be reached directly from the cliff top, by steps from the coast road, or by a subway tunnel from the nearby Lido.

The best known building is the grade II* listed Saltdean Lido community centre, which includes a public library and iconic open air swimming-pool, designed by architect R.W.H.

[3] Saltdean is a prosperous village suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove, although its eastern side is administratively part of the neighbouring Lewes District Council.