</a></span>"}'/> Rye is a town in East Sussex that in medieval times was one of the Cinque Ports responsible for England's maritime defence. It stood at the head of a bay, which silted up, leaving the town two miles from the sea. This meant that later industry and development passed it by, so its attractive old town centre has been preserved. In 2021 Rye had a population of 4975.
Trains run hourly from Ashford International , taking 20 min. They continue west from Rye to Winchelsea, Hastings , Bexhill , Pevensey Bay and Eastbourne . Ashford has fast trains from London St Pancras but Eurostar no longer stops there. Change at Eastbourne for Brighton.
50.952 0.731 1 Rye station is in town centre. It has a ticket office and machines, a waiting room but no toilets. There is step-free access but the two platforms are separated. The station building is by Platform 2; if you can't use the footbridge (no lift) it's a quarter-mile via a staff-assisted crossing to Platform 1.
Stagecoach Bus 101 runs hourly from Hastings , taking 50 min via Ore, Fairlight and Winchelsea.
Bus 102 runs hourly from Dover , taking 2 hr 20 min via Folkestone , Hythe, Dymchurch, New Romney, Lydd and Camber.
The main bus stop is at the railway station.
Rye itself is best explored on foot. Use the bus (as above) for Camber Sands or Winchelsea. Bus 313 runs to Northiam every two hours, for Great Dixter House and Gardens.
Rye Hire rent bicycles.
Taxi operators are Rye Taxi Services (+44 7774 633046), Mike's (+44 7496 965050), Village Taxi (+44 7479 012485), Taxiwise (+44 7707 737017) and All7 (+44 7775 377777).
- Town centre is picturesque, with steep cobbled streets lined with timber-framed houses. The Church of St Mary (Episcopal) is 12th century and you can climb the bell tower.
- Castle Museum is the display area at 3 East St. This is free (donations welcome) and only open Apr-Oct: Sa Su 10:30AM-4:30PM.
- 50.94978 0.72953 3 Rye Heritage Centre , Strand Quay TN31 7AY ( Main road on riverside ), ☏ +44 1797 226696 . Sa 10:30AM-4PM, Su Th Tu 10:30AM-2PM . Local history museum by the old wharf, with a collection of early 20th century penny-arcade machines. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9534 0.7352 4 Landgate was built in 1329 and is the only survivor of the town's medieval gates. It can be passed by light traffic, max width 4.1 m.
- Camber Sands are two miles southeast past the golf course.
- 50.922 0.749 6 Mary Stanford Lifeboat House is just a rickety old shed on the shingle beach towards Winchelsea, but one with a tale to tell. Mary Stanford was the Rye Lifeboat, which put out in a gale at daybreak on 15 Nov 1928 to assist the Alice , a freighter from Riga involved in a collision. Five minutes after she launched came word that the crew of Alice had already been rescued so recall flares were fired, but the lifeboat crew can't have seen them. At 10:30 the lifeboat was seen to capsize, and all 17 crew were lost. The lifeboat was not self-righting as such a boat would have been too heavy to drag and launch on this shore.
- 50.925 0.709 7 Winchelsea is a smaller version of Rye and was likewise a Cinque Port. The village was washed away by the sea in 1287 and rebuilt on its present site. Court Hall Museum is open May-Oct. In the churchyard of St Thomas find the grave of entertainer Spike Milligan (1918-2002) with his epitaph Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite , Irish for "I told you I was ill."
- Cinema: Kino Rye is on Lion St in a former church.
- Rye Sports Centre is on The Grove north of the level crossing. It has a gym, fitness classes and pool.
- Golf: Rye GC is a mile southeast towards Camber. The Old Course is 6284 yards, par 68. The Jubilee is 12-hole, creating two loops of nine, on land reclaimed from the receding sea.
- 1066 Country Walk is a 31-mile trail from Pevensey via Herstmonceux, Battle and Winchelsea to Rye.
- Rye Jazz & Blues Festival is late August.
- Rye Arts Festival is held over two weeks in September.
- Jempson's is the main store, next to the station. It's open M-Sa 6PM-10PM.
- There's a string of commercial art galleries along High St.
- Rye Market is held in Regent Square by the station on Thursday 9AM-3PM.
- Marino's is a fish and chips takeaway at 37 The Mint, open daily noon-9PM.
- The Fig on High St serves excellent meals and has rooms.
- 50.9527 0.7346 1 Webbe's , 17 Tower St TN31 7AT , ☏ +44 1797 222210 . Daily noon-2PM, 6-9PM . Good seafood restaurant. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95284 0.73503 2 Lemongrass , 1 Tower St TH31 7AT ( by Landgate arch ), ☏ +44 1797 222327 . Tu-Su 5-11PM . Authentic Thai food. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95332 0.73515 3 Landgate Bistro , 5 Landgate TN31 7LH ( by Landgate arch ), ☏ +44 1797 222829 . W-Sa 7-9PM . Pleasant modern restaurant in a knock-through of Georgian shops. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9509 0.7346 4 The Union , 8 East Street TN31 7JY , ☏ +44 1797 229289 . Daily noon-10PM . Modern British restaurant in a 15th century building. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- Simply Italian , 12 Strand TN31 7DB ( 50 yards east of Heritage Centre ), ☏ +44 1797 226024 . W noon-8PM, Th-Su noon-10PM . Excellent little Italian restaurant by the riverside. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95175 0.73194 1 Cinque Ports Inn , Cinque Ports Street TN31 7AN ( by station entrance ), ☏ +44 1797 222319 . Daily 10AM-10PM . The oldest pub in Rye, trad place with Shepherd Neame real ale and pub grub. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9507 0.7316 2 The Old Bell , 33 The Mint TN31 7EN , ☏ +44 1797 223323 . M-Th noon-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-9PM . Atmospheric pub with half-timbered interior, good pub food ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95005 0.73598 4 Ypres Castle Inn , Gun Garden, TN31 7HH ( by castle ), ☏ +44 1797 223248 . Th-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM . 17th-century weather-boarded pub serving craft beer, real ales, local cheeses and cured meats. Dog-friendly, pleasant river views. No cash, contactless payment only. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95342 0.7354 6 Queen's Head , 19 Land Gate TN31 7LH ( opposite Landgate Bistro ), ☏ +44 1797 226929 . M Th noon-2:30PM, 6-11PM, Tu W 6-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-4PM . Reliable friendly pub with food. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.95378 0.73582 7 Bedford Arms , 91 Fishmarket Rd TN31 7LR ( by Landgate arch ), ☏ +44 1797 360634 . Daily noon-10:30PM . Trad pub with bar and games area, and garden overlooking a cricket pitch. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9558 0.736 8 Globe Inn , 10 Military Rd TN31 7NX , ☏ +44 1797 225220 . M-Th noon-10PM, F noon-11PM, Sa Su 9AM-11PM . Relentlessly quirky edge-of-town pub, mostly good reviews. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9499 0.7313 1 Jeake's House , Mermaid Street TN31 7ET , ☏ +44 1797 222828 . Beautiful 11-roomed B&B in an ivy-clad 17th-century storehouse. No children under 8. B&B double £110 . ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9492 0.7319 5 Hope Anchor , Watchbell St, Rye TN31 7HA , ☏ +44 1797 222216 . Cosy hotel in an 18th-century inn with good restaurant. B&B double £120 . ( updated Dec 2022 )
Further out
- Hare and Hounds on A268 is a B&B and campsite, tel +44 1797 230483. It's no longer a pub.
- Camber has lots of self-catering cottages.
- 50.9364 0.7886 6 The Gallivant ( formerly The Place at the Beach ), New Lydd Road, Camber TN31 7RB , ☏ +44 1797 225057 . Small hotel in Californian beach style, except the view is over Camber Sands not Monterey Bay. No children 18 months - 12 years. B&B double from £160 . ( updated Dec 2022 )
- Cliff Farm , Military Rd, Playden TN31 7QD , ☏ +44 1797 280331 . This B&B remains closed in 2022. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9784 0.6766 7 Flackley Ash Hotel , Main St, Peasmarsh TN31 6YH ( on A268 ), ☏ +44 1797 230651 . Elegant Georgian country house hotel with 44 rooms and spa. £120 . ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.9166 0.6987 8 Wickham Manor Farm , Wickham Rock Lane, Winchelsea TN36 4AG , ☏ +44 1797 226216 . B&B in a 16th-century farmstead with winery. It was once owned by William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. ( updated Dec 2022 )
- 50.901 0.6634 9 Oak Valley Camping , Pannel Lane, Pett TN35 4JB , ☏ +44 7868 115039 . Friendly clean site towards Hastings, open Mar-Sep. No dogs. Two-person tent £24 . ( updated May 2022 )
As of May 2022, Rye has 4G from all UK carriers. 5G has not reached this area.
- Hythe east is another Cinque Port but has lost its medieval centre. Come here for the safari park and the New Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Miniature Railway.
- Hastings the next town west is rather rundown. The Battle of Hastings was fought at nearby Battle .
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Home > Places to Visit > Rye. Rye. Rye is a picturesque town in East Sussex, with cobbled streets, historical buildings and lovely independent shops making it easy to spend several hours wandering the streets. The town of Rye is two miles from the sea and in its past was involved with smuggling, was a shipyard and dockyard and was once an island!
Other options include sipping super-local craft beers at the tiny Rye Waterworks Micropub - a 300-year-old former waterpump. Or grab a table in the Ypres Castle Inn 's epic beer garden beneath ...
Features educational displays, cozy cafe, and multiple bird hides amid a historically rich setting. 3. Rye Waterworks MIcropub. Cozy micropub with a rotating selection of local beers, ciders, wines, and gins, complemented by handmade snacks such as pork pies and scotch eggs amidst eclectic decor with a for-sale twist.
Places to visit near Rye. Discover the character of this part of East Sussex in these towns and villages near Rye. Winchelsea (2 miles) Tenterden (8 miles) Hastings (9 miles) Dungeness (10 miles) Battle (10 miles) Bexhill (18 miles) Things to do in Rye. Rye Castle Museum has a number of fascinating exhibitions about local history and archaeology.
Stylish cobbled citadel. A medieval citadel huddled against invaders and the sea, Rye reveals its history gently. Today it's home to a myriad of art, curiosities and cosy pubs, as well as modern boutique hotels and contemporary restaurants serving the best Sussex has to offer, from land and sea. Built on smuggled secrets and timeless tales ...
Hours: Open daily April - October 10:30-5:00 and November - March 10:30 - 3:30. Admission: 5 pounds. If you're traveling to Rye, visiting Rye Castle (or Ypres Tower) is an absolute must! Rye Castle, also known as Ypres Tower, is a historic landmark located in Rye.
Planning a visit to Rye England? This is the ultimate one day in Rye itinerary. It covers the top attractions and best things to do and see in Rye in 24 hours. Steeped in history, Rye is a well-preserved medieval town in East Sussex with a medieval castle, a beautiful church, and some of the best preserved medieval homes in England.
Visit Lamb House. Lamb House is owned by the National Trust and is a Grade II listed 18th century Georgian House. It has been the home to many famous writers, including the American novelist Henry James and English novelist E. F. Benson. The ground floor of the house and the garden are open Friday - Tuesday. Address: West St, Rye TN31 7ES.
Rye is one of the prettiest villages in England's Southeast. It's the sort of place that visitors who don't want to appear to be tourists wish they didn't like so much. Yes, it is full of tourists and day-trippers. Yes, its high street is lined with such tourist magnets as art galleries, antique shops, twee little tea shops, and craft shops.
A special light and sound show illustrates the evolution of Rye over the millennia. 2. Walk Up Mermaid Street in Rye, England. Mermaid Street is the most famous and iconic street in Rye, England. Photos of its cobbled lane and its ivy-clad half-timber houses circulate on social media drawing gasps of admiration.
Both of these beautiful streets are excellent photo spots too, but they don't have half the footfall. 2. Visit the Rye Castle Museum: Ypres Tower and East Street. Rye Castle Museum is all one thing but spread over two sites: Ypres Tower and the main museum on East Street.
Overlooking the entire scene is the atmospheric ruin of Battle Abbey. It makes for a fun half-day trip from Rye in a location very important to English history. Details - Battle Abbey is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily. Entry is £14.50 for adults, £8.60 for children and £37.50 for families.
The The tower can be climbed to see the clock mechanism, the bells and out onto the turret itself for a wonderful view of Rye and the surrounding countryside. The church is open daily from 9 am - 6 pm (4 pm in winter). Admission is £5 but gives you entry for a whole year. Rye Rooftops from St Mary's church.
Perfect for strollers, dog walkers, kite-surfers and all manner of other water sporting pursuits, Camber Sands is a classic you have to visit. There's a designated trail all the way here from Rye, which largely keeps you off the road and next to a lot of sheep - which is nice in its own right. Just go. Even in winter.
Whitehouse Rye. Whitehouse Rye is a bakery with rooms, and also the best brunch spot in town - the halloumi hash is an essential prelude to a blustery walk around the dunes. Address: Whitehouse Rye, 24 High St, Rye TN31 7JF. Website: whitehouserye.co.uk. Marino's Fish Bar.
Lamb House. Play in the Surf at Camber Sands. Take a Walk through the Landgate Arch. Rye Heritage Centre. Follow the Path along the Royal Military Canal. Hike to Camber Castle. Explore Bodiam Castle. Where to Stay in Rye for Sightseeing. Map of Attractions & Things to Do in Rye.
Things to do in Rye. 1. Take a walk down Mermaid Street. One of the top things to do in Rye has to be taking a stroll down the stunning Mermaid Street. This is by far one of the prettiest streets in the UK and you can expect to find all manner of quirky and ancient timber-framed buildings that line the cobbled lane.
Historically, Rye served as a crucial port town, named as one of the original Cinque Ports (pronounced 'Sink' Ports, these were a confederation of five harbours in the UK), however, by the 18th century, the port declined due to changes in the coastline and the silting of the River Rother.. Today, Rye draws visitors in for its well-preserved medieval architecture, quaint cobbled streets and ...
Rye is also near Camber Sands, one of England's best beaches, and the beautiful Rye Nature Reserve. Slightly further along the coastal road is the hauntingly stark landscape of Dungeness , home to the UK's only desert and another great place to visit.
Rye. Possibly southeast England's quaintest town, Rye is a little nugget of the past, a medieval settlement that looks like someone hit the pause button on time. Even the most hard-boiled cynic can't fail to be softened by Rye's cobbled lanes, mysterious passageways and crooked half-timbered Tudor buildings. Tales of resident smugglers ...
A visit to Rye, UK is like taking a trip back in time. With plenty of things to do in this ancient town, Rye is the perfect place to visit for a weekend or a week-long stay along the coast of England! This adorable fairy tale town is just over an hour south of London by train or car and will instantly take you back in time.
A hilltop medieval town with a picturesque jumble of cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings, Rye in East Sussex has the charm and beauty to match England's most popular spots. But this Cinque Ports town has managed to escape a huge influx of visitors and keep its unspoilt mix of independent local shops, pubs and restaurants.
Town centre is picturesque, with steep cobbled streets lined with timber-framed houses. The Church of St Mary (Episcopal) is 12th century and you can climb the bell tower. 50.9489 0.7356 1 Rye Castle (Ypres Tower), Gungarden, Rye TN31 7HE, ☏ +44 1797 226728. Daily: Apr-Oct 10:30AM-5PM, Nov-Mar 10:30AM-3:30PM.
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