How to Spend a Charming Weekend in Rye
Stroll down charismatic narrow cobbled lanes, admire crooked medieval Tudor buildings, walk along a wide golden stretch of beach and sit in quaint historic inns steeped in history and haunted with the tales of smugglers. These are just some of the best things to do in Rye; continue reading our guide for everything you need to know to spend a charming weekend in Rye.
Once one of South-East England’s most important ports, Rye has retained much of its old-world charm with the cobbled lanes oozing history and tales of smuggling and maritime conflict.
Quaint historic inns, crooked Tudor buildings and independent shops selling vintage artefacts line the enchanting streets alongside upmarket restaurants, cosy cafes, quirky boutiques and high-end bars.
Rye, Sussex is the perfect spot for a relaxed weekend away not too far from London so you can really make the most of your time here. It’s a real treasure waiting to be explored and relished.
In this guide to a weekend in Rye, we’ll share how to get there, where to stay, the best things to do in Rye and more. We won’t create an itinerary as Rye is also a popular day trip from London so, if you only have a day, you can pick and choose what to do.
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Contents
Getting to Rye, East Sussex
Getting to Rye from London is super easy. Hop on the train either at St Pancras International or Stratford International for 40 minutes to Ashford and change. From Ashford, it’s 20 minutes to Rye.
We wouldn’t recommend driving for your weekend in Rye as the streets are incredibly narrow and can get quite busy. There’s also no need for it once you’ve arrived as most of the best things to do in Rye are all within walking distance.
In this Rye guide, the only place you may decide against walking to is Camber Sands which you can jump on the bus to (more on Camber Sands later).
Where to Stay in Rye
You have a lot of options when it comes to deciding where to stay on your weekend in Rye it may feel quite daunting. In this Rye guide, we’ll share with you where we stayed and some of our top recommendations.
We stayed at The Standard Inn and would return in a heartbeat. This 15th-century building is located in the centre of town and retains its original character. The breakfast is delicious and the bar and restaurant are really cosy with its working fireplace and large wooden beams.
Another top recommendation to stay for your weekend in Rye is the historic Mermaid Inn.
With Norman cellars dating back to the 12th century and secret passageways in some of its rooms, The Mermaid Inn offers a completely unique experience in Rye.
The restaurant has been awarded two AA Rosettes and is one of the best restaurants in Rye and the lounge bar was once a frequent hangout for local smugglers
The Mermaid Inn also has a reputation for being haunted!
A few additional hotel recommendations in Rye are:
- The Tailor’s Flat – a gorgeous apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen; perfect if you want to prepare some meals yourself or have some extra space
- Whitehouse Rye – a boutique hotel in a grade II listed building in the centre of Rye
- The Gallivant, Rye – this luxurious spa and wellness hotel located in Camber is ideal if you’d prefer to stay near the beach. With daily yoga and wellness classes, fresh ingredients from the surrounding land and sea and a well-stocked English wine list, a stay here will leave you feeling well and truly invigorated
Things to do on Your Weekend in Rye
Rye feels a bit like it’s suspended in time. It has a rich history of maritime conflict and smuggling which is prominent throughout the picturesque town.
Here’s our list of the best things to do in Rye.
Mermaid Inn
Your weekend in Rye wouldn’t be complete without taking a step back in time to the truly historic Mermaid Inn with its sloping ceilings, thick beams, crooked staircases and creaking floorboards.
The Mermaid Inn is 600 years old with cellars dating back to 1156. It’s no wonder it’s famously rumoured to be haunted by the smugglers that gathered here in the 18th century!
Having a drink in the Giant’s Fireplace Bar, with one of the largest log fireplaces in England, is one of the top things to do in Rye. There’s even a Priest’s Hole situated in the chimney breast used when it was a crime to harbour a Roman Catholic.
As you’re savouring a local ale or one of the 52 gins on offer, try and picture how the local smugglers, the Hawkhurst Gang caroused in the bar in the 1730s and 1740s.
Feeling brave? Why not book a room at the Mermaid Inn for your weekend in Rye, and see if you experience some of the tales you might have heard…can you find the secret passageway behind a bookcase in one of the bedrooms??
Mermaid Street
One of the absolute best things to do in Rye is to take a stroll down Mermaid Street; voted one of the prettiest streets in the UK!
On your weekend in Rye you’ll no doubt find yourself on Mermaid Street anyway as it’s in the centre of town, but make sure you allow time to take plenty of photos.
Rye is full of higgledy-piggledy cobbled streets but none quite match up to the beauty of Mermaid Street.
Meander slowly down the street and admire the medieval crooked Tudor houses. Can you spot the one with the two front doors? Or Robin Hill that featured in one of Beatrix Potter’s books?
Our Top Tip: Mermaid Street is one of the most popular places to visit in Rye so visit as early as you can. It gets very busy from lunchtime with everyone wanting that perfect Instagram photo.
Ypres Tower
Ypres Tower is also known as Rye Castle and was originally constructed in the 13th century. It was built on the orders of King Henry III for added protection against a French invasion.
Over the centuries, the castle served as the town’s defensive walls. It then went on to become a prison and housed one of Rye’s most famous criminals. Today, the tower is home to Rye Castle Museum housing old weapons and exhibits and is one of the best places to visit in Rye to learn about the area’s history.
The museum is open 7 days a week 10:30am – 5pm March 30 – October 31 and 10:30am – 3:30pm November 1 – March 29. It costs £5 per adult and under 16s go free and must be accompanied by an adult.
Camber Sands
If you successfully manage to tear yourself away from the jumble of picturesque streets and medieval buildings, visiting Camber Sands should definitely be on your agenda for your weekend in Rye.
Camber Sands is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex and provides valuable natural habitat to many animals and plants. It’s also perfect for a swim on a hot day as the sea here is usually very calm.
You can hop on the number 100 bus at Rye Railway Station for 15 minutes or take a brisk stroll. It’s just over 5 kilometres each way. We’d recommend walking in at least one direction as you walk through the beautiful Rye Nature Reserve (see below).
Lamb House
Lamb House is a charming, Grade II listed 18th-century house protected by the National Trust.
The house was constructed in 1722 by a wealthy wine merchant and politician, James Lamb. In 1726, a storm drove King George I’s ship ashore at Camber and James Lamb gave up his house to the King.
Over the centuries, Lamb House has been an inspirational environment for many writers, including Henry James and E.F. Benson. It is also a fictionalised setting for some of the author’s well-known books.
The opening hours for Lamb House vary depending on the time of year and day of the week so we’d recommend checking the opening times and prices online.
Rye Nature Reserve
Rye Nature Reserve is one of Britain’s most important conservation sites and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Rye. It’s a large coastal landscape of incredible geological, biological and heritage value and has many national and international protections.
A picturesque network of footpaths will lead you through grassland, saltmarsh, woods, lakes and huts jutting out into the water allowing you to get closer to the vast array of wildlife.
There are over 4000 species of plants and animals, of which over 200 are rare or endangered birds and mammals. You might even catch a glimpse of a seal!!
One of the best things to do in Rye is to walk through Rye Nature Reserve to Camber Sands.
Go Shopping
Ambling about Rye’s alluring independent shops, regardless of whether you have any intention of buying anything (you probably will), is a very pleasant experience and one of the top things to do in Rye.
If you love bargain hunting you’ve come to the right place! Rye is full of beautifully presented antique shops selling everything from lighting to sculptures, vases, cabinets, photo frames, jewellery, furniture, nautical gifts…you name it.
In addition to the myriad of antique shops, Rye has numerous cutesy bric-a-brac and collectable stores, art galleries, small boutiques and quirky kitchenware shops.
Our Top Tip: Mermaid Street is one of the best places to visit in Rye for shopping!
Drinking
On your weekend in Rye, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to drinking options. The town is full of medieval pubs and historic inns, all steeped in centuries of history.
We’ve already mentioned the Mermaid Inn so here are our other favourites:
The Standard Inn, dating back to the 15th century, is one of Rye’s most ancient drinking establishments. Beautifully carved beams, a roaring fireplace, crooked tables and a wonderful buzzing atmosphere made this our favourite place to drink on our weekend in Rye. We also stayed here and the rooms are absolutely charming!
If you’re into local craft beers, one of the best places to visit in Rye is the tiny Rye Waterworks Micropub. This family business is the first Micropub in South East Sussex and was originally built as Rye’s pump house for 300 years and then became a soup kitchen in the 1890s.
If you’re looking for something with a bit of everything, The Ship Inn is your place. What was once a 16th-century warehouse that stored the contraband seized from smugglers, is now a great place to hang out with local ales, a hearty menu, cocktails, newspapers and board games.
The only pub in Rye with a proper beer garden, the Ypres Castle Inn, below the ramparts of Rye Castle, is the perfect place for a refreshing drink on a warm day. In the winter, the low-beamed interior and log fire make it cosy and appealing.
Dining Out
Rye has an incredible foodie scene with almost all restaurants committed to using the area’s local produce. In addition to the pubs mentioned above, which have some incredibly yummy pub grub, here are a few of the top restaurants in Rye.
Our Top Tip: always book your restaurants, especially at the weekend or during school holidays.
On the outskirts of Rye is Globe Inn Marsh which prides itself on sourcing, preparing and cooking from the very best local producers and the quality of the food is unreal! Head down here for the warm hospitality and quirky interior inspired by the area’s maritime history and rustic shepherd huts of Romney Marsh.
There are several options in Rye for fish and chips but none quite compare to Marino’s Fish Bar. You’ll find all your favourite classics and you have the choice of takeaway or dining in the casual restaurant. This was one of our favourite meals on our weekend in Rye!
If you’re craving some no-nonsense, simple, hearty Italian food, there’s no place better than Simply Italian. Prepared using nothing short of the best quality Italian ingredients, you can also be sure you’ll receive your food with a warm smile!
The Cobbles Tea Room is the perfect place to go for traditional afternoon tea. Set on a tiny cobbled street they serve a good selection of loose teas, scones, light lunches and cakes.
That rounds off our Rye guide, we hope this post has helped you plan your weekend in Rye. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or contact us 🙂