17 Activities
Road To Rye: A Time-Travelling Tour Of East Sussex
Starts from
Brighton
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
17
Duration
2 days
Length
103 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Brighton
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
2 days
Length
103 mi
- History and Culture
Sam Murray
Travel Expert
- Hear stories of war at the Battle of Hastings site.
- Dine in an ancient smugglers pub.
- Play authentic Victorian penny arcade machines.
- Try to crack the mystery of St Andrew’s Church.
- Discover the house where Henry James wrote many novels.
- Climb a church tower to see the bells.
Discover tales of bloody warfare, smugglers and ghosts on this history-soaked weekend round trip in East Sussex. Leaving vibrant Brighton behind, you’ll journey first to Rye, to visit Lamb House, former home of author Henry James, and to explore the centuries-old castle.
It’s then on to Battle, to learn all about the 1066 conflict, which resulted in William the Conqueror being crowned King of England. Finally, you’ll visit Alfriston, a beautiful village with the first National Trust property and a 14th-century church.
It’s then on to Battle, to learn all about the 1066 conflict, which resulted in William the Conqueror being crowned King of England. Finally, you’ll visit Alfriston, a beautiful village with the first National Trust property and a 14th-century church.
Categories
- History and Culture
Discover tales of bloody warfare, smugglers and ghosts on this history-soaked weekend round trip in East Sussex. Leaving vibrant Brighton behind, you’ll journey first to Rye, to visit Lamb House, former home of author Henry James, and to explore the centuries-old castle.
It’s then on to Battle, to learn all about the 1066 conflict, which resulted in William the Conqueror being crowned King of England. Finally, you’ll visit Alfriston, a beautiful village with the first National Trust property and a 14th-century church.
It’s then on to Battle, to learn all about the 1066 conflict, which resulted in William the Conqueror being crowned King of England. Finally, you’ll visit Alfriston, a beautiful village with the first National Trust property and a 14th-century church.
Sam Murray
Travel Expert
- Hear stories of war at the Battle of Hastings site.
- Dine in an ancient smugglers pub.
- Play authentic Victorian penny arcade machines.
- Try to crack the mystery of St Andrew’s Church.
- Discover the house where Henry James wrote many novels.
- Climb a church tower to see the bells.
Travel itinerary
9 Activities
Day 1
50 mi1 mi
Explore the storied streets of Rye
Leave arty Brighton behind and cut across the south east to Rye, a wonderfully preserved medieval town of cobblestone streets and crooked inns. It's a relatively short drive, but you'll travel back hundreds of years, to a time where smugglers made shady deals in dim-lit pubs and invading foreign hordes were a real threat. Rye is not without modern charms either. Excellent cafes serve all the flat whites and lattes you'll need to fuel the day's adventure.
8 Activities
Day 2
52 mi0.8 mi
Go deep into local history at Battle and Alfriston
Your exploration of East Sussex continues today, taking in a conflict that changed the course of British history. Tales of bloody warfare and the crowning of a new king await you in Battle, where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066.
On your way back to Brighton, stop by Alfriston, a beautiful village with a grand church wrapped in mystery. Finish with a delicious dinner in an ancient inn – a glorious way to cap your weekend.