Day 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.
09:001 min
Brighton
Leave Brighton nice and early, you'll want plenty of time to explore the many historical delights of Rye.
48.8 mi
1 hr 30 min
10:401 hr
Mermaid Street Café
Park your car at Rye Cattle Market (note there’s no overnight parking on Wednesdays) and walk to Mermaid Street Café. They get their beans from local coffee whizzes, Rye Bay Coffee Co. and turn them into applause-worthy hot drinks. They serve light pastries too, including fresh-baked croissants, while the signature full breakfast will keep you full for the rest of the morning.
0.1 mi
5 min
11:4545 min
Rye Heritage Centre
Refueled, it’s time to get the lay of the land at Rye Heritage Center. Explore more than 750 years of local history, making sure to admire the sound and light show at the model village. Also experience a classic Victorian seaside holiday on the ground floor, where you can play authentic penny arcade machines from the early 1900s.
Open: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:30 to 16:00, Sunday, 11:00 to 14:30
Open: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:30 to 16:00, Sunday, 11:00 to 14:30
0.2 mi
5 min
12:4545 min
National Trust - Lamb House
Though there are countless buildings of historical worth in Rye, Lamb House ranks among the very top. King George I sheltered from a storm here, while American author Henry James called it home, penning multiple stories here, including The Wings of the Dove. During your exploration of the National Trust property, look out for a ghostly figure said to patrol the garden.
Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
0.1 mi
5 min
13:3545 min
The Mermaid Inn
Lunch and history combine at The Mermaid Inn, a public house with cellars from 1156 and a wonky building rebuilt in 1420. Tuck into a two-course menu under the same wood-beamed ceilings the Hawkhurst Gang smugglers gathered in the 1730s and 1740s. Don't forget to book in advance. Leave time for a post-meal meander along the cobblestone slope of Mermaid Street, known as one of the most beautiful in the UK.
0.2 mi
5 min
14:301 hr
Rye Castle Museum - Ypres Tower
Continue your exploration at Rye Castle – also known as Ypres Tower – a 13th-century stone fort built to defend the town against foreign invaders, later used as a prison. The Grade I-listed building is now a museum, housing a reconstructed cell, garden in the former exercise yard, and even the skeleton of John Breads, who was convicted of murder in 1743.
Open: March 30 to October 31, 10:30 to 17:00, November 1 to March 29, 10:30 to 15:30
Open: March 30 to October 31, 10:30 to 17:00, November 1 to March 29, 10:30 to 15:30
0.1 mi
5 min
15:451 hr
Church of Saint Mary, Rye
Next, it’s off to the Church of St Mary, a 12th-century, Grade I-listed Christian building that’s seen much throughout the centuries. Though standing strong today, it was nearly ruined in 1377 by French looters, who set fire to it and stole the church bells (thankfully, they were later recovered). Climb the church tower to see more modern replacements – if you consider 1775 modern.
0.5 mi
10 min
17:002 hrs
The Globe Inn Marsh Rye
Time travelling is hungry work. So for dinner, head to The Globe Inn Marsh, a playful gastropub with a real emphasis on local produce. They source their meat and fish from the surrounding land and sea, but ease your way into the evening with a drink. There are bottles from East Sussex-based Carr Taylor Wines and beers from the 360° Brewing Company in Uckfield.
0.9 mi
5 min
22:0010 hrs
Jeakes House
Bed down in a beautiful 17th-century property on Mermaid Street. The building itself has been many things over the years, including a school and chapel. Now, however, it’s a traditional B&B with four-poster beds and wooden beams. You can even wind down after an exciting day in the parlor, playing cards, board games or having a go on the piano.