Today I want to share about the best things to do in Rye, East Sussex. This historic town in the English countryside is one of my favorite day trips from London. It’s worth a visit for its beautiful streets, rich history, and legendary smuggling past. Read on for my top picks for things to do and see in Rye.
Things to Do in Rye
I hop on a train from London to Rye with a friend, arriving just over an hour later after a change at Ashford International. It’s a sunny day and we can’t wait to see what Rye has in store for us.
My friend’s family has a house in Rye, so he knows all the best spots and secret places in town. I’ve been here with him several times, from a winter weekend in Rye to a summer getaway with friends. I’m excited to be back with him as my guide.
Once we arrive at the train station, we walk the short distance into the medieval heart of town and start discovering the best things to do in Rye.
1. Climb the Bell Tower of St Mary’s Church
We begin with the best view of Rye. The vantage point from the bell tower of the 12th-century St Mary’s Church is worth braving steep steps, worn ladders, and narrow passageways to see.
We climb to the top, taking in panoramas of the town and the surrounding East Sussex countryside. We can see all the way to the English Channel, and it reminds me why I’ve always thought this is one of the best places to visit in the UK.
As we take in the scene, my friend, who was christened in the church, points out the confluence of rivers in Rye and tells me about the nearby Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
We follow the waterline all the way out to the coast, reminiscing about our visits to Camber Sands and other East Sussex beaches on previous trips.
We also spot Camber Castle, a Henry VIII special we walked to on one of our weekend getaways from London. An under-the-radar gem, it’s one of my favorite castles near London.
2. Rye Castle Museum and Ypres Tower
Back on the ground, we walk through the picturesque churchyard to get to another of the best things to do in Rye: the Rye Castle Museum and Ypres Tower.
The Grade I-listed Ypres Tower was constructed in the 13th or 14th century. Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, its square stone structure features round towers on all sides. Below it is a garden with cannons and views across the countryside.
The tower has been everything from a prison to a morgue over the centuries. Today the Ypres Tower and nearby Rye Castle Museum have exhibits on the history of Rye, its inhabitants, and the surrounding area.
Rye was one of the Cinque Ports, an organization on the southeast coast of England established during the reign of Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. Its mandate was mutual protection and trade.
Rye joined Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich as one of the Cinque Ports in the 12th century.
The Ypres Tower and museum have everything from historic badges and uniforms of the Cinque Ports Volunteers to model ships, paintings, and suits of armor.
3. Explore the Streets of Rye
After admiring the tower, we spend a lot of our time in Rye walking along the cobblestones and admiring the historic homes and narrow lanes.
That’s because one of my favorite things to do in Rye is walk around the medieval streets. Rye is packed with half-timbered houses, haunted inns, charming shops, and heritage pubs. It’s one of the prettiest towns in the UK.
The most famous street in Rye is Mermaid Street. It’s not only beautiful, but also home to the famous Mermaid Inn. The hotel is said to have ghosts within its walls.
Elsewhere in Rye, Watchbell Street is packed with pretty houses, and Church Square is home to lots of Tudor gems. The high street has local stores to discover, and there’s a cluster of antiques shops off the Strand.
4. Admire The Landgate
Another of the best things to do in Rye is admire The Landgate. This 14th-century monument is all that remains of two gates built to defend Rye from invading forces (the other being The Strandgate, which was destroyed in the early 19th century).
We walk down East Cliff to see it, taking in the historic stone archway as my friend tells me about the many French raids and invasions that took place in Rye centuries ago.
5. Visit Lamb House
Another of the best things to do in Rye is visit Lamb House. This 18th-century house was originally the home of James Lamb, a local wine merchant and politician.
In later years it became famous for being a writer’s house. Everyone from Henry James to E. F. Benson lived here. The former wrote famous novels like The Wings of the Dove, The Ambassadors, and The Golden Bowl in Lamb House.
It’s known for royalty, too. King George I stayed here in 1726 when a storm drove his ship ashore at Camber.
I use my National Trust pass to get free entry to Lamb House, and I enjoy going through the rooms and walking around the expansive walled garden.
6. Eat Fish and Chips in Rye
All the sightseeing makes us hungry, so my friend shows me one of the most delicious things to do in Rye: eat fish and chips. We’re near the sea, after all, and Rye was on the waterfront before the area’s waterways silted in centuries ago.
He takes me to his favorite place, Marino’s Fish Bar, and we order a heaping portion of fish and chips. It’s the perfect lunch to give us energy for discovering more of the best things to do in Rye.
7. Go to the Pubs in Rye
One of those things is discovering the local pub scene. We stop at The Ship Inn, a historic pub with rooms in Rye, for drinks. It’s a beautiful afternoon, so we sit at an outdoor table and enjoy the feeling of the sunshine on our skin.
As we do, my friend tells me how the pub is steeped in Rye’s maritime history. Dating back to 1592, The Ship Inn was originally a warehouse built to store contraband seized from smugglers. The interior still retains traces of its past.
Elsewhere, we enjoy more drinks in the beer garden of The Ypres Castle Inn. My friend tells me there’s regular live music at this 17th-century pub, and the publican himself comes out to tell us about the pub’s focus on local beer from Sussex and Kent.
Best Things to Do in Rye
By the time our day trip to Rye is over, we’ve seen the highlights of the town and enjoyed experiencing the best things to do in Rye.
I hop back on the train to London, happy to have had a great day out and excited for what my next trip to this part of East Sussex will bring. Given it’s one of my favorite places to visit outside London, I’m sure there are good things in store.
Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!
New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.
Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.
Pin it!