Rye Castle Medieval History Rye High Weald Cinque Port Harbour East Sussex UK

Rye Tourist Information, Specialist Shops & Restaurants

Feeling more like a village than a town, Rye is one of East Sussex's most popular locations with visitors. Crammed with historic Medieval, Georgian and Tudor buildings and one of the original five Cinque Ports on the Channel Coast, Rye also nestles on the edge of the Sussex High Weald AONB. Rye was referred to as the 'Rock of Rye' during the medieval period. The town sits on a high stony outcrop and in that period was surrounded by the sea. With its huge safe harbour and busy fishing quay, Rye was a key medieval centre and as an important Cinque Port it frequently faced attack by the French. During the 18th century Rye famously became known for its smuggling trade. Take a guided walking tour around Rye to discover some of the town's old smuggling haunts. (details of Rye guided walks are via the Rye Heritage Centre).

An outstanding choice of select specialist shops, antique shops, art galleries, tearooms character pubs and fine restaurants are in Rye alongside a superb choice of charming B&Bs and small hotels, many of which are heritage buildings. All serve to give Rye a distinctly bohemian edge. A prestigious selection of artists have either lived or visited and been inspired by Rye including Henry James, Joseph Conrad, H.G.Wells, Paul Nash, Edward Burra and Rye's most famous literary name E.E.Benson. Benson's fictional town of Tilling is based on Rye. The artist Whistler also frequented the Rye area. Festivals and events take place all year round in Rye including the popular September Rye Arts Festival, the August Rye Maritime Weekend, the February Rye Scallop Festival and events and fayres around Bonfire Night, Christmas, Burns Night and Easter. Specialist shopping in the town is a delight. Many of Rye's character shops are award winners and you'll find everything from fine Glass, antiques, fresh local produce, jewellery, knitwear, books and more in the town. Rye is certainly a Sussex hotspot for Christmas shopping!

Compact and easily explored on-foot, branch out from Rye's central historic Citadel first climbing to the top of the tower of St Mary the Virgin church for panoramic views of Rye. The oldest church turret clock with huge pendulum is inside the church plus stunning Edward Burne-Jones stained glass windows. Rye's most famous heritage landmarks include the castle or Ypres Tower, now one of two sites for the Rye Castle Museum. The Ypres Tower, an integral part of the town's defences, dates from 1249 and is Rye's oldest building. More highlights include the old Augustinian Friary in Conduit Hill, the old Grammer School on the High Street, the Town Hall on Market Street and the character old Mermaid Inn. The author Henry James' onetime home (and later the home of E.E.Benson)- Lamb House sits on West Street and is now run by the National Trust.

Rye Tourist Information Centre, 4/5 Lion Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7LB. Tel. 01797 229040. (see Visit Rye for opening times). Lamb House - Henry James' Home, West Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7ES. Tel.01580 762334. Open Thursdays and Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm, Late March to Late October. More details are via the National Trust website.

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Rye Castle Museum

To explore in-depth the many facets of Rye's history head to the Rye Castle Museum on East Street and also at Ypres Tower. Within the Tower exhibits include medieval pottery and smugglers artefacts including a spout lantern.

The East Street site was originally a bottling factory for a nearby brewery and here you'll find changing exhibitions focusing on Rye's history including Cinque Ports Regalia, Rye's shipbuilding heritage and often featured exhibits on artists connected with Rye including E.E.Benson. Kids will love Pugwash Quizzes and exhibits. John Ryan, the creator of the Captain Pugwash cartoons heralds from Rye where inspiration for Pugwash and crew aboard his ship The Black Pig fighting smugglers and the dastedly Cut Throat Jake is all around in the Rye area.

The museum is a fascinating journey into the practice of smuggling, exploring uses of disguise and linking smuggling often as a last resort for the people of Kent and Sussex living in extreme poverty. Find out more via the museum's extensive webguide.

Rye Castle Museum, 3, East Street, Rye, East Sussex. TN31 7JY. Tel.01797-226728. Open April to Oct-end, Thursdays to Mondays from 10.30am - 1pm/2pm - 5pm. East Street site only open 2pm to 5pm during weekdays, but full hours during weekends. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (Ypres Tower from Nov to March weekends only 10.30am to 3.30pm).

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Rye Heritage Centre

The Rye Heritage Centre is home to the Story of Rye exhibit, Rye Tourist Information Centre in the Old Sail Loft building, the Rye Town Model and here you can hook into a variety of guided walking tours of Rye including new Ghost Walks.

Pick up a signed Pugwash Book by John Ryan in the on-site shop. Also here is a superb new penny slot exhibition with old seaside working models, (including Laughing Sailor) games and slot machines dating from the early 1900s to 1960. Buy old pennies on-site to operate the machines.

Rye Heritage Centre, Strand Quay, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7AY. Tel.01797 226696. Open daily from April to October 10am to 5pm, November, December & March daily from 10am to 4pm. Jan & Feb daily from 10am to 3pm.

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Rye Arts Festival

A top Sussex Arts Festival with a long history (2008 saw it in its 37th year), The Rye Arts Festival spans a week annually in mid-September. Covering the full range of classical, jazz, folk and rock, literature, comedy and a host of special events with numerous big arts names featuring, book early via the Festival's webguide as this is a popular Sussex Festival.

Rye Arts Festival, PO Box 33, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7YB. Booking Office Tel. 01797 224442.

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Rye Harbour & Nature Reserve

The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve extends south of Rye town centre covering a triangular area incorporating the River Rother, Rye Harbour and west towards Winchelsea beach. Rye Harbour is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest like its sister site at Dungeness over the Kent border east into Romney Marsh. A haven for shingle wildlife and home to numerous rare plants, Rye Harbour is considered one of the finest of the coastal shingle vegetations in Britain. Sea Kale, Sea Pea and Yellow Horned Poppy alongside Marsh Frogs and numerous birds such as Little Terns, Sandwich Terns, Redshank, Lapwing and Oyster Catchers can all be found here within the reserve.

The site covers a huge 800 acres and is divided into two themed areas - the Beach Reserve and the area situated around Camber Castle. Download walking leaflets via the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve webguide.

As well as a haven for wildlife, Rye Harbour is marked by historic sites including military fortifications from the 16th through to the 20th centuries. Habitats are inclusive of saltmarsh, shingle ridges, sand, marsh, scrub and woodland.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Rye Harbour Road, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7TT. Tel. 01797 227784.

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