What To Do in Rye

Once a medieval port and haven for smugglers, today Rye is a sanctuary for creatives, day trippers, and wanderers seeking charm and escapism. The town remains steeped in history and mystery. The cobbled streets of bygone times are lined with beautifully preserved, wonky, ancient buildings. 12th century churches rub shoulders with curious little antique shops, award-winning eateries,  quaint cottages, galleries packed with local art and traditional English pubs. Seagulls circle and perch and the smell of the sea hangs in the air.

A short walk from the town is the harbour and nature reserve. Rye’s connection to the sea and its fishing community can be found all around; in the nets and winches that still decorate tall, wood-panelled buildings to the street names (Mermaid Street) and the shells and sea-themed door-knockers that welcome visitors to every cottage.

We found our home in Rye in the dusty, disused shell of a former toy factory on Tower Street. The curious charisma that brings people from around the world to explore Rye is exactly what made us fall in love with this beautiful old place.

Here’s our guide to where to stay, where to eat, and all the little things that make Rye the perfect retreat.

Left to right: Great Dixter, Hunter Jones and The William The Conquerer. Photographs by Andrew Florides. 

What to do

The independent Kino Cinema, once a Victorian Library, is special place to shelter from the rain, enjoy delicious cake, relax and enjoy a film.

If you are wildlife lover like us at Merchant and Mills, then we recommend going to the harbour for a long peaceful stroll along the estuary and around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The William The Conquerer pub is perfectly placed at the harbour to welcome you after your walk. Close by is Camber Sands with vast windswept dunes and the infamous desolate and expansive Dungeness. Here you can also visit Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage.

Nearby is Great Dixter, a renowned, daring, and experimental garden with a 15th century house. Once home to great gardener and garden writer Christopher Lloyd, OBE, VMH, it has a strong focus on horticultural education and sustainability. It’s now led by English plantsman, horticultural educationalist Fergus Garrett. 

To learn more about Rye’s history, you can visit Rye Castle Museum and discover The Ypres Tower.  Built in 1249, the tower was originally constructed to protect Rye from potential invasions across the Channel. Over the centuries, it has taken on many roles — from fortress and private residence to prison, courthouse, and now, a fascinating museum. The museum also features intriguing artifacts like a smuggler’s lantern and a detailed model illustrating how the Romney Marsh coastline has changed over time, including its defences during the Napoleonic Wars. From the tower's balcony, you can enjoy sweeping views across the Marsh and imagine the days when this area was home to one of the most vital harbours in England. It’s also a great place for children!

If you fancy a swim, Winchelsea beach and Pett Level are a short drive. At the far end of Pett Level beach you’ll find Cliff End which can be reached by foot and at low tide it is possible to see the part fossilised stumps of ancient trees dating back to the last Ice Age. You can also walk from Rye across the marshes to the beaches. Discover Camber Castle along the way, constructed by Henry VIII in 1539 to protect against French invasion, it’s now an English Heritage site which can be visited all year round.

Top: Puckhaber. Left to right: McCully & Crane, Mermaid Street and Soap and Salvation. Photographs by Andrew Florides.

Eat and drink

If you are coming to Rye, then getting a luxurious hot chocolate from Michelle’s favourite place in Rye is a cult classic, in Knoops you can design a formula for your perfect hot chocolate down to the percentage of chocolate. For lunch, The Fig and White House are lovely, relaxing cafes to enjoy coffee, pastries and brunch. The Union and The Galivant have season led menus and use local produce and suppliers, perfect for an elegant supper after a day wandering the wobbly streets of Rye. And don’t forget, any trip to the coast isn’t complete without fish and chips, you’ll find plenty of restaurants in Rye, we would recommend strolling along The Mint to Marinos Fish Bar.

Next door to Merchant and Mills is Rye’s own micropub, The Rye Waterworks. It’s a family run business serving local ales, beers and ciders along with a selection of wines, gins & soft drinks and the perfect location for an evening drink in the sun. In the heart of Rye is the taproom, The Winery. With grapes sourced from the southeast of England, they marry ancient and modern processes with the slow and respectful winemaking practice to produce delicious local wines, it’s a real hidden gem.

Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea are only a short train journey or drive and have plenty of fabulous places to eat and drink from cosy pubs in the Hastings Old Town, bakeries and cafes to sophisticated and lively restaurants and bars in St Leonards-on-Sea.

Where to Stay

Whether you are coming to Rye for a long weekend or a week long adventure there are lots of special places to stay. We would recommend The Standard Inn for a cosy stay right in the centre of Rye. Centrally located, you can walk everywhere from The Standard and the pub serves delicious local produce. 

Home on the Landgate is a wonderfully characterful place to stay, adorned with Merchant & Mills fabric and at the foot of the Landgate, it’s at the gateway to the citadel of Rye. Built in 1329 The Landgate is the last remaining gateway built to defend Rye from invading forces, after the NormanConquest in 1066. Full of character and charm Dot Cottage is ideal for a romantic getaway for two, it’s quintessentially Rye. It’s right in the centre of Rye and everything is within easy walking distance. Also in the heart of Rye is St. John, an award-winning conversion of an ambulance station, it’s stylist and modern and perfect for country breaks with family and friends.

A short drive from Rye is Tillingham, as well as it being a luxurious place to stay, it’s also a vineyard and the perfect place for a pizza al fresco or super in barn with views looking over the farm. It’s a firm favourite here at Merchant and Mills.

Top: Knoops. Left to Right: The Rye Waterworks, Old Borough Arms and The Landgate. Photographs by Andrew Florides

Shopping

You can easily spends hours in the small cobbled streets and secret passages of Rye, walking down the Mermaid Street feels like stepping into a fairy tale, which each house steeped in history and mystery. Walking around, you’ll discover plenty of small independent and creative shops to get lost in.

Perfect for gifts for loved ones and yourself, Hunter Jones is an independent lifestyle store, specialising in fragrance, along with ceramics, textiles and skincare, we love treating ourselves here. For more homeware pop just up the hill from Hunter and Jones and walk along The Mint to Rae. Influenced by their travels, Rae combines vintage finds with beautiful textile treasures. Another favourite of ours is Sailors of Rye, a concept store providing unisex clothing and homeware from independent brands.

Just around the corner from Merchant and Mills is Soap and Salvation which is a lovely place to discover vintage and antique homewares, books, art and objects. Another great place to find quirky and unique antiques is Puckhaber. With over 30 years experience of the decorative antiques trade, they source the best examples of French, Swedish and many other continental decorative antiques. Another unmissable place is McCully & Crane, it’s a gallery with colourful and vibrant art, beautifully crafted and cleverly reworked statement furniture, lighting, and unique objet trouvé.

And of course, visit us at 14a Tower Street, where you can discover a treasure trove of beautiful cloth, inspiring even non-sewers to pick up a pattern and have a go. Our sewing studio upstairs is where we host classes and creative retreats. We have hundreds of pattern samples made up for our customers to try on and our team is always on hand to offer sewing and styling advice (or just to have a friendly natter!). Visit wearing your finest and favourite Merchant & Mills makes and have your photo taken in our in-store Social Club photobooth.