How to spend the day in Rye, East Sussex

The idyllic town of Rye is the perfect place to spend the day. Easily accessible by train from London or Brighton (and just over an hour by car from South Essex) you can be transported to cobbled streets, boutique shops and the oldest Inn in England.

Shopping in Rye

There are lots of art galleries, vintage shops, book shops and boutiques to spend numerous hours at your own leisure. Be sure to check out the main High Street and the shops near the Strand Car Park to find some hidden gems.

brick building with sign saying "Grammar School Records" — Records shop in Rye

Hardware store with retro signs being displayed on the open doors — Records shop in Rye

Coffee shops in Rye

There are numerous coffee shops, ice cream parlours, tea rooms and brunch spots to enjoy. On our most recent visit we went to Stella Tea Room in the old Custom House for coffee and cake which set us up for a few more hours of wandering around the shops. As seen this the shops above too, Rye has really honed in on its history whilst re-inventing new businesses to attract modern tourists (such as the old grammar school becoming a records’ store).

tea pot, coffee, flowers and carrot cake on a table — Coffee and carrot cake at Stella’s

red brick building with white door reading "Custom House" — Coffee and carrot cake at Stella’s

Mermaid Inn- the oldest inn in England

Situated on Mermaid Street, the most famous and picturesque street in Rye, is The Mermaid Inn. This inn is known to be the oldest in England which attracts hotel guests who are interested in the inn’s rich history and alleged hauntings! If you’re only visiting for the day, I’d recommend popping into the bar at the back for a drink so you can the clout for drinking in England’s oldest inn without risking seeing any ghosts.

white inn with black beams and sign outside with outline of a mermaid (Mermaid Inn in Rye) — Mermaid Street in Rye

Camber Sands

If you’re visiting by car you can easily pop over to Camber Sands, one of the UK’s loveliest beaches with scenic sand dunes. When we visited in 2021, there was a pizza van so we had a late afternoon picnic (just be mindful of the seagulls!). It’s especially worth visiting if you’re here for the weekend as most of the shops and sights within Rye itself you will see in a few hours.