Thinking of spending the weekend in Rye? Here are the top things we think you should do…
Have you ever thought about spending the weekend in Rye? It’s an absolute gem of a place and I think I can call it one of my happy places for sure! It’s only an hour or so from Tunbridge Wells though in many ways, it feels a lifetime away.
We recently spent the weekend in Rye (just me and my husband. Thank you grandma!) and thanks to lots of handy My Tunbridge Wells reader suggestions, as well as our own exploring, we definitely made the most of this terrific town (or is it a village?)….
So here are out top tips for things to do on a weekend in Rye:
1. Stay somewhere central
We booked The George in Rye. This is right in the heart of the town, near all the quaint little streets. It’s a gorgeous little boutique hotel that’s had a complete renovation in recent years.
It’s a real blend of new and old, done in such a beautiful way. The restaurant and bar are both lovely, and we found the people who work there so attentive.
There isn’t specific parking for The George, but we parked in the car park next to the train station and walked up. We found this absolutely fine.
Our room was really nice, with a huge bath tub and nice shower. However, there was no view out of the window. In fact, the window was greyed out. I’m not entirely convinced the room was worth what we paid for it (£365 including breakfast). This might be because we booked last minute so there were only pricey options available. Next time I’ll definitely book ahead and maybe try somewhere else to stay.
2. Book somewhere for dinner and lunch on a weekend in Rye
We had some drinks and starters (as we weren’t very hungry) at The Standard Inn shortly after arriving. This is a lovely place with a quiet area at the back and I would love to go back for a proper meal.
We booked the restaurant – “The Grill” – at The George for dinner. And we were treated to such a lovely evening there. Our waiting staff were great – honestly, the service was spot on at The George. However, I found the menu fairly standard – fish and chips, burgers, steak etc. But I liked not having to dress up and just wandering down there from our room.
We decided to not book lunch for the next day – it was a Sunday and wish we had booked ahead! If I had my time again, I’d book The Globe Inn Marsh. We walked down there but they were booked up until late afternoon, so we missed out. But it was really quirky, warm, bright and felt like our kind of place.
We ate at Webbe’s Fish Cafe instead as my husband really fancied fish and chips. It was fairly quiet but we settled ourselves down in a sunny part of the restaurant and it was a good way to finish up our wonderful weekend in Rye.
3. Prepare to shop on your weekend in Rye!
There are many gorgeous independent shops to choose from in Rye. It’s perfect for a whole day of browsing. There are plenty of gorgeous items for the home, gifts, food, chocolate, art – and of course their famous antique shops. The shops are open on the Sunday too but they are open for shorter hours – check before you go!
Knoops is amazing for hot chocolates. Apparently they’re the best in the country? They make their hot chocolates from solid chocolate, and their marshmallows are huge. YUM!
If you want a shop to browse at, and maybe pick up a gift, Simply Rye is fab. Lola & SiDney have some fab home decor items. A particular favourite of mine was a sign saying ‘I’m only talking to my cat today’….
We were also tipped off about Wideye which is a natural skincare shop in Rye. You can also get beauty treatments here.
After some cute interiors bits? Soap & Salvation is absolutely gorgeous and filled with antiques, ceramics, textiles and more.
Britcher and Rivers is the PERFECT place to pick up treats for the kids (or yourselves) after a weekend in Rye. The old-fashioned sweet shop is like taking a step back in time, with loads of amazing old-school confectionary filling the shop.
4. Wander wander wander
We found one of the best things to do in Rye is just wander around the streets. It’s quite easy to get to find your bearings as it’s quite a small town. I recommend take photos to remind yourself (and Rye is very Instagrammable!).
Also during your explorations, you can decide where you are going to dine next time you come, as well as just soaking up the atmosphere of this charming town. Don’t forget to look at house prices (ouch!).
Oh and of course stop for a hot chocolate at Knoops, which is really near The Landsgate (an amazing restaurant in Rye).
5. Have a walk around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
The Rye Nature Reserve is something we were told again and again to do. And we agree – it’s well worth a visit. We went on our way home after checking out of our hotel. We parked up for free and then went for a walk and stopped at the cafe and Discovery Centre there.
It’s always good to visit the coast. And if you have time, pop over to Camber Sands too for a walk along the beach…
6. Discover Mermaid Street on your weekend in Rye
Mermaid Street is probably the most iconic street in Rye? And what a fab name! The cobbled stoned street, quirky houses that are beautifully maintained make it feel like you’re stepping back in time.
Walk up to St Mary’s Church and then down to the castle for lovely views and a bit of history. And stop for a drink in the infamous Mermaid Inn for the traditional oldy-worldy feel!
7. A weekend in Rye – how much did we spend?
Here’s a breakdown of costs for our meals / accommodation and spending during out weekend in Rye…
- One night at The George in Rye (including breakfast): £365
- Lunch at Webbe’s Fish Cafe – £42.25
- Lunch at The Standard Inn – £49.94
- Coffee at Sussex Wildlife Trust – £11.25
- Dinner at The George – £87.44
- Drinks at The George – £15.25
- Parking – £2.50
- Gift shop purchases – £43.25
- Petrol (return trip from Tunbridge Wells to Rye): £13 (approx)
Total: £629 (though if we had stayed somewhere cheaper, we could have kept it under £500)
Overall thoughts on our weekend in Rye?
A buzzing small town full of culture and history. Gorgeous independent shops, near the sea and somewhere I will return to again and again. It is only a short distance from Tunbridge Wells. The downside? It can get pretty busy – a victim of its own popularity! But still 100% worth the visit…
Fancy exploring somewhere else? Read more about our brilliant weekend in Brighton! Do you have any recommendations for a night away in Kent or East Sussex? If so, please do let us know as we are always looking for places to explore…