Perched on a hill, the medieval town of Rye is the sort of place you thought existed only in your imagination. Almost suspended in time, Rye’s unhurried atmosphere and enchanting streets draw visitors with their warm welcome. It’s small enough to make you feel at home almost straight away but holds enough secret treasures to entice you to stay longer.
 
You’ll find quality independent retailers not seen in large shopping conplexes.  Luxury products, antiques, books, records and artisan goods are Rye’s speciality. Art and photography galleries are evidence of a flourishing creative community.
 
Cobbled streets and narrow passages reveal architectural treasures among beautifully preserved Medieval, Tudor and Georgian buildings. Many are open to the public as fine restaurants, tearooms or pubs. Rye is a place where people pride themselves on doing things differently. The Quarter Boys on the tower of St Mary the Virgin don’t strike on the hour but on the quarter. Mermaid Street is peppered with ancient buildings, with unusual names such as ‘The House Opposite’ or ‘The House with the Seat’. Even the sea is a little wayward – it retreated from the town centuries ago, leaving Rye a stranded seaside town…