Tudor architecture. Narrow cobblestone streets. Flowers blooming. Pints of cider. Fields full of sheep. English seaside towns. #HeartEyes
Rye is quintessential England, it feels like stepping back in time. Before I moved to London, Rye wasn’t on my travel radar. But, after finding a few London bloggers to follow, I quickly realized Rye was the picture perfect English seaside town.
And, Rye is easy to get to. Located south of London in East Sussex, it takes about an hour and a half to get to Rye from St. Pancras station if you take the high-speed trains. I only went to Rye for a day, but if you go for the weekend, there are a few cute adorable places to stay in town.
When we arrived in Rye, The Fig was our first stop for a latte.
Fully caffeinated, we started wandering, heading towards St. Mary’s Church for a bird’s eye view of the town and the Ypres Tower, which used to house prisoners.
Ready to be charmed, we headed for Mermaid Street, one of the most photographed streets in the UK.
Is it any surprise visitors ooh and ahh over this darling cobblestone street? Seriously adorable.
Rye is full of the cutest nooks and crannies. Case in point: The House with Two Front Doors and The House with the Seat (both located on Mermaid Street).
Hungry from a morning of wandering, we stopped at The George in the Rye for lunch, which consisted of Welsh rarebit.
Post-lunch, we stopped by the Lamb House on West Street. Lamb House is an early eighteenth-century house where Henry James lived and wrote for many years. The garden in back of the house was lovely, worth a stop in if you’re nearby.
After popping in and out of a few shops, we swung by The Cobbles Tea Room to relax for a bit. The cafe opened in 1952, although the building dates back to 1826. I had traditional English sponge with Earl grey tea, and my friend ordered cream tea and biscuits- both were delish.
We had a few hours left before it was time to catch the train back to London, and decided to wander outside the town. Although Rye is close to the sea, it’s a ~2.5-3 walk if you don’t have a car. So, instead, we went in search of a field with sheep- we’d passed so many on the train on our ride to Rye.
About ~15 minutes from town, we lucked out and found a road that led through a field full of sheep and lamb. The best.
Like any English town, there’s no shortage of pubs in Rye. With less than an hour to spare before our train came, we grabbed a pint at Cinque Ports Arms. A lovely end to a wonderful day in Rye.
Have you ever been to Rye or another equally charming town?
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