Rye Sussex: The historic town with a famous Instagrammable street

Rye in Sussex is a popular coastal town on the Sussex coast, best known for its cobbled streets, independent shops and historic buildings.

The town is reachable by car within 90 minutes of south London and by train to Rye station from Ashford International station.

Rye is a harbour town located three miles from the sea and has long been known as a town frequented by smugglers with its winding cobbled passageways.

Rye is best known for its cobbled streets, independent shops and historic buildings. (Image: Emily Davison)

Visitors can learn more about Rye’s history over the years by visiting the Ypres Tower and Rye Castle Museum, where you’ll find a collection of artefacts and exhibits on the town’s history, along with impressive views of Rye from the tower.

Entry costs £5 for adults and children under £16 can visit for free.

Photographers should also not miss out on visiting Mermaid Street, which is also believed to be one of the most photographed streets in the UK, with 15,420 photos taken under the #MermaidStreet hashtag on Instagram.

Mermaid Street is believed to be one of the most photographed streets in the UK. (Image: Emily Davison)

On this street you’ll also find The Mermaid Inn, a historic inn dating back to 1156, with the current structure dating back to 1420 when it was rebuilt after a fire.

The inn offers historic rooms where you can spend the night in the space that once hosted Queen Elizabeth I herself.

The Mermaid Inn offers historic rooms where you can spend the night in the space that once hosted Queen Elizabeth I herself. (Image: The Mermaid Inn)

The inn is also rumoured to be haunted, with sightings of ghostly figures reported in a number of rooms, from a woman in white to the spectral forms of two men having a duel seen in another.

The Mermaid Inn dates back to 1156, with the current structure dating back to 1420. (Image: The Mermaid Inn)

Rye is also home to a windmill dating back 450 years, which is now a B&B offering guests great views of Rye and the surrounding marshlands.

The town also has a diverse mix of shops from antiques, gifts, clothing and homeware, along with a number of tea rooms where you can stop off for some treats.

Don’t miss out on The Cobbles Tea Room, a quaint tea room with outdoor seating where you’ll find a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.

The Cobbles Tea Room is a quaint tearoom with outdoor seating where you’ll find a selection of sweet and savoury snacks. (Image: Emily Davison)

If you’re a fan of American writer Henry James, who famously wrote short stories such as The Turn of The Screw, then Lamb House should be on your Rye itinerary.

Now owned by the National Trust, Lamb House was once the home of the writer and was also visited by many famous authors like Virginia Woolf.

Lamb House was once the home of writer Henry James. (Image: National Trust Images - Andrew Butler)

The house was built in 1723 and even played host to King George I when his boat was cast ashore one night during a storm.

The house also has an outdoor garden to explore, where you’ll find a vegetable patch and the graveyard to the beloved dogs that Henry James had during his time at the house.

Lamb House has an outdoor garden where you’ll find a vegetable patch and the graveyard to Henry James' beloved dogs. (Image: National Trust Images - Andrew Butler)

Although Rye doesn’t have a beach of its own, Camber Sands is a popular sandy beach within a short driving distance, just 12 minutes away by car and 30 minutes away by bus.

Here you’ll also find Camber Castle, a historic castle first built by Henry VIII and surrounded by countryside.

If you fancy taking a walk you can explore Rye Nature Reserve with its wetlands, marsh and woodlands, which was awarded an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.