Perched on an outcrop of sandstone overlooking the marshes, Rye is probably one of the most visited small towns in England and Mermaid Street is almost certainly the most photographed street. The Mermaid Inn itself may date back to 1156, but like most of Rye, it was burned in 1377 by the French and only the cellar survived. However in 1420 it was re-built as it is today. This little town is steeped in history and its buildings and cobbled streets have changed little in the last 500 years.
Rye has a long literary history too. It has been home to many authors over the years, including EF Benson who lived at Lamb House (National Trust) and used Rye as the setting for his Mapp and Lucia stories. The BBC’s dramatisation of Mapp and Lucia was filmed on location in Rye.
Today Rye is a vibrant hub for the local community. Its streets are lined with many and varied independent shops, ancient inns, great eateries, tea shops and cafés and other historical buildings, many of which remain private homes.
We would encourage all our guests to take a least half a day to explore Rye. Wander through the cobbled streets and narrow alley ways (known locally as twittens) and enjoy the views from its elevated position over the surrounding marshland towards the sea. The best views are from the Gun Gardens and the top of the church tower.