Some of the best trips come from having no particular plan. Our recent day trip to Rye came about simply because I wanted to get out of town for the day. Brighton is always an option, but we’ve been there several times, and somewhere new felt like a welcome change.
Rye is a historic town in East Sussex, less than two hours by train from where we live. Although it’s only about two miles — or three kilometres — from the coast, we were more interested in wandering around the town and discovering what it had to offer.
Getting to Rye by Train
Just about every day trip we’ve taken has involved only one train to our destination, not counting the journey to the station itself. Getting to Rye required two.
As much as I love trains, the first part of our journey was less than enjoyable. The train was so crowded that we had to stand. There was a point in my life when standing on a train wouldn’t have bothered me, but the pain in my hip, which used to be little more than a nuisance, has recently become more of a problem.
Although it only took about 30 minutes to reach the station where we needed to change, I was hurting and couldn’t wait to get off.
The second train was less crowded, probably because we waited an hour for the next one rather than squeezing onto the already busy train sitting at the platform. After a little more than 20 minutes, we arrived in Rye, ready to do some exploring.
Exploring Rye’s Historic Centre
I quickly discovered that Rye sits on a hill. At one point in its history, water surrounded much of the town. If you’re planning a visit, be prepared for the climb and wear comfortable shoes.
Another lovely feature of Rye is its cobbled streets. After visiting a couple of interesting shops, including a lovely little gift shop called Simply Rye, we ventured up Mermaid Street.
Mermaid Street is often described as one of the prettiest streets in England, and it’s easy to understand why. The cobbled lane is lined with timber-framed medieval buildings and elegant Georgian houses, offering a glimpse into several centuries of history.
As you walk up the street, you’ll see houses dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It’s also where you’ll find The Mermaid Inn, which was rebuilt in 1420. Although we didn’t go inside on this trip, spending a night there is definitely on my list for a future visit.
One house across the road from The Mermaid Inn made me laugh. It is aptly named The House Opposite. Its deep grey door — which may once have been black — was striking enough to warrant a photo.
Another interesting landmark to look out for is the Landgate. Built in 1329, it is the only remaining fortified entrance to Rye.
My daughter loves old buildings and, when allowed, likes to touch them. She has taught me to pay closer attention to when things were built, and she would have been very pleased with this particular structure.
Refuelling in Rye
We didn’t have much luck finding somewhere with a wide selection of vegan food. In fairness, we didn’t look too hard because I was hungry and ready to sit down.
We ended up at The Ship Inn, a good-sized pub dating back to 1592. The homemade hummus with flatbread was rather tasty, although I always feel that restaurants have yet to work out the correct proportion of hummus to bread. There is nearly always far too much hummus left over.
The plant burger, the other vegan option, was also decent. It wasn’t the most exciting vegan meal we’ve ever had, but it did the job after a morning of travelling and walking uphill.
If you like old pubs, I’d say The Ship Inn is worth a visit.
A Day Well Spent
Although getting to Rye wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked, it’s a town I would happily visit again. I imagine it would be especially lovely in early autumn, when the temperature has dropped slightly.
Next time, I’d like to stay overnight at The Mermaid Inn and give myself more time to explore the town. I’m sure there are other shops and historic buildings we could discover.
All in all, our day trip to Rye gave us exactly the kind of escape we had been hoping for.
