Mermaid Street
Start here. Mermaid Street is the heart of Rye and honestly one of the most beautiful streets we’ve seen in England. It slopes downhill, it’s cobbled, lined with medieval timber-framed houses and Georgian buildings, and it genuinely looks like a film set. Except people actually live here, which makes it even better somehow.
The street takes its name from the Mermaid Inn, which has been here in some form since 1156. In the 18th century it was the base of the Hawkhurst Gang, one of the most notorious smuggling gangs in England. They’d hold their meetings here openly, sitting in the pub fully armed while the local authorities walked past outside and apparently decided not to get involved. Honestly, fair enough.
As you walk down, keep an eye on the house names. Many houses in Rye have names instead of numbers, which is very much a local thing and one of the small details we loved. On Mermaid Street you’ll find Quarter Boys Cottage, Link House, The House with Two Front Doors (which does exactly what it says), Neptune Cottage, The House with the Secret Garden, and our personal favourite, The House Opposite, named simply because it is.
Most of these houses have been standing since the 15th and 16th centuries and barely changed since, hopefully they did change on the inside.
The best view of Mermaid Street is from the very top, looking down the slope with the Inn on one side and the houses on the other.
The Mermaid Inn
Even if you’re not staying here, go inside for a drink or just a look around. Low beamed ceilings, oak panelling, fireplaces, and that feeling of a building that has absorbed centuries of use without trying to show off about it. There are secret passages hidden in the walls. The room where the Hawkhurst Gang used to drink is still there, and still pointed out to visitors. If you want to stay here you can book it online.
St Mary’s Church & the Views
At the top of the hill, St Mary’s Church is worth a quick stop. The tower clock is one of the oldest working church clocks in England, still running on its original 16th century mechanism. More interestingly, Rye itself used to be an island. The town sits on a hilltop that was once surrounded by sea on three sides, and over the centuries the coastline shifted and left it landlocked. Which explains a lot about why it feels so self-contained and separate from everything around it.
The Landgate
On your wander through Rye you’ll come across the Landgate, a huge stone archway that still spans the road into the old town. It dates from 1329 and was one of four gates built to defend Rye from French raids. The other three are long gone. This one survived everything, and cars still drive through it today.
Where to Park in Rye
Parking in Rye is paid and monitored by cameras, so don’t arrive assuming you’ll figure it out on the spot.
Cinque Ports Street Car Park is the most central and easiest option for visitors, a short walk from Mermaid Street and the old town.
Rope Walk Car Park is a bit further out but cheaper and still very walkable.
Station Car Park near Rye train station works too, a few minutes walk into the centre.
You can pay by coin or card at the machines, or use the RingGo app for cashless payment. Download and register before you travel so you’re not setting it up in the car park. The app also lets you top up your time without going back to the car. If you need help setting up RingGo app, hope this guide will help you.
Where to stay in Rye
There are no big name hotels here, but there are a lot of options to stay in Rye, here are some of our favourites where we stayed, or we saved them for next time:
- The House with the Two Front Doors – the one mentioned above on the prettiest street you can imagine
- The Mermaid Inn – perfect cosy setup, again on the prettiest street
- The Lookout Rye – this is where we stayed, excellent breakfast and loved the cottage style in the rooms
Some of our favourite time in Rye was spent with no plan at all. The streets beyond Mermaid Street are just as lovely and usually much quieter. Every corner has something worth looking at, a half-timbered facade, a walled garden, a view down a lane that looks like it belongs somewhere else in time entirely.
What makes Rye special is how consistent it all feels. Everything is built in the same style, same materials, same scale. Nothing feels out of place. We loved it! Until next time, be mesmerized 🤍
