I visited England’s most photographed street in historic town—it looked like a movie
If you're looking for a historic, beautiful seaside town to visit this spring, look no further than Rye, East Sussex.
Once surrounded by sea, this hilltop town once played an important role in the defence of the south coast of England. These days, the one and a half mile river from Rye to the coast is home to the local fishing fleet.
Rye, in East Sussex, is also home to ancient buildings, cobbled streets, and secret passages, which regularly attract tourists and film crews in search of historical settings for period productions. Many authors, musicians, artists, and celebrities have also made the town their home, but it's also a great place to visit for a day trip or use as a base for exploring the surrounding areas.
I recently visited Rye after seeing certain streets on TikTok and wondering whether or not they actually existed, as it looked like something from a fairytale.
It took around an hour and a half from London to get to the town, and parking was super easy to find, although we did arrive quite early.
After a short walk up a steep hill, we were on the main cobbled street, which had plenty of boutique stores, cafes, and restaurants.
It was pretty and easy to navigate, with gorgeous views everywhere you looked.
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Mermaid Street, the iconic cobbled street known for its charming half-timbered houses, was the main reason I wanted to visit Rye.
It was easy to find and absolutely stunning, although it was quite busy with tourists, even at around 9am in the morning.
It's one of England’s most photographed streets and is home to the famous Mermaid Inn, a historic inn with a rich past.
It dates back to the 12th century and was once a favourite haunt of smugglers, now a prominent landmark.
Other nearby attractions include Rye Castle, Lamb House, Rye Heritage Centre and St. Mary’s Parish Church.
In terms of eating and drinking, there is so much choice, including The Fig, The Union Rye and Hoof.
It was quite hard to find a walk-in slot, so it’s best to do some research in advance and book. Make sure to visit Knoops too, a delicious milkshake, hot chocolate and iced chocolate shop.
There are many comfortable, welcoming hotels and guest houses, as well as plenty of inns, too, if you’re planning an overnight stay.
I’d highly recommend visiting Rye if you’re planning a day trip this spring; it’s gorgeous and there’s plenty to do, even for children.
