Rye
Rye is a medieval town in East Sussex with steep cobbled lanes, a stone tower that houses a museum, and sand dunes a short drive away. A half day covers the old town, and an overnight stay adds the evenings.
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Rye is a medieval town on a hill in East Sussex, on England's south coast, above the River Rother. Visitors come for its cobbled lanes and timber-framed houses, and Mermaid Street, a steep lane of old buildings, is one of its best-known streets. Rye was one of the Cinque Ports, a group of medieval south-coast towns that provided ships to the crown in return for privileges, and that history still shows in the old streets.
Ypres Tower, a stone tower at the edge of the old town, now houses a museum. The old town is compact, so most sights are a short walk apart, and a half day covers the main streets. Stay overnight if you want to walk the lanes in the evening. Camber Sands, a long stretch of dunes and sand, is a short drive away for a beach day.
Rye in five
- Climb Ypres TowerRye Castle Museum's Ypres Tower is open 7 days a week all year. With the Medieval Garden and Women's Tower, the site is collectively known as Rye Castle.
- Add the East Street museum on a weekendThe town museum in a former bottling plant is open Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, with free admission and donations welcome.
- Walk the lanes early or lateMermaid Street and the cobbled lanes empty out in the evening. Day visitors fill them from late morning, so a night makes a quieter visit.
- Coming by Eurostar or ferry from France?UK border control applies when you arrive, so check whether your passport needs a UK ETA before you travel. Sort it before you board.UK ETA explained
- Check train links before you commitRye is a branch-line town reached via Ashford or Hastings, so confirm the timetable on National Rail and the last train back before planning an evening.
Need to know
- Airport
- London Gatwick or Heathrow, then train or road
- Getting there
- Train via Ashford or Hastings; or by car; check National Rail
- Getting around
- On foot; Camber Sands by bus or taxi
- Best base
- The old town streets near the church
- Time needed
- Half a day to a night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cool, springMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Easter
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Mild, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Rye, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rye
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 22 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 53%
Rye
08:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°8°53%Monday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Tue12°7°52%Tuesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Wed10°6°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu8°6°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri9°6°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat8°7°21%Saturday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sun11°1°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 06:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- May–AugGlyndebourne Festival OperaBrighton & Hove, a day trip
- MayBrighton FestivalBrighton & Hove, a day trip
- JunMeltdownLondon, a day trip
- Jul–SepBBC PromsLondon, a day trip
- JulWireless FestivalLondon, a day trip
- JulPride LondonLondon, a day trip
- AugGreat British Beer FestivalLondon, a day trip
- NovLondon to Brighton Veteran Car RunLondon, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Camber Sandsshort bus or taxi rideA long sandy beach with dunes east of the town.
- 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefielda short drive westThe English Heritage site marking the 1066 battle.
- Dover and its castleabout an hour by carAn English Heritage fortress above the port, with the town below.Read the guide
Before you go to Rye
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Rules for Rye, checked
- Rye Castle Museum: Ypres Tower is open 7 days a week all year. The East Street museum opens weekends from April to October, with free admission.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Rye
Castles, coast and cathedral towns to the north-east
Read the guideDoverThe port and its castle along the coast
Read the guideBrighton & HoveThe Sussex seaside city to the west
Read the guideLondonThe usual starting point for Sussex and Kent
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsAdvance fares and branch lines
Read the guideAll of EnglandCities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideRye FAQ
Is Rye worth visiting?
Yes if you like medieval streets and small towns: Mermaid Street, Ypres Tower and the harbor setting suit a half day. Skip it if you want big sights, because the town is tiny.
How long do you need in Rye?
Half a day covers the lanes, the Ypres Tower and a lunch. A night adds a quieter evening, and a full day lets you add Camber Sands or a Sussex stop.
Is Rye Castle Museum open every day?
Ypres Tower, the main site, is open 7 days a week throughout the year. The East Street town museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, with free admission.
Can you do Rye as a day trip from London?
Yes, by train via Ashford or Hastings or by car, but check timetables and the last train back. A day trip gives a few hours in the town, and a night gives an easier evening.
When is the best time to visit Rye?
May, June, September and October for mild weather and open sights. July and August are busier, winter is quiet and damp, and some small shops and tea rooms keep shorter hours.