the middle ages, still standing
Rye
Rye · East Sussex · St Pancras → Rye (change Ashford)
A cobbled hill town that barely left the middle ages. Crooked streets, a ruined castle lookout and the marshes beyond, all free.
Getting there. Rye station sits at the foot of the hill, a few minutes walk up into the old town. Everything worth seeing is within ten minutes on foot.
Free to visit
ALWAYS
FREE
FREE
Rye · East Sussex · St Pancras → Rye (change Ashford)
LONDON FREE GUIDE
The lowdown
Rye is a tiny medieval hill town that looks like a film set and is free to wander end to end. Climb cobbled Mermaid Street, loop the church and the old Ypres Tower lookout and gaze out over Romney Marsh to the sea.
Almost nothing here costs money. The streets, the viewpoints and the antique-shop windows are the whole experience, and a walk down to the harbour or out onto the nature reserve makes an easy free afternoon.
The catch
Getting there from London
Cheapest lineSt Pancras → Rye
Journey1h10 (change at Ashford)
Train fareadvance singles from £18 each way
The whole town is the sight and it is free to walk. Only the little castle museum charges.
Get it in your inbox
One email a week with the best free things to do in London this weekend. Before everyone else finds them.
No spam. One tap to leave. We never sell your email.