Getting There

From London, the Southeastern Line offers trains south from Charing Cross or Cannon Street Station, with a change at Ashford, before continuing on to Rye. You can also go via Tunbridge Wells with a change in Hastings. Trains run every hour during the day, arriving at the Rye Train Station off Cinque Ports Street. The trip takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for schedules and information.

You'll need to take the train to get to Rye, but once there you'll find buses departing every hour on the hour for many destinations, including Hastings. Various bus schedules are posted on signs in the parking lot. For bus information on connections in the surrounding area, call tel. 0870/608-2608.

If you're driving from London, take the M25, M26, and M20 east to Maidstone, going southeast along the A20 to Ashford. At Ashford, continue south on the A2070.

Visitor Information

The Rye Tourist Office is in the Heritage Centre on the Strand Quay (tel. 01797/226696; www.visitrye.co.uk). It's open from April to the end of October daily 10am to 5pm; November to December and March daily 10am to 4pm, and January and February daily 10am to 3pm. The Heritage Centre houses a free exhibition and is also home to Story of Rye, a sound-and-light show depicting more than 700 years of Rye's history. Adults pay £3, students and seniors £1.50, children £1, and families £7.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.