The pretty little UK seaside town named the 'most naturally beautiful in England'

Rye, a charming town near the Sussex coast, is just an hour from London and has been named 'the most naturally beautiful town' in England. It's a favourite spot for people from London because of its lovely cobbled streets, old houses made of wood and stone, and historic pubs.

When you wander through Rye's narrow lanes and secret paths, you'll see why it's often called "the most naturally beautiful" place in England and Wales. This is what the property experts at Garrington say, and they gave Rye this award in both 2021 and 2022.

It's also on the list of the best places to live, coming in at number 16. Bath and Salisbury are some of the places that are ranked higher.

Even though Rye was sixth in 2021, it's still considered the top place to live in Sussex.

The town of Rye is full of pretty streets and old landmarks. The website Sussexblogger.com says Rye is "one of England's best-kept secrets", reports MyLondon.

It's easy to see why. There are lots of twisty streets and alleys in Rye, with cool old pubs, quirky shops, and nice cafes.

In the middle of the town, there are streets like Mermaid Street that have old houses with wooden beams. Rye has lots of signs of its long history.

People have lived in Rye for more than a thousand years. King Aethelred the Unready gave it to the Normans.

The Lamb House, made of red bricks, has a lot of stories about books and writers. Henry James, who wrote 'The Turn of the Screw', used to own it.

Nearby, the tower of the Norman St. Mary's Church watches over the town.

The 14th-century Ypres Tower, which was part of Rye's defences against invaders, is now Rye Castle Museum with paintings and displays about local history.

Natural beauty

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is tucked away at the edge of the town and offers amazing views towards the English Channel. It's home to lots of different bird species all year round.

The wetlands are a big hit with birdwatchers, but it's also one of the best days out in East Sussex, according to Tripadvisor. Rye is also located at the southern edge of the High Weald, the densest area of woodland left in England, while the golden beaches of Camber Sands are just a short distance away.

Further afield you might also find other beautiful places in the High Weald. Ticehurst, Wadhurst Kew Gardens, Northiam, and Bodiam Castle are all not far from Rye.

Home to one of Britain's most haunted pubs

As you might expect from a place like Rye, the town is full of great places to grab a pint. However, some of these pubs are not for the faint-hearted.

The Mermaid Inn, a pub that's been around for over 600 years, is known for its spooky happenings. Five rooms in the inn are said to be haunted, with guests waking up to see "men dressed in 16th century clothing" duelling and an old lady in grey sitting by the fireplace.

Martin Blincow, the general manager, told SussexLive last March that the famous pub has become even more popular since the pandemic started. "Lockdown actually benefited us as people came here instead of going abroad. Many people seem to have discovered Rye over the past couple of years," he said.

Other magical pubs include The George Inn where you can enjoy a pint of the local ale Chapel Down. The little Rye Waterworks Micropub, located at a 300 year old former water pump site, offers local craft beers and is rated the best pub in Sussex on TripAdvisor.

Getting there:

You can catch a train from St Pancras straight to Rye in just over an hour. There are also lots of lovely places to stay on Booking.com.

Book your train tickets to Rye on Trainline.