Pretty ‘seaside’ town 1 hour from London named best half term day trip – with popular fish and chips & 800-year-old pub

ENGLAND isn't abbreviated of beauteous small towns - and 1 is surging successful popularity this month.

The tiny municipality of Rye has seen a boost successful bid summons sales, according to a caller study.

Conducted by Trainline, Rye has seen a emergence of 167 per cent successful summons sales,

Just implicit an hr from London (when changing astatine Ashford) the tiny 'seaside' municipality isn't connected the beach, though has its ain harbour connected the coast.

Also called 1 of England's quaintest towns, the main Mermaid Street feels similar going backmost successful time.

Many of the Tudor buildings remain, with hidden lanes and paths betwixt each of them.

Originally a sportfishing port, it was a celebrated pirate larboard successful the 13th period - though this was sanctioned by the crown, who took a chopped of the profits.

Now it is simply a fashionable staycation spot with tiny hotels, restaurants and cafes to explore.

Some of the fashionable attractions see Lamb House, a Georgian location owned by National Trust and erstwhile the location of a fig of writers.

Or determination is the retro autarkic Kino Cinema, built successful a erstwhile Victorian library.

Shopping is simply a indispensable - particularly for chocoholics.

The archetypal Knoops store opened successful Rye, which is often considered arsenic having the champion hot chocolates in the country.

Otherwise determination is besides the adjacent Rye Chocolates shop, each handmade astatine the harbour.

Interior lovers volition bask some Sailors and Rae, with beauteous location goods and gifts, arsenic good arsenic Rye Art Gallery for immoderate caller prints.

Grammar School Records has much than 20,000 vinyls connected merchantability (the sanction coming from its location, being built successful a erstwhile 17th period school) portion sweets tin beryllium recovered astatine the Rye Candy store.

When you request a nutrient break, The Fig cafe is the highest rated, serving some luncheon and dinner.

One of the UK's top chef's Ben Tish told Conde Nast Traveller it was wherever "all the locals" go, and raved astir the aubergine shawarma.

Or caput to the burger shack Frankie's At The Beach, named the champion spot successful the UK for a speedy wound by Tripadvisor.

If you privation to enactment longer than a time trip, determination are immoderate stunning boutique hotels to take from.

There is The Mermaid Inn, with parts of the edifice built backmost successful 1156 and rooms from £90 a night, oregon the smaller edifice The Regent with rooms from £95 a night,

The fanciest edifice is The George successful Rye, close connected the precocious thoroughfare and named 1 of the champion places to enactment successful the UK by the Sunday Times.

It's loved by by celebs too, with erstwhile guests being George Clooney and Helene Bonham-Carter.

Or determination is the adjacent edifice The Gallivant successful Camber, which was named promenade Hotel of the Year 2024 by Visit England.

A sojourn to the adjacent Camber Sands is 1 to bash successful spring - arsenic it was named the UK formation that gets the warmest past hitting highs of 19C.

There is adjacent a Parkdean Resort there, for a inexpensive household staycation.