Top 24 things to do and attractions in Winchelsea

Small but interesting as it packs a thousand years into that space. Skeleton in a gibbet is a standout. It was very busy due to the torrential rain so I hope they made some money!

The pictures are of Rye in general and not just the Ypres Tower and museum. Rye is an essentially English, charming and historic medieval town and well worth a two hour or so wander. Plenty of parking available just outside the town centre. Recommended for lovers of history and of half timbered and quaint old buildings. Not ridiculously busy despite fine weather and the school holidays.

This imposing castle was only a few minutes' walk from our hotel when visiting Rye, and we passed it several times. The entrance fee was reasonable and there are displays inside about the history of the castle. One gets fine views from the castle to the River Rother and the surrounding landscape if you can manage to climb the stairs. Below the castle is a lovely Gud Garden with some ancient cannons on display.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the town or passing the area. Although the museum is small it really has some interesting content not just on the history of the castle but of the local people /areas as well. The view from the tower is worth the entrance fee on its own.

Interesting visit to a 13th century built castle, covers it's history through the years including it's usage and meaning to the local community

It was great going through the castle. It's great learning about the history.

We were disappointed that despite the website and signs outside indicating that during October the tower would be open until 5 , it was closed when we arrived at 3.30. We were informed that this was because the person working there had to catch a bus. He said that it was because the clocks had changed and was now darker - if opening hours are going to be dependent on clock changing this should be make clear on . It is especially poor timing as this was during the October half term and we saw many other families also turn up and be disappointed. We visited the next day instead and enjoyed our visit with a 1 year old and 3 year old. There was enough for children with dressing up and some buttons to press.

There are plenty of interesting old houses in Rye and, in truth, architecturally Lamb House is among the fairly ordinary. So it is it's association with the writers Henry James, E F Benson and Rumer Godden, and their long list of invited literary guests, for which it is best known. The National Trust does a good job of presenting the rooms in the late Victorian style when James would be at home and at his writing desk. The introductory talk given in the entrance hall by volunteers enhances the experience with little details of the houses history and its owners and tenants. The garden is delightful.

Smaller property - but well presented and very knowledgeable volunteers as always! Nice small courtyard garden to wander about and have a short sit in the sun. Personal highlights for me were the historic tiles in and the ways the rooms are dressed.

Lovely, smaller NT property in the older Georgian part of Rye. Home to Henry James. Pretty garden too. No cafe or toilets but it's in the town so there are plenty of cafes and pubs to use nearby.

Please check the opening hours for this National Trust house as it is not open every day. They also open later in the day than most National Trust properties. We were lucky to catch it open on our last day in Rye. There are many memorabilia in the building from the several authors who spent time here, notably the American author Henry James. The garden is larger than one would guess when outside the property, and well worth including in the visit.

In lovely area of Rye to walk around. Interesting house and history, staff knowledge with information about the house/rooms. Tearoom was shut when we went, there are toilets

Beautifully presented house. The gardens are stunning, however. Me and my son spent most of our time outside.

We visited Lamb House for the first time with our Granddaughter Arabella. We all loved the house and felt it’s a must to visit when in Rye. A Beautifully proportioned home with a wonderful feel that is elegantly furnished and very homely. The extremely knowledgeable staff made the visit a delight especially for our soon to be eight year old Granddaughter Arabella and the set quiz made our stay all the more enjoyable. To your wonderful ladies and the Gentleman “ Thank you “ Lamb House “ shouldn’t be missed if your in Rye… The Lester’s plus Arabella x

Wonderful exhibitions and oddities. The staff were so friendly and passionate about their town. Bullseye the greyhound loved his first ever museum visit.

Stopped in this little town the first week of August. The first thing I did was to go to the Rye Heritage Centre for information, and I do not regret it! I joined the morning tour, and it was the best decision I could have made to gain an understanding of the town and its history. The guide (whose name I don't remember) was one of the best. Knowledgeable, and you can see he loves what he does and explains everything and does not look at the clock, answers questions and takes you to places you would not stop otherwise. Big thank you! Brilliant job!

Fabulous Heritage Centre. Displays, old fsdhooned penny machine arcade and an interactive film show about smugglers. But the best bit, for us, was the miniture model of Rye. It was built by a couple in there retirement years. You take a seat and after a short introduction by a lovely gentleman, you watch a film, accompanied by lighting and special effects. Very interesting and an incredible model to say the couple built it in their living room. I won't say any more, just make sure you visit when next in Rye. We bought a ticket on entry and waited about 5 minutes for the show to start.

Small but interesting museum. There’s a very fun interactive display. Staffs are really nice!

The diorama show was very entertaining and informative. Afterwards, we had a fabulous walking tour with Stephen. He is an expert on all things Rye, and kind with a sense of humor! It was also very reasonable at 12.50 pounds per person for the walking tour!

A wonderful experience with informative staff and great interactive rooms displaying Rye's long history.

It is a great Heritage Centre, it's free to go in and look around at all the information cards displayed on the walls about Rye and the Smuggling heritage. You can buy local author guides to Rye and old vintage cookery book, lots of handmade jewellery. There is old penny arcade machines which you buy so many old penny coins for £1 and play the vintage machines. The 'Rye Light and sound model' is £4.50 and well worth it to hear about the history of the town. Gives you a good insight into the town before you have a look around the anicent town of Rye. The staff are very friendly helpful and very knowledgeable. Well worth a visit.

Winchelsea is a beautiful location. By walking the quiet streets a lot of interesting history becomes evident. The Strand Gate, built in the early 14th century.

Winchelsea is a beautiful location to visit when in East Sussex, just by walking the quiet streets a lot of interesting history becomes evident. The Strand Gate, built in the early 14th century, would have overlooked the old port of Winchelsea when built and would have been a clearly visible impressive structure when first seen by visiting ships. Take time to look around and enjoy the views as well as the history, if you look hard enough you can see the remains of Camber Castle from here.

Historic gate acting as an entrance to Winchelsea. Access via a steep incline from the main A259. Two way traffic passes through this gate but is only wide enough for one car at a time and so there is a mirror to allow you to see if there is oncoming traffic.

Interesting historical site.

A beautiful place with outstanding views.

Cool historic feature

Really nice village, be careful when driving around area.

Striking ruin in the care of the National Trust, situated by the roadside and overlooking good views of the surrounding countryside. Access to the barn was prohibited when I visited due to safety concerns, but it's still possible to get a good view in from outside.

Winchealsea is a lovely place to walk around, with places of interest like Blackfriars barn & cellar, the well, St Thomas church and beacon view point with gorgeous scenery and walks

William the Conqueror in Rye offers a pleasant atmosphere and is a good option in the area. However, the food prices are comparable to London, but the dishes lack the depth of flavor and appeal one would expect at that price point, despite being filling. Additionally, there was no check-back on the food.

Lovely range of yummy Greek and Cypriot food, we enjoyed the Halloumi pitta and Cyprus mix. Prices were reasonable, portions were generous and staff were all friendly and attentive.

We are on holiday staying at Camber, we always visit this lovely pub for food. My husband had the Tiger Prawns and I had the grilled halloumi salad with fries and pitta bread delicious 😋

We decided to eat here because it wasn't busy, we had parking outside and they offered Greek food which we really enjoyed. Good service and great pub, nice decoration.

What a lovely public house, situated right by the Harbour. The staff were extremely friendly & the service was super quick. We had the chicken souvlaki & Cyprus mix. The portions were generous & both very tasty. They also cater for GLUTEN FREE & take extra care when informed of the allergen. Would highly recommend.

I recently had a fantastic meal at William the Conqueror, a charming pub near Rye Harbour. My partner and I spent £33 for two incredibly filling dishes: I thoroughly enjoyed my delicious vegan Halloumi Burger, and my partner raved about their baked Risotto. The pub itself is a friendly, no-frills local spot, reportedly dating back to the 1890s. It's known for its good quality food, including traditional pub fare and Greek specialties (the landlord has Greek Cypriot heritage!). You can even eat outside near Rye Harbour when the weather's good. It tends to be popular with tourists during the summer and weekends, and they sometimes have live music. It's a great spot to relax over a meal and a pint, close to the picturesque Rye Harbour.

Nice pub with a good menu, but not too fancy. Food was good, as was the Guinness and friendly service. Too full for a desert, but they also looked good. Smallish but free car park belonging to the pub, and a much larger one within a couple of minutes walk. Recommended, and we'll be back.

Worth a visit. Look out for the quirky house names.

Beautiful and emblematic street.

Beautiful! Well preserved piece of history. Fairytale like streets and buildings that take you to a different century!

Beautiful walk around the cobbled street. Interesting buildings.

Lovely street to walk around in good weather. Not friendly for elder persons though. Many cute shops and hotels.

Nothing to see on this road other than walking from the upside down

Iconic & Beautiful Street This is the nicest street in Rye and probably one of the nicest in England. This cobbled street is one of the most photographed in the country. Well worth visiting!

Absolutely delightful gallery well worth a visit if you are in the area. Far larger than expected with a light airy feel. Lots to discover from their permanent collection, including Ivon Hitchens and Vanessa Bell, and work for sale by local contemporary artists.

A lovely little local art gallery with the most beautiful ceramics. The space is quiet with natural light streaming in through the skylights. Good for a quick browse if you're visiting. Staff are gracious and friendly.

A treasure on many floors! My partner and I love coming in here. There is a piece of art that we return to look at each time that fills us with wonder. Some art is quite affordable. It also boasts several windows upstairs with terrific views.

What a wonderful space. A bit like a TARDIS as it just keeps opening up into more and more unexpected galleries. I bought a framed lino print and collected it the following day, all wrapped and ready to go. Thumbs up! 👍

There are many differing and interesting pieces of work to buy and some as the galleries private collection. Well worth a visit.

Excellent gallery with a varied collection of artists. Really recommend you visit. Staff are helpful and friendly, set in a surprisingly spacious gallery. Thank you.

A wonderful place to find local images in a variety of styles. Very friendly and helpful staff who know their images with a passion. Best gallery for miles around.

The town of Winchelsea is unique and a recommended visit when in East Sussex. The museum sheds light on the history of the town and is located in a historic building itself.

A wonderful little museum. Lots of interesting eclectic displays that triggered conversations. So fortunate to have volunteer Barry on hand to enhance our already great experience. Thank you Barry. I hope you and your colleagues know the difference you make.

Nice building, small though.

Small but lots of interesting things to look through and do. I would recommend anyone visiting the Rye or Hastings area to go. Showing a few local antiquities and details o the coastline movement over the past few hundred years.

Very easy to get to the core information. Be warned stone steps up to the museum room.

Interesting little museum of this historic little town.

Great little museum housed in an historic building

Well worn path can’t miss it. In a spectacular little village.

Well worth a visit to see the legends gravestone if you’re in the area. It’s a lovely church and surrounding village too. Nice pub on the corner, makes for a fun few hours.

I did not visit Spike's grave, but I am sure it is there somewhere. Winchelsea itself was like a ghost town when I visited with only a corner shop and pub open. A few sights scattered through the town and a museum that was closed. Although this was probably due to H.M. The Queen passing on the day before.

A great place to visit, wonderful church, lots of people had left coins and small stones around his grave.the village is peaceful and beautiful houses with a small independent shop.a great afternoon spent there

This may sound obvious but it is just a grave stone, and incase you are wondering it does not say "I told you I was sick" actually it is very hard to read. On saying the above, he was a big part of British comedy history and if you are near by in a very attractive village then worth a look at.. There was a few visitors there when we went, and it is pretty easy to find, turn your back on the church and follow the grass path that is very warn by other visitors.

Have visited a few times, there is a well trodden route leading to the grave. Spike was a very popular character.

A humble gravestone with pebbles and coins as momentoea

Beautiful jug a new range perfect size for garden flowers on my kitchen windowsill , a lovely present from my mother.

I cannot review the pottery itself as I have not been, but my mother in law has. She loves it and has a huge collection. I add items but via telephone. Really top notch pottery. No, it's not cheap, but who wants cheap? You get what you pay for. Beautiful animal figures, arrived well packaged, undamaged. Really helpful staff, what more do you want really? 5* Rye pottery

A great pottery studio with much of the space used for finishing the pottery and windows allowing visitors to see the artists at work. Some great collections too, of the battle of Hastings and of the Canterbury Tales along with Sussex pigs, beautiful tableware and hand-painted tiles. If you're in Rye it's definitely worth a visit.

A really nice small pottery set over 2 floors. A large variety of quality medieval inspired figures and a small range of more contemporary useful items like jugs, pots and lamps. You can also see the powers at work while you are there and the town of Rye is well worth a visit as well.

Great place to purchase handmade pottery. Very helpful staff. Very pleased with my purchase of set of dogs and Christmas bauble. Will definitely be back.

So lovely to see beautiful handmade pottery. I love the lamps. Special gifts for people looking for something made in the UK. Love it.

Beautiful pottery with workshop on 2 floors. Small but well worth a visit. Reasonably priced too.

Attractive historic well building that still houses the pump workings. The gate was locked but it's still possible to see inside. Worth a passing look if you're visiting Winchelsea as it's only a short walk from the village centre.

The whole town of Winchelsea is steeped in history, the well is a landmark, but there is not much to see. I was told the actual well ,which is covered by boarding is 100 feet deep

Winchealsea is a lovely place to walk around, with places of interest like the well, St Thomas church and beacon view point with gorgeous scenery and walks

Town well dating back to 1851. Surrounding building has been well maintained. Access to the pump itself is not permitted as behind locked gates but you can still see the mechanism quite clearly.

Pretty little well house. Another historic site in this beautiful little town. Only take a couple of minutes to see.

It's a lovely town to have a brief look around.

A big church for a small town indicating the cinque port status and importance of Rye in medieval times. An interesting interior with plenty of information panels. The only church I've seen where the clock pendulum extends into the nave. For £5 you can climb the tower and view the clock mechanism and the bells up close. From the tower roof there are fantastic views.

If you visit Rye, you simply cannot mis this Church. It's right in the center of the town. If you managed to climb up to the top of the church, you can get a clear and unobstructed view of the entire town of Rye. And there are a lot of old bells stored on the clock tower.

Beautiful and historic church in the old village of Rye. This historic church has been a dominant feature of the town for over 900 years. However it was extensively damaged in 1377 during a raid by French invaders but was later restored. It has one of the oldest working church turret clocks, installed in 1561-2 and the clock's pendulum swings in the body of the church. An additional feature is the Victorian stained glass windows, Plus for a real treat you can also climb the church tower for a panoramic view of Rye.

Great architecture, ancient church with access to the bell tower and roof. Just a shame they decide to be political.and fly a Palestinian flag instead of the union flag or st George flag

Lovely church. I would recommend taking a trip up the tower. Whilst you do need to pay, this gets you a year pass. The views from the top are well worth it. It's also very interesting passing through the bell chamber and past the bell frame. The passage way is a little narrow, and obviously there are steep steps.

Well worth a visit. The stories and myth that surround this place add a magical element. While lighting a candle, you get the sense that you are listened too. I cannot recommend this church enough.

Such a peaceful vibe - lovely church - welcoming volunteers and soulful surrounds. Worth a visit and a prayer 🙏🏽

St Thomas church is in Winchealsea which is lovely place to walk around. It has gorgeous stained glass windows, grave stone of Spike Milligan in its grounds, nice places to sit down outside and building open to go in.

Wonderful church to look around, the stained glass windows are very beautiful. The pillars with old sea farmers graffiti on are good to amuse children of all ages. Also the graves of what looks like medieval knights or noble men are very well displayed! To finish off out side is Spike Milligan's grave!

This church has such immense history, this alone is impressive, but seeing the remnants of the church as you approach leaves one speechless when you enter the actual church. It is very large and most impressive. But for me, the fact that this is the final resting place of Spike Milligan, whose tombstone can be found just outside the church entrance, was simply a wonderful experience. Winchelsea is a beautiful place to visit, simply amazing.

Lovely peaceful church, full of history with amazing tombs. Also the grave of musician and comedian Spike Milligan.

Positioned fittingly in the centre of Winchelsea is the church dedicated to ‘St Thomas the Martyr’ – Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.  A really peaceful historic church. Well worth a look around. There is a lot of history within the area. The architecture and interior are beautiful and a must for local history enthusiasts. The grounds are so peaceful and absolutely wonderful with all the Graves and flowers everywhere. Took me a while to walk around and absorb the beauty of it all.

Beautiful church definitely worth visiting!

Lovely very old historical church with Spike Milligans grave in the graveyard Big stained glass windows in memory of those whose lost their lives in the First World War.

A beautiful Vineyard with really unique wines and incredibly welcoming owners and staff. We had a really great experience and will surely come back. Truly recommended!

A lovely way to spend an afternoon, overlooking the Brede valley. Chantal made us feel very welcome and gave us a guided tour of the vineyard and their own journey to becoming wine makers. We had the wine and cheese tasting option which was fantastic- local cheeses paired with the wines which are all excellent quality.

Fabulous family owners and run vineyard. We went there on a Friday afternoon and were energetically greeted ahead of enjoying an excellent bottle of the 2017 cuvee with a hamper of cheese, olives, bread, cheese and crisps. We learned about its history and it was clear how passionate ate the family is about producing high quality English wine. A great way to spend a few hours!

We visited the area during a wine staycation visiting 6 vineyards over 4 days. We visited Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Charles Plamer, Woodchurch, Oxney Organic and Wayfarer doing a tour and tastings at each. What a beautiful vineyard to visit. Perfectly situation to visit Rye and Camber Sands before heading here for an afternoon wine tasting or vice versa. Perched on a hill overlooking their vines you get a beautiful vista to enjoy on a beautiful sunny day. They have several places to sit to do their tastings depending on the weather – on the lawn overlooking the vines, on the terrace under the shade with heaters for when the weather cools or inside with an old-world feel. Family owned they also offer accommodation at Wickham Manor which looks stunning and has been used as a film location for Mr Holmes and The Crown. They do everything in-house pressing the grapes, fermenting, ageing and storing in a state of the art hangar. The sparkling wines as you would expect are delicious but we were very impressed by the still Pinot Noir which the 2022 blew us away. The tasting was so different to normal. Unlike most places you go and get a planned selection here we got a personal approach. Up first the classic cuvee which we discussed what we tasted, liked and preferred. After this we moved to the Special Reserve pure Pinot Noir as we prefer drier red fruit-based sparkling before the uber complex Rose 2017 with no added sugar which is ruby red rather than Rose in colour – wow. Finally, that still Pinot Noir which was exceptional. We had already eaten but the cheese and meat board looked amazing. We will book this in future when we come back to taste future vintages. Another amazing part of the tour and tasting is the cellar dogs. They are part of the family and so friendly that our cat got very jealous and started growling at me for giving them attention.

Honestly the best wine tour we have been on. The wine was great and the tour by Andy was so informative. He was friendly, approachable and went out of his way to make sure we had a great time. Learned more about wine than in any tour I have done in France, Italy or California. Can’t recommend enough!

Absolutely wonderful experience. Took my Dad here as a birthday gift and loved it. The staff (husband and wife duo) were really friendly and attentive. We went for the wine and cheese tasting experience, couldn’t recommend highly enough. Our guide was knowledgeable, funny and unpretentious. The setting is small but really cozy and nicely decorated, it reminded me of some of the tasting settings I experienced in Virginia, USA. Thank you for making our experience so special!

Beautiful location and very helpful cellar room staff. Their sparkling wines are far better than their still, as you'd expect. It's worth trying the 2020 Pinot Noir from their still range and all of their sparkling wines. The sparkling rose is very different but also very good.

The Mary Stanford Lifeboat House represents an interesting piece of history but is it worth visiting for itself? Not really as it's basically a shed, that you can't enter, and an information sign. It does make for a good photo opportunity though. This is because it is in a striking setting next to the beach and the walk through the nature reserve is very picturesque. So if you're in the area and strolling along the path then there's no reason not to stop by. Just don't expect a tearoom!

A nice walk round the reserve to discover this building. Was rather quiet which gave an atmospheric feeling after reading what happened there.

Along with Dungerness and the isolated, desolate west coast of the Romney Marsh, this is one of the most enigmatic and solitary places on the South Coast. However, the poignancy of the tragic story which unfolded here a century ago makes it a monument to bravery and self sacrifice. I slept 200 meters away, bivvy style over night, as was walking the coast and wanted to get some good light photos. It's truly a stunningly beautiful place that leaves a great impression on your imagination afterwards.

True but very sad piece of history at this hut in memory of the life boat men who lost their lives from here. Can visit from the cycle/ walking path from winchelsea to rye harbour about the half way point. Lovely walk or cycle on flat ground. Can park near the toilets. Cafe near by too next to the caravan park.

Here the story is told of how a lifeboat crew tragically lost their lives whilst trying to rescue a ship caught in a storm. The lifeboat house is in a wonderfully remote and peaceful area of outstanding natural beauty. A lovely place for dog walking and, or bird watching.

Such a sad story about the life’s lost of all the crew. This beautiful building should be restored to its original glory in memory of all those who died. Worth every step to find this place

Very nice quiet place - lots of local info signs placed to see old and new photos inc the tragic story of the loss of life at sea