Our weekend in {RYE & CAMBER SANDS}:

In the heart of Rye, The Whitehouse is an intimate retreat that combines a neighbourhood bakery with contemporary, cozy and affordable rooms. By day, the café bustles with locals and visitors alike who come for freshly baked treats and artisanal coffees.

A short drive from Rye, a stay at Tillingham is an experience rooted in the surrounding vineyard. The rooms feature modern, contemporary interiors with eclectic design touches including vintage furniture and colourful textiles. It’s the perfect place to stay after a winery tour and tasting, especially if you’ve decided to drink all the wine during the tasting!

Images: https://tillingham.com/visit/stay/

Steps away from Camber Sands, The Gallivant has a contemporary beach chic vibe, bringing a slice of California cool to the English coast. This upscale lodge has stylish if compact rooms and perfect for a laid-back beach escape, but it does have a premium price tag. The bar and restaurant are highlights, serving refined dishes made from local ingredients. There is a lovely outdoor terrace to enjoy when the weather permits.

Tillingham is a contemporary winery offering that we mentioned earlier, that offers an exciting and immersive wine experience to guests or visitors. It is just a 10 minute drive from Rye. We enjoyed a guided tour, where we learned about their biodynamic wine production methods, followed by a tasting session. The wines themselves are natural and organic and something of an acquired taste and one we’re personally yet to acquire! But the tour and the whole experience was very enjoyable.

On our summer visit we loved the outdoor pizza barn, with its rustic charm and artisanal pizzas crafted with fresh ingredients. Inside, the café and restaurant echo the winery’s industrial-chic style with exposed beams and polished concrete, offering everything from snacks to full dinners. Each meal is an extension of the Tillingham ethos, combining fresh, local ingredients with a distinctive twist.

Camber Sands is a quintessential British beach, known for its expansive sands and wild, rolling dunes. It’s a real mix of styles, with upmarket beachfront properties and the Gallivant nearby but also cheap and cheerful cafés serving fry ups!

Beware that during peak season traffic from Rye can be a nightmare, so arriving early is essential to bag a parking space and avoid the jams. Out of season, however, we had the beach almost to ourselves, exploring the dunes, taking long coastal walks.

The Gallivant mentioned earlier is a dining destination open to non-residents and we had a lovely dinner there on our last trip. Like the hotel itself, the vibe here is beachside sophistication. The menu features locally sourced, seasonal dishes.. The design is relaxed yet stylish, with a beach-house feel and an inviting bar area. On warmer days, the outdoor terrace is a perfect spot for a leisurely meal or to have drinks after a day on the beach.

Images: https://thegallivant.co.uk/eat-drink/

We had a lovely lunch at The Fig that serves fresh, beautifully prepared dishes with a Middle Eastern, Ottolengi feel. The interior has a warm, welcoming vibe and the service is friendly. Our favourite tables are the ones by the window with a view out onto the high street.

Images: https://thefigrye.com

For breakfast or brunch, Whitehouse Café our favourite spot in Rye. The café serves a variety of freshly baked goods and hearty breakfast plates. The open, light-filled interior has a cool, contemporary but casual vibe. We also picked up freshly made sandwiches, salads and quiches for a beach picnic on our last visit.

A weekend in Rye and Camber Sands is the perfect combination of historic charm, coastal scenery and modern luxury. Rye’s shops, galleries and cafés make it an idyllic place for strolling around, while Camber Sands offers the quintessential British beach experience, with wide sands and wild dunes.