Rye Castle Museum - Ypres Tower — Attraction in Rother

I really can't recommend this little museum highly enough. We had a lovely welcome with extra information freely offered. No, it isn't a National Trust property with the familiar and frankly somewhat bland approach and no, there isn't a gift shop selling foam swords, bags of fudge and blankets with no relevance to location... thank goodness their gift shop sells local books and a couple of odds and sods visitors may choose to purchase. The Chambers upstairs have some fun artefacts and it didn't bother me at all that the condemned cell was open... but being used to store a couple of boxes. I'm not being sarcastic, I genuinely like the fact that this is a very small, very old castle rather humble attraction being run by local people who have a passion for their shared history. The tiny enclosed garden at the back is nice to stroll through for a visit to the women's jail, where you can listen to a pair of very short tempered ladies having a barny about prison life. I would suggest asking about the story behind the skeleton in the gibbet and...

Very modest local history museum. Entry fee is UKP 4 for an adult. small kids (maximum 3) get free entry. The items on display aren't very special, and it's a small place that won't occupy your time for more than 20 minutes. The tower itself is more appealing and rewarding than the inside. There's an authentic women's prison cell which is interesting, simple multimedia presentation included. The place does offer special activities for children, and for families with smaller fry it might be worth a visit. Not suitable for disabled people!

If you do visit, make sure to drop by at the adjacent Ypres Castle Inn, a pub that offers a good selection of ales, solid food and a great view from the outside...

This is a great stop off to make during a day out in Rye. It's a small chunk of local history! £5 entry for adults, kids under 16 are free. There is just enough to read and look at without it being boring for kids and just enough to learn about for the adults too. Lovely views from the terrace on a sunny day and added interest in the form of the women's prison tower.

After a walk around the Ypres Tower have a walk through the gun garden, visit the pub and then either down to the salts, find the watch bell on a street nearby or make your way back through town and to the church or high street with its many...