A relaxing old-fashioned air pervades Bexhill. Stroll on the promenade or the beach, and see what’s on at the De La Warr Pavilion, the sensational modernist arts centre that dominates the seafront.
Towns near Rye
Tenterden
Full of handsome red-brick architecture, Tenderden feels like the quintessential English market town. Its thriving high street has a mix of independent shops, high-end chains and antique shops, and the Kent & East Sussex Railway also starts here. Just outside the town is Small Hythe, home to Smallhythe Place and the Chapel Down vineyard.
Battle
Site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, this quiet town is anything but turbulent now. The ruined Battle Abbey, built by William the Conqueror to celebrate his victory, and the battlefield itself are open to the public courtesy of English Heritage.
The town has a pretty high street with lots of boutiques and independent shops – especially food shops, from a traditional butcher and fishmonger to ice cream.
Ashford
If you fancy a day of big-name shopping, Ashford has pretty much every retail chain you can think of, while the Ashford Designer Outlet includes more than 80 stores offering discounted goods, including Barbour, Jaeger, Kurt Geiger and Ted Baker.