Playden Forge is located close to the Historic town of Rye in East Sussex, a delightful photogenic place with a uniquely unhurried atmosphere. Its cobbled streets and beautifully preserved historic houses from medieval, Tudor and Georgian times are easily discovered on foot. Rye, with Winchelsea, was an "Antient Town" in the Cinque Ports Federation, responsible for providing ships and men to the king for the defence of England and in return receiving privileges which almost amounted to self-government. In the 13^th century the Federation was one of the richest and most important maritime economics in Europe - and Rye one of the most important members. With the silting up of its rivers, Rye declined as a maritime power - it is now two miles from the sea - but there is still much evidence in Rye of its shipbuilding, fishing, trading and smuggling past, not least in the two sites of the Rye Museum - the Ypres Tower (built c1249) and on East Street.

The best place to get your bearings for exploring Rye is at the Heritage Centre on Strand Quay where 700 years of the town's eventful past is brought to life through a sound and light show centred on a beautifully crafted town model. Historic (and ghost) audio walking tours and working Old Pier Amusement machines are also available.

A further way to get an overview of what Rye has to offer is to visit the church which crowns the town and climb to the top of its tower. There you will have panoramic views of the red-roofed town with its secret gardens, its three converging rivers, the sheep-dotted Romney Marsh and the sea in the distance. Rye is the sort of place that you thought existed only in your imagination.

The town still has a busy fishing fleet and fresh fish can be bought direct from the fishermen at Fishmarket Quay. For those wishing to eat out, Rye has a wide variety of pubs, inns and excellent restaurants, many of these in historic buildings. What could be more perfect in cool weather than enjoying a lunch or afternoon tea in front of a roaring log fire in one of the many charming locations - the famous Mermaid Inn for example.

Rye is renowned for its annual Rye Arts Festival - judged one of the best in the country - but also has many but also has many other interesting events throughout the year such as Rye Bonfire Night in November and a Scallop Festival in February, also highly-rated nationally.

There is much to see and do in the surrounding area. Just three miles from Rye is her sister Antient Town of Winchelsea. So important to the realm had been Old Winchelsea that when it was devastated by the worst of 13^th century storms, King Edward I saw to it that a New Winchelsea was built more safely on its present hill - England's first "planned town." Its many charms include a number of impressive cellars from the medieval wine trade and glorious gardens open to the public on certain days of the year.

A walk to Camber Castle can be highly recommended. Lying between Rye and Winchelsea, this was one of Henry VIII's defence forts but was made obsolete by the sea's desertion; it is now an English Heritage site. And there is a great deal to see, do and learn at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - "Wild Rye."

For sporting activities there are several local golf clubs, a water sports centre, kite surfing, fishing and tennis - all a short drive away. Of course the sandy beaches of Camber and pebbles of Winchelsea Beach will keep children busy for hours and during the winter these are lovely places to walk and enjoy the fresh sea air. Other nearby attractions include the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, and the Kent and Sussex Railway - both of them premier steam railways, enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Also a short drive away is the Chapel Down Vineyard - home to England's premium wine producer and well worth a visit and a tour of the vineyard.

Why not visit the recently opened Jerwood Gallery in Hastings, situated right on the seafront and nestled between the famous Hastings fishing huts and the historic old town. The Jerwood Gallery, little sister of the influential Jerwood space in London, houses some of the most exciting paintings produced in the 20^th and 21^st centuries as well as supporting young artists through its charitable arm, the Jerwood Foundation. It is less than 25 minutes drive from Playden Forge.

For the garden enthusiast Kent and East Sussex have many wonderful gardens to visit and many an hour can be spent discovering these and enjoying homemade tea and cakes in their tea rooms. Hole Park in Rolvenden, Great Dixter in Northiam and the famous Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in Sissinghurst are just three examples.

Not far from Rye is another of the famous Cinque Ports: Hastings. Today, Hastings Old Town is a charming mix of half-timbered houses, narrow streets and passageways, known locally as 'twittens'. Hastings is also home to the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe. At low tide the remains of the Dutch East Indiaman 'Amsterdam' wrecked in 1749 can be seen, and as in Rye, in the 18^th Century smugglers stored contraband goods in hidey holes throughout Hastings Old Town. Popular family attractions in the Old Town are the Blue Reef Aquarium, Fishermen's Museum and Shipwreck Museum.

Further afield is the medieval city of Canterbury. Visitors who take the time to walk the maze of intriguing side streets will find a rewarding variety of interesting buildings, shops, pubs and cafes. Of course the City is dominated by its famous cathedral whose history goes back to 597 AD; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must for any visit to Canterbury.

For those wishing to make a day trip to France, there are choices: a Eurostar train from Ashford, a Eurotunnel train from Folkestone, a ferry from Dover or a plane from Lydd Airport. Just don't forget to pack your passport!

You will find more detailed information on the attractions mentioned by doing a Google search, but these sites can be especially recommended and will lead you to others: -

Rye Museum http://www.ryemuseum.co.uk/

Rye Sussex http://www.ryesussex.co.uk/

Visit Rye http://www.visitrye.co.uk/

Wild Rye http://www.wildrye.info/reserve/

For more ideas please visit our 'things to do' section on the website.