Aimless ambling is pretty much Rye's pace, but first thing's first, take a trip up the church tower - though perhaps not before a visit to Knoops for a fortifying hot chocolate (or milkshake). It's a very vertiginous experience, but to the brave it will bestow an extraordinary perspective on the town.

Next, hit the High Street and be sure to visit Adams of Rye, an experience akin to time travel as this Rye institution has changed little over the decades - special mention for the toy shop upstairs! You have little chance, I'm sorry to say, of being granted admission to the workshops which lie behind a tightly guarded door at the back of the shop, but here is a glimpse inside the place where the Scribble & Daub magic happens...   

This is a town you can wander to your hearts content, taking in the many junk shops and boutiques as you go. You're spoilt for choice, but don't miss haberdashery heaven at Merchant & Mills, our fantastic stockists, lifestyle & homeware store Rae (and their new outpost at Camber Landing) and the secular temple to vintage furniture and design that is Soap & Salvation, a shop I love so much, that thanks to owners Jo & Barrie's generosity, we photographed our new Christmas cards & print collection there recently. Explore the Festive & Prints pages of our shop to see the results...

If you find yourself in search of sustenance after all that wandering, The White House always has a tempting array of home baked sweet & savoury treats to eat in or take out (see below) and whilst I've yet to go, I've heard rave reviews of The Union and it's top of my list to visit...

The illustration at the top of this piece is the view looking out to the river and the Rye marshes, created for a branding project with The Lookout a few years ago (a sister hotel to The George). It's well worth venturing beyond the town itself as Rye is surrounded by natural beauty. Camber sands, location for Corinne Day's notorious 90s photoshoot with Kate Moss is a long walk, a reasonable cycle or a short drive away. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a paradise for birders and scooting toddlers alike, and if you head to Winchelsea beach and can find the Red Pig Van in the layby, you won't be sorry.

Finally, if you're in the area, it would be quite remiss to miss the greatest garden of all, Great Dixter - just a short drive from Rye and an earthly paradise for anyone with even the slightest horticultural leanings; it is without shadow of doubt my favourite place to be.