The Lookout Rye

Hotels
8 (2014 reviews)
Hilders Cliff , Rye , gb

Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Hiking
Luggage storage
Fishing
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Good value for money
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Breakfast complaints
Need for room refurbishment

Categories

Cleanliness
6.75
Multiple mentions of dirtiness and need for maintenance.
Service
9.25
Staff were described as friendly and helpful.
Location
9.25
Repeatedly mentioned as great location.
Room Quality
7.25
Issues with room cleanliness and outdated rooms.
Amenities
7.25
Some amenities lacking, such as toilet brushes and hair dryers.
Value for Money
8.25
Generally perceived as good value for the price.
Food and Beverage
7.75
Breakfast praised but with significant complaints.
Overall Experience
8.25
Overall good experience despite several issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 16:25

Property Description

Historical Charm and Breathtaking Views
Located in the heart of Rye on the East Cliff, The Lookout Rye offers stunning river views.

Convenient Location and Nearby Attractions
Just steps away from the High Street, guests can easily explore the town's shops, tearooms, and restaurants. Rye Rail Station and the iconic Landgate monument are also within walking distance.

Comfortable and Well-Equipped Rooms
Individually decorated rooms feature modern amenities such as satellite TV, tea/coffee facilities, and telephones for a relaxing stay.

Experience the charm of Rye at The Lookout Rye. Book your stay now to enjoy a memorable getaway.

Important information:

Please note that only the Superior Deluxe Room, Grand Deluxe Room and Suite with Sea View can accommodate extra beds and baby cots.

If you wish to have breakfast for the extra bed, you will need to pay an additional GBP 12.50 per person per night.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LGW

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for £10 per person per stay when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not possible) and costs GBP 8 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 2014 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.75
Service: 9.25
Location: 9.25
Room Quality: 7.25
Amenities: 7.25
Value for Money: 8.25
Food and Beverage: 7.75
Overall Experience: 8.25
J
Jeremy John family_with_children gb
6
A goodish stay which could have been improved by attention to detail
Pros:

The full English was very good. I ordered the kipper which I thought would be a proper fresh kipper, but in fact it was a heated packaged fillet. However the scrambled eggs which accompanied it were perfect

Cons:

The receptionist was half an hour late arriving so we, and several others , weren't able to check in on time.
There was no draft beer, and the chilled cans of Morreti soon ran out as it was a warm day. The bedrooms had a vast selection of tea but no spoons. The sachets of milk ran out at reception and so I was offered a jug of fresh milk which went off by the morning. I felt that the place was running with a skeleton staff and so the very good aspects of the hotel were offset by niggling criticisms.

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
M
Martin extended_group gb
6
Comfortable bed but outside area and first impression not the best!
Pros:

The room itself was really nicely done and had obviously been recently refurnished. Comfortable bed, clean and lovely bathroom.

Cons:

The entrance from the car park and general communal spaces were rather poor, carpet peeling, paintwork rather bad etc. The balcony from our room just need a few extras as very wonky decking and nails sticking up. Can see that these guys have started to do the rooms but it is a real contrast!

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
A
Anne Louise couple fk
10
Beautifully kept hotel in a fascinating location.
Pros:

Fantastic place to stay. Beautiful bedrooms set in an old property with lovely decor. Great staff and outstanding quality breakfast. Everywhere in Rye is easy to access.

Cons:

All good.

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
P
Petra couple be
7
Perfect voor 1 nachtje
Pros:

Ruime kamer ( sauternes )

Cons:

Gebouw heeft zeker wat renovatie nodig . Kamer zelf was proper en viel zeker beter mee
Dan we bij onze aankomst vreesden …
Wederom geen airco .

2026-07-03 via Nuitee
T
TrustedTruthReviews Couples Essex, England
2
NEVER STAY HERE!!!!!
Pros:

Will try and keep it short, but there is so much wrong with this 1 star hotel.
The pictures speaks for its self. Dirty, mouldy, worn out and poor service.
We booked this hotel for 2 nights at £180 A NIGHT. I wouldn't mind if it was nice, but it's not. We go out for the day and get back thinking we will have a nice drink and sit in the beer garden...So we get a drink from the reception come bar and go to sit outside in the cool shade, but we are told, "NO you can't sit out here because there is a private function" you have to sit in the reception" Im a paying guest and you tell me I have to sit in the 4ft by 20ft HOT reception...Now this wasn't just the one night...NO, it was the same the next night. So the 2 nights we were paying guests we have to sit in a HOT reception....REALLY? And the same was told to several other couples. Now about the hotel....You have to park un the car park at the back of the hotel and pay £10 a day for the privilege...Oh and NOBODY comes out to help you get your cases to the reception along the dirty side alley up a lot of steps. Not good if an OAP, disabled and definitely not if you are in a wheelchair.
So we start to go to our deluxe room on the top floor up the worn out dirty carpets and dirt and dust on every surface. We get in the room and it's HOT, not just from the sun beaming in, but because the heating is ON Oh and be careful of the heated towel rail....it burnt me it was so hot. I ask where's the air conditioning....he said "there is a fan in the cupboard" just what you need to blow the heat around in the room. We go out onto the decking area. Take a look at the deluxe room decking pictures and the comfortable seating...NOT. The decking is all loose with teip hazards and the dirty chairs had no cushions. And the decking below for other rooms really wasn't any better. Really needs a tidy up and painting...badly. The windows in the room are dirty and have mould on them and the shower water pressure is poor. The quilt under the cover had stains on it and looks like it has NEVER been washed. And dont get me started on the TINY COLD breakfast....that's NOT INCLUDED in the £180 a night...sitting at a sticky table. I could go on and on, but the pictures speak the truth. Going back to Rye soon, but will DEFINITELY NOT BE REBOOKING INTO THIS 1 STAR HOSTEL.
Be interested to see the hotels....sorry hostels reply.

2026-07-02 via Tripadvisor
S
Sonja couple de
10
Pros:

Frühstück und Service waren sehr gut. Unser Zimmer wurde auf unsere Anfrage hin sogar früher als üblich bezugsfertig gemacht, so dass wir uns direkt etwas ausruhen konnten. Vielen Dank!
Die Atmosphäre des malerischen alten Gebäudes und die Lage direkt in der hübschen Altstadt sind besonders und machen direkt gute Laune!

Cons:

Die Fenster im Zimmer waren sehr zugig, was wegen des kalten und windigen Wetters unangenehm war.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
E
Erna family_with_children de
8
2026-07-01 via Nuitee
S
Shellfirefan Couples
2
Do Not Go!!
Pros:

Appalling! Do not go! I have never been to a hotel more in need of drastic refurbishment. Threadbare carpets throughout the hotel, our rooms (we changed from the first room which had an inch thick layer of furry mould around the fan in the bathroom, but it didn't get much better) both had stains and cigarette marks all over the carpets, bed throw and display cushions (revolting), black marks and large scuffs all over the walls and doors (filthy and sticky), broken tiles in the bathrooms, black mouldy silicon around the bath/shower, stripped, flaking paint on all windows and all over the balcony that looked directly on to the carpet. Walls so thin that you can hear your neighbours, clothes moths fluttering everywhere, bad musty smell, and only one person serving bar and restaurant customers and checking in hotel guests (he looked sweaty and totally overwhelmed). There was absolutely no redeeming factor. This hotel should not be open. They should close it down immediately while they undertake a full refurb. Charging anyone more than £50 to stay is almost criminal. Thoroughly unpleasant experience and we would have moved hotels immediately if every other hotel in Rye wasn't completely booked out at such short notice (and we tried everywhere to try and get away!).

2026-06-29 via Tripadvisor
K
Kinsa couple gb
7
Great location but maybe needs better facilities in the hot weather.
Pros:

Great location. Friendly staff.

Cons:

It was very hot and just a small fan in the room was probably not enough to keep it cool. The balcony area could be made a bit nicer. The outside seating area was also too hot for breakfast as the cover did not provide adequate protection.

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
H
Helen couple gb
1
disappointing overpriced
Pros:

Very tired and a lot of work needed, we stayed for our wedding night and was very disappointed

Cons:

Curtains broken, tired room and building

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
T
Tracey couple gb
6
Lovely break and glad we stayed there. Hope it gets the TLC it needs.
Pros:

Great location and comfortable room. Good breakfast choice and good food. Some staff were great and very attentive and helpful.

Cons:

Bit tired and in need of an update and lick of paint on the outside. Some staff seemed a bit distracted.

2026-06-28 via Nuitee
G
Garrie solo_traveller gb
5
2026-06-28 via Nuitee
L
Lucy couple gb
10
2026-06-28 via Nuitee
M
MARC couple be
9
Zeer aangenaam hotel voor een kort verblijf in Rye
Pros:

zeer goede ligging net uit het centrum met betalende parking achter het hotel (10€ per dag)
zeer ruime en mooi ingerichte kamer, met ruime badkamer en bad
zeer compleet en lekker ontbijt (koud buffet en warm geserveerd aan tafel) in een mooie eetzaal

Cons:

het hotel aan de buitenkant zag er een beetje sjofel en onverzorgd uit. Dit kwam vooral door de lelijke luifel die men boven het buitenterras geplaatst had. Bovendien is het houtwerk (ramen, deuren en balken) aan de buitenkant DRINGEND aan hernieuwing toe. Dit gaf een minder goede eerste indruk...

2026-06-27 via Nuitee
D
David couple gb
8
2026-06-26 via Nuitee
R
Rens & Elly solo_traveller nl
8
Prima hotel in een leuk dorpje op loopafstand
Pros:

Net hotel met veel kamers. Prima ontbijt met lekkere koffie naar keuze.

Cons:

Niets

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
I
Ingrid solo_traveller nl
5
Matig
Pros:

Eigenlijk niet veel.

Cons:

De kozijnen zagen er slecht uit
Vloerbedekking kapot
Badkamer oud

2026-06-23 via Nuitee
S
Shelley couple au
10
absolutely lovely room and bathroom with verandah overlooking the water. exceptional room.
Pros:

Room and bathroom were exceptional! lovely big bathroom with deep bath which we indulged in.

2026-06-22 via Nuitee
F
Franciscus solo_traveller nl
8
Pros:

Leuk knus hotel. Heeft wel onderhoud nodig.
Leuke bar binnen loopagstand

2026-06-22 via Nuitee
C
Colin solo_traveller gb
8
Pros:

Staff were friendly and helpful.
Beds were extremely comfortable and room was very big / spacious.
Lovely outside bar selling cold drinks.
Hotel is situated perfectly in rye close to all local amenities.

Cons:

We booked a suite and discovered that what appeared to be a king size bed was 2 singles pushed together, which we felt was disappointing. When discussing this with the staff they said it was the same in every suite.

No food served at outside bar - only olives.

Suite had outside balcony, however, the decking is very perished and could do with a refurb - especially the balustrade which was loose to the point of being dangerous. Although the suite was clean and tidy the interiors are well overdue for a refurb as well.

2026-06-21 via Nuitee