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Home » Europe » United Kingdom » Where to Stay in Whitby: The BEST Areas in 2024

Where to Stay in Whitby: The BEST Areas in 2024

Picture this: cobblestone lanes snaking through a tapestry of charming corners and cottages. A symphony of seagulls serenades from above, lured by the fresh fish and chips aroma. The North Sea glistens in the distance. Welcome to Whitby!

Practically overflowing with classic English charm, Whitby is one of those rare places that seems to have been suspended in time. Tea rooms beckon at every corner, perfectly complementing those quirky boutiques and historical sites.

As every traveler knows, your choice of accommodation can easily make or break your trip, which is why it’s so important to find a place that matches your budget and expectations.

If this is your first time visiting this maritime town, don’t worry. I’ll guide you precisely on where to stay in Whitby , ensuring you get the best bang for your buck!

Top 3 Recommendations for Where to Stay in Whitby

Whitby neighborhood guide – places to stay in whitby, 5 best areas to stay in whitby, what to pack for whitby, final thoughts on where to stay in whitby.

Planning a relaxing weekend in Whitby? Or perhaps you’d like to embark on an epic backpacking adventure across the UK ? Well, be sure to check out my top 3 recommendations for where to stay!

Duke of York | Best Hotel in Whitby

If you’re wondering where to stay in Whitby for the nightlife, I can absolutely vouch for the Duke of York Hotel. Guests can take their pick from numerous room configurations that can accommodate up to four.

Not only does this space offer comfortable rooms for two to four guests , but it’s also close to popular pubs and restaurants – perfect for taking in that lively nightlife!

When you don’t feel like going out, rest assured that the hotel does provide evening entertainment.

Centrally-Located Condo with Harbor Views | Best Airbnb in Whitby

Enjoy stunning sea and city views from this centrally located loft apartment!

With two bedrooms for four guests, this space places you right in the heart of the city. You’ll find numerous tearooms nearby – not to mention the best fish and chip spots in Whitby.

After a day of sun and sea, you can always whip up a meal in the well-equipped kitchen or pop into the pub opposite the street for dinner.

YHA Whitby | Best Hostel in Whitby

As one of the rare few hostels in Whitby, YHA has plenty to offer – including private rooms with en-suite or shared bathrooms. Other on-site amenities include a shared kitchen, bar, lounge, and meeting rooms.

Because it’s located on Whitby’s headland, this hostel offers easy access to the town center, the beach, and the cobbled quayside.

If you’re interested in the local history, you can always head over to the nearby Whitby Museum.

Curious to learn more? You can find amazing hostels in the UK . You’re sure to have the best stay!

Whitby Town Center

If this is your first time exploring this gorgeous North Yorkshire parish, then I would say that one of the best places to stay in Whitby is in the lively town center! As the very heartbeat of this gorgeous maritime village, Whitby’s town center holds heaps of hidden treasures at every turn.

Robin Hood’s Bay

Okay, this ridiculously charming area may not be exactly in Whitby as such, but it’s just a 15-minute drive away. More importantly, Robin Hood’s Bay is known for its laid-back vibe and affordable prices- both in terms of accommodation and attractions.

It’s no secret that one of the best places in Whitby for nightlife is the town center. If you would rather stay away from the crowds while still enjoying proximity to the pubs though, I would totally recommend Flowergate.

As one of the coolest neighborhoods in Whitby, West Cliff certainly packs a punch! True to its name, West Cliff is known for its steep roads that run alongside the cliffside, providing dramatic views of the ocean.

If you’re wondering why Sandsend is such a great summer destination, wait until you see this little coastal village located less than 2 miles from Whitby! One of the best things about staying in Sandsend is that it offers the same gorgeous coastline as Whitby without having to deal with the usual flocks of tourists.

Largely popularized by Bram Stoker’s Dracula , Whitby is positively infused with historic charm! The good news is that it’s quite a compact town, making it easy for you to comfortably explore this beautiful place in the UK on foot.

If this is your first time visiting Whitby, I would recommend that you stay in the Town Center , known for its lively ambiance and historical landmarks like Whitby Abbey.

Travelers who are after a more energetic ambiance may wish to drop anchor in Flowergate , an uphill neighborhood known for its pubs and coffee shops. Friday nights are quite animated in Flowergate with locals and tourists alike spilling into the pubs for a classic pint.

Whitby isn’t an overly expensive destination, but if you’re a budget backpacker , you can always check out Robin Hood’s Bay . Located just outside Whitby, this neighborhood was designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

For dramatic views, head to the West Cliff neighborhood, which packs plenty of great activities, including golfing, historic lighthouses, or even Goth festivals.

In my opinion, one of the best Whitby destinations for families is Sandsend , located within walking distance from the town center. This neighborhood is also known for its Old Railway Line and Geocache Arts Trail.

Ready to rumble? Let’s take a look at the 5 best areas in Whitby!

1. Whitby Town Center – Where to Stay in Whitby for First-Timers

If this is your first time exploring this gorgeous North Yorkshire parish, then I would say that one of the best places to stay in Whitby is in the lively town center!

As the very heartbeat of this gorgeous maritime village , Whitby’s town center holds heaps of hidden treasures at every turn.

In my opinion, a visit to the iconic Whitby Abbey ruins should absolutely feature at the very top of your list of things to see in the town center. Infused with history (and a hefty dose of folklore), this abbey also offers the ideal setting for taking in magnificent coastal views .

With art galleries, cafes, and boutiques galore, the town center is also ideal for indulging in a bit of shopping. You’ll find homemade souvenirs at every turn – including plenty of traditional confectionary stores offering Whitby classics like Liquorice Allsorts, rock candy, and fudge.  

The Angel Hotel Wetherspoon | Best Hotel in Whitby Town Center

Located just 10 minutes from the coastline, The Angel Hotel Wetherspoon offers numerous room configurations, including family-friendly accommodation.

The property commands an excellent location in one of the best Whitby neighborhoods. You’ll also enjoy proximity to Whitby Harbor, Sneaton Castle, and Whitby Abbey.

After an exciting day of sightseeing, treat yourself to a scrumptious meal at the on-site restaurant, which serves classic British pub fare.

Centrally-Located Condo with Harbor Views | Best Airbnb in Whitby Town Center

With two bedrooms for four guests, this space places you right in the heart of the city. You’ll find numerous tearooms nearby- not to mention the best Fish and Chip spots in Whitby.

YHA Whitby | Best Hostel in Whitby Town Center

As one of the few hostels in Whitby, YHA has plenty to offer, including private rooms with en-suite or shared bathrooms. Other on-site amenities include a shared kitchen, bar, lounge, and meeting rooms.

Because it’s located on Whitby’s headland, this hostel offers easy access to the town center, the beach, and the cobbled quayside. If you’re interested in the local history, you can always head over to the nearby Whitby Museum.

If you’re looking for a vibrant and welcoming community atmosphere, check out our curated list of the best hostels in York .

Things to Do in Whitby Town Center

• Take a self-guided audio tour to learn more about Whitby’s fascinating legends.
• Be awed by Whitby Abbey, a 7 th -century Benedictine Monastery that served as inspiration for Dracula.
• Mosey around the Whitby Museum, home to Captain Cook exhibits, ship models, fossils, and artifacts.
• Relax at Pannett Park, a lovely green lung speckled with fountains and floral displays.

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2. Robin Hood’s Bay – Where to Stay in Whitby on a Budget

Okay, this ridiculously charming area may not be exactly in Whitby as such, but it’s just a 15-minute drive away. More importantly, Robin Hood’s Bay is known for its laid-back vibe and cheap accommodations .

Dubbed ‘The Bay Town’ by the locals, this village supposedly earned its name after Robin Hood fought off French pirates who were trying to pillage the local fishermen’s boats.

Officially designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty, this former smuggler’s hideout features a landscape of multi-hued cottages built directly into the ocean-facing cliffsides.

The village also lends itself well to fans of the great outdoors since it offers excellent hiking opportunities like the Cleveland Way.

Keep your eyes peeled for the famous Boggle Hole, an absolute hidden gem in the UK . For a slice of history, you can also check out the Old Watermill, located on the clifftops. According to local legends, this is where the smugglers used to meet to devise their plans.

Grosvenor Hotel | Best Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay

Nestled right at the heart of the North York Moors National Park, this hotel features comfortable rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities.

Kickstart each day with a full English breakfast before heading out to explore nearby spots like Robin Hood’s Bay. Back at the hotel, you can chill in the family-friendly bar, which regularly features live music.

The Flask Inn | Another Great Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay

Not only does this hotel house an award-winning restaurant, but it also has an excellent location smack dab in the gorgeous North Yorkshire countryside !

With Whitby and its exciting attractions just a quick drive away, this hotel boasts several room types, including Family and Quadruple units for groups. Each room provides a fridge for those late-night snacks!

Want to learn more? You can find incredible hotels with private hot tubs in Yorkshire . Don’t miss the experience!

Feathers Nest Cottage | Best Airbnb in Robin Hood’s Bay

Travelers looking for the best places to stay in Whitby may wish to check out the Feathers Nest Cottage, located just a short distance from the town center.

Ideal for couples and solo travelers, this reconverted barn offers glorious ocean and countryside views. All the comforts of home await, including a kitchen. With a stay in this cottage, you’ll be close to the coastal Cinder Track.

Things to Do in Robin Hood’s Bay

• Go rock pooling and fossil hunting on Robin Hodd’s Bay Beach, one of the best spots in England for amateur fossil hunters.
• Hike the Cleaveland Way National Trail , which offers 109 miles of gorgeous scenery- including a secret spot known as Boggle Hole!
• Check out the Old Coastguard Station, which lies right by the harbor.
• Take in some history at St. Stephens Church that dates back to 1822.
• Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea, while enjoying waterfall views from the Falling Foss Waterfall & Tea Garden.

3. Flowergate – Where to Stay in Whitby for Nightlife

It’s no secret that one of the best places in Whitby for nightlife is the town center. If you would rather stay away from the crowds while still enjoying proximity to the pubs, though, I would totally recommend Flowergate.

First things first, though: Flowergate is located uphill, so you do need your best walking shoes ! The ascent starts near the waterfront and takes you further inland through a gradual incline.

Since Flowergate houses some of the most popular independent businesses in Whitby, you’ll find plenty of interesting spots to break your climb, including coffee shops like Java or Sherlocks.

Located in West Whitby, Flowergate also happens to be one of the top shopping destinations in the city.

In the evening, you can always check out local spots like Little Angel, a lively pub that’s super popular among the locals. To experience classic British pub culture, I can also recommend a visit to The Station Inn and The Endeavor.

Duke of York | Best Hotel in Flowergate

 Not only does this space offer comfortable rooms for two to four guests, but it’s also close to popular pubs and restaurants- perfect for taking in that lively nightlife!

The Station Inn Whitby | Another Great Hotel in Flowergate

Set just a short walk from the beach, the Station Inn Whitby features regular and executive rooms to sleep up to two guests.

Family rooms add a sofa bed to comfortably sleep groups of four. Every room has a coffee machine, ensuring that you wake up to a hot brew each morning!

Travelers will be glad to learn that there are lots of things to do in York and Flowergate. Dalby Forest, Robin Hood’s Bay, and Pannett Park are just a short distance away.

Fleur Cottage for 6 | Best Airbnb in Flowergate

Perfect for six guests, this 400-year-old cottage lies in a traditional courtyard just on the outskirts of Flowergate.

With a stay at this cottage, you’ll be within walking distance of the many vintage shops, cafes, and pubs speckled around Whitby.

Offering three bedrooms, this space comes with classic home comforts, including an open-plan kitchen.

Things to Do in Flowergate

• Sip on a pint at the Little Angel Pub, a historic, pet-friendly institution that’s quite popular with the locals.
• Take a gin distillery tour , complete with tasting sessions.
•  Hit the many Flowergate boutiques offering art, jewelry, clothing, and unique crafts.
• Head to the Elsinore Inn, a traditional pub with a delightful goth ambiance, live music, and quality cask ales.

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4. West Cliff – Coolest Neighborhood in Whitby

As one of the coolest neighborhoods in Whitby, West Cliff certainly packs a punch!

True to its name, West Cliff is known for its steep roads that run alongside the cliffside, providing dramatic views of the ocean.

Easily one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Whitby, the West Cliff area offers the ideal setting for enjoying a moment of seclusion after exploring the bustling center.

One of the (many) great things about staying in West Cliff is that it has something fun for everyone. Golf aficionados, for example, can check out Whitby Golf Club or the Arnold Palmer Putting Course, which features a watermill, a windmill, and a lighthouse.

If visiting in April or October, you can also attend the legendary Goth Weekend which is usually held twice a week at the Whitby Pavilion.

The Resolution Hotel | Best Hotel in West Cliff

Here’s an excellent choice for travelers who want to be right where the action is!

Housed in an old mansion building, this hotel is close to Whitby Abbey, the Crescent Gardens, and the South Seas Garden.

All rooms feature traditional décor with modern accents. Select units offer views of the harbor that was featured in the novel Dracula . The hotel also boasts an on-site bar and restaurant.

Victoria Hotel | Another Great Hotel in West Cliff

Victoria Hotel is easily one of the best places to stay in Whitby- and for good reason!

Nestled just 15 minutes away from West Cliff, this hotel offers refined family rooms that can easily sleep two adults and two kids.

Each morning, you can begin your day with a hearty complimentary breakfast before heading out to explore nearby spots like the beautiful Yorkshire Heritage Coast and Gothland.

West Cliff Fisherman’s Cottage | Best Airbnb in West Cliff

With two bedrooms to accommodate up to four guests, this classic Fisherman’s Cottage is conveniently located near Cook’s View and Whitby Beach.

After exploring the surroundings, you can always relax by the fireplace in the lounge or rustle up a snack in the kitchen. Plenty of rustic touches await, including spiral, lighthouse-like stairs, and a lantern-lit bedroom.

Things to Do in West Cliff

• Climb the 199 Steps that were mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
• Attend the twice-yearly Whitby Goth Weekend, one of the most unique festivals in the UK .
• Visit the Whitby Spa Pavilion, a lively venue that regularly hosts live shows.
• Attend the 170-year-old Whitby Regatta, which takes place in August each year.

5. Sandsend – Where to Stay in Whitby for Families

If you’re wondering why Sandsend is such a great summer destination, wait until you see this little coastal village located less than 2 miles from Whitby! It’s also perfect for family traveling full-time , regarding its accommodation options and family-friendly activities.

One of the best things about staying in Sandsend is that it offers the same gorgeous coastline as Whitby without having to deal with the usual flocks of tourists. In fact, you can easily walk the 3-mile coastal walk to Whitby while admiring gorgeous coastal views along the way.

Sandsend’s Geocache Arts Trail is a super popular activity among families. Trail booklets are usually available for free at most stores, and you can easily download the geocaching app to your phone. Kids will also enjoy exploring the Old Railway Line, which runs from Whitby to Middlesbrough.

The Woodlands | Best Hotel in Sandsend

A lovely retreat for parents traveling with children, The Woodlands Hotel offers garden-view family rooms fitted with a large double bed and two single beds. Cots can be provided upon request.

With a stay at this hotel, you’ll be close to the Whitby Museum, the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, and the Alice in Wonderland Garden. At the end of the day, parents can treat themselves to a drink at the hotel’s on-site bar.

Penny Hedge, Whitby by Marston’s Inns | Another Great Hotel in Sandsend

Here’s another great option for families visiting Whitby! Located near Whitby Harbor and the historic Abbey, this hotel offers Family Rooms to accommodate up to three guests.

The hotel does feature an on-site restaurant serving British cuisine, but you can also check out nearby eateries like the Riverside Fisheries, located just over one km away. Kids and adults will both appreciate the hotel’s proximity to family-friendly spots like the South Seas Garden and the Whitby Lighthouse.

Seafront 18th Century House | Best Airbnb in Sandsend

Enjoy direct beach access with a stay in this delightful 18th-century house!

One of the best places to stay in Whitby for families, this space even comes with a play area for the little ones. With five bedrooms for eight guests, the house lies close to the North York Moors National Park.

A homely environment awaits, complete with a Pack ‘n’ Play and a kitchen.

Things to Do in Sandsend

• Embark on a Captain Cook Cruise on a replica of the HMS Endeavour which was sailed by the real Captain Cook himself.
• Take the family to the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.
• Build sandcastles with the kids on the Blue-Flag Sandsend Beach.
• Climb onboard a classic steam train at the Whitby Railway Station.
• Amble through the North York Moors National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in the U.K .

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Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for Whitby

And don’t forget to take out travel insurance for your trip! Whitby is safe, but if you’re anything like me, you WILL need insurance. Stay protected and get insured for maximum peace of mind.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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From gothic haunts to heritage mansions, there are heaps of excellent spots to lay your head in this maritime town!

One of my favorite Whitby neighborhoods is no doubt the town center, since it’s got such a bustling, energetic vibe to it.

If you’re still not sure where to stay, I can totally recommend this Centrally-Located Condo with Harbor Views , which provides all the comforts of home at the very heart of the city.  

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Sophie Steinebach

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At the Whitby in New York, Warm Service, Sophisticated Design

The hotel has a distinctive look, a personable staff and a lively afternoon tea.

By Shivani Vora

From $595 including Wi-Fi.

The Whitby Hotel, a property with a serious design personality, opened in February 2017 in midtown Manhattan, part of London-based Firmdale Hotels, a brand with eight properties in London and one other in New York City. Firmdale’s first New York property, Crosby Street Hotel, in Soho, opened in 2009 and is considered to be among the city’s most fashionable accommodations. The company’s co-owner and design director, Kit Kemp, has a flair for creating unique hotels, and the Whitby, too, is a place with serious design personality: each of the 86 rooms is individually decorated, and original art by contemporary artists from around the world adorns both guest rooms and public spaces.

The Whitby is on 56th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Trump Tower, a popular tourist spot ever since Donald J. Trump was elected as the president, is steps away. While this may deter some overnight guests because of the crowds snapping pictures, the property’s central location is undoubtedly appealing: attractions such as Rockefeller Center, Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art, top restaurants and the stores on Fifth Avenue are all within walking distance. Taxis are readily available, and several subways are within a 10-minute walk including the N, R, F and E lines.

My 350-square-foot room felt like being in a guest room in the home of a friend whose design style I admire. The colorful, contemporary space had black fabric walls, a textured pink and beige rug, a long wooden desk with an upholstered lime green chair and a small sitting area with two orange patterned chairs. And could I please buy the luxuriously comfortable king-size bed with a high headboard upholstered in orange for my bedroom at home? The nine-foot high ceilings made the room feel larger than it was, and because the property wasn’t full, the personable front desk employee had upgraded me one level upon check-in from the entry level superior category to the luxury category; the Whitby has nine categories of rooms, all with 55-inch flat screen televisions.

The Bathroom

The Whitby’s chic but approachable design sensibility extended to the generously sized bathroom. With its black and white gleaming marble walls and floors, it was modern, but the two free-standing white ceramic sinks brought in an old-fashioned feel (there was a shower but no tub). Instead of the generic white robes common at many hogh-end hotels, the pair here had elegant blue piping, and I loved the heavenly lavender eucalyptus scent in the Rik Rak by Kit Kemp toiletries.

The Whitby Bar & Restaurant , an all-day spot that offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails; a small but well-equipped gym; a 130-seat movie theater with screenings on Sunday afternoons, open to both guests and the general public (guests can attend for free; tickets for non-guests are $15); and a small drawing room with an honesty bar where guests can pour themselves a drink and request that it be charged to their room.

The restaurant is especially lively at breakfast and during afternoon tea, available in both a traditional style with finger sandwiches and scones as well as in a healthy version with dishes such as a roasted beet and melon taco and an avocado and green chickpea crostini ( the tea is a pricey $54 a person ). I enjoyed a tasty and satisfying breakfast at the restaurant of house-made gluten-free granola, yogurt, mixed berries, nuts and lemonade (breakfast is $30 a person). Room service is also an option, and with rooms so stylish, ordering in is a tempting choice.

The Bottom Line

With its central location, warm service and sophisticated but homey feel, the Whitby stands out in a city where travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to upscale accommodations.

The Whitby Hotel, 18 West 56th Street, New York City thewhitbyhotel.com

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About Whitby

The pretty North York Coast fishing town where Captain James Cook honed his sailing skills, Whitby offers a brilliant blend of seaside charm, heaps of history — including the ruined abbey which inspired ‘Dracula’ — and a lively vibe, with cafes and shops aplenty. This is also an excellent base for hikers eager to explore the North York Moors. Accommodation options range from historic coastal inns to elegantly restored farmhouses, catering to a whole host of budgets and tastes. Many of the best places to stay in Whitby are small, family-run and surprisingly affordable, making it an attractive choice for a seaside holiday.

Visitors in search of the quintessential British coastal escape will be thrilled by Whitby’s miles of golden Blue Flag beaches, the lovely Victorian promenade, and the abundance of fresh seafood. Split in the middle by the River Esk, Whitby is a town of two halves: the fishing port of East Cliff to one side, and the elegant Victorian seaside resort of West Cliff – home to amusement arcades, luxurious historic guesthouses and the famous Whitby Beach – on the other. Stay in West Cliff for impressive views over the town and Whitby Abbey across the water, or venture to nearby Sandsend for a quieter beachfront escape.

Stroll the promenade, pop into the fun independent shops on Grape Lane, and perch in a seafront cafe for a cup of coffee or a delicious seafood lunch. Children will adore setting sail on a traditional wooden ship, trips on the steam railway, and a spot of crabbing in the rock pools by the shore.

If you’re in Whitby for the ghost stories, don’t miss St Mary’s Churchyard, packed with the gravestones of pirates, or a wander around the gaunt ruins of Whitby Abbey, which so fascinated Bram Stoker. Walking tours come highly recommended: there’s nothing like a ghost story in a foggy graveyard, is there?

Whether it’s the sandy beaches, the mysterious history of pirates and smugglers, or the proximity to the North York Moors National Park which have piqued your interest, the best places to stay in Whitby are all wonderfully cosy spots to soak up the area’s many marvels. And that’s without even mentioning the lure of endless fish and chips!

The best places to stay in Whitby

For historic whitby town.

• The White Horse and Griffin is one of Whitby’s most iconic properties. A 17th century East Cliff coaching inn, it has played host to the likes of Charles Dickens and Captain James Cook, who recruited his crew members here. Its ten quirkily-shaped rooms and suites brim with original features and a mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings, whilst the atmospheric dining room has a great bistro menu and a buzzy vibe. A charming historic choice on one of Whitby’s oldest streets.
• La Rosa Hotel is an Aladdin’s cave of vintage treasures, housed in what was once Lewis Carroll’s favourite Whitby boarding house. Not one for minimalists, this characterful little B&B offers eight themed rooms — from Parisian ‘Sacré Coeur’ to Dracula-inspired ‘Stoker’ — and striking views over the Gothic Abbey and Whitby town. A wacky choice, with breakfast served in picnic hampers and a terrific afternoon tea to top things off. Also great value.

For foodies

• Estbek House offers five light and airy Georgian bedrooms in the seaside village of Sandsend. Foodies will adore the fantastic restaurant — the first on the Yorkshire Coast to have been awarded 2 AA Rosettes. Dishes feature fresh, local ingredients prepared by co-owner Tim, and the hotel takes pride in its collection of rare Australian and NZ wines. A superb foodie pick in a spectacular beachfront spot!

For a rural escape

• Broom House is an elegant Victorian farmhouse turned B&B, nestled just outside Whitby at Egton Bridge. Its eight characterful bedrooms boast beautiful views of the moors and luxurious modern bathrooms. Guests are greeted with afternoon tea, there are hearty breakfasts and two good pubs within a 10 minute walk for lovely dinners. Book the garden-facing Cottage Suite for extra privacy. Pretty, peaceful and well-located.
• Eighteen 97 is a charming stone cottage on the edge of the North York Moors, with three chic bedrooms and smart ensuite bathrooms. A family-owned boutique B&B, this is a great pick for walkers, offering indulgent breakfasts, a cosy sitting room with a open fire, and yummy picnics to take with you!

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• If you'd prefer a self-catering option, we suggest that you visit our online partner Booking.com .

TRAVEL INFORMATION

• Leeds Bradford Airport and Newcastle International Airport are Whitby’s closest airports. Hop aboard the train to Scarborough and catch a bus from there to Whitby, if travelling from Leeds. Those arriving from Newcastle can take a direct train to Whitby. Each journey takes 3 - 3.5 hours.
• Alternatively, there are regular 6 hour trains from London to Scarborough, and buses from there to Whitby.
• This is, however, a wonderful region to explore by road. If you would like to hire a car, we suggest that you contact our online partner Rentalcars .
• The weather in Whitby is similar to that of the rest of Yorkshire, though perhaps a bit milder. Temperatures peak at around 18º - 20ºC during the summer months, whilst winters are rainy, with highs of 7ºC. Whitby is most popular with visitors during the summer months — when many choose to swim in the sea — but it’s also a lovely spring destination, if you appreciate an atmospheric fog.

STILL NOT SURE?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in North York Moors National Park .
• Alternatively, check out our pick of the best places to stay in Yorkshire .
• Or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

Monthly Weather in Whitby

Best hotels in whitby, the white horse and griffin whitby (north yorkshire) 10 rooms from £81.

A 17th-century coaching inn, tucked beneath Whitby’s historic abbey, that creaks with character. Its ten quirkily shaped rooms mix original features with a cool, fresh look while the restaurant offers a bistro-style menu. Distinguished guests include the likes of Dickens and Captain James Cook. See More

Broom House Whitby (North Yorkshire) 8 rooms from £90

Located in the peaceful Esk Valley with views of the moors sits this large Victorian farmhouse B&B. Cottage-style rooms are airy and luxurious with modern bathrooms. Enjoy tea and scones in the sitting room or sun-dappled gardens. Two good pubs within a 10-minute walk. A lovely country escape. See More

La Rosa Hotel Whitby 8 rooms from £130

Commanding one of the best positions in Whitby, high on the West Cliff with views of the famed Abbey, this hotel is just as startling inside. An Aladdin’s cave of vintage-themed rooms, it charms and disarms. There are even afternoon tea parties. A whimsical British stay. See More

Raithwaite Estate Whitby 72 rooms from £157

This contemporary-style country house hotel, with a small spa, sits in a secluded wooded valley yet is only 10 minutes from the beach near Whitby. Light-filled interiors are smart but unfussy, while the restaurant serves creative menus and much of the produce is sourced from the kitchen garden. See More

Estbek House Whitby (East Row) 5 rooms from £250

A small hotel boasting both a spectacular location (on a river steps from the beach) and restaurant (of the seafood variety). Owner run, David will pick your wines while Tim whips up award-winning dishes in the kitchen. The rooms are charming and cosy. An idyllic coastal escape. See More

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The 18 best things to do in Whitby

Goth weekends, fish n' chips and the cosiest pubs you've ever laid eyes on? Welcome to Whitby

Whitby is and always has been the perfect seaside getaway. This idyllic former fishing town on the North Yorkshire coast has maintained all of its best traditions (hello, Whitby Goth Weekend), and won’t change for no one. Spend a day or a weekend here to discover fantastic seafood, old cosy pubs, and a hell of a lot of very quirky charm. 

From its spooky abbeys and its cliff-top graveyard to its cobbled streets and whale bone monuments, visiting Whitby is sort of like stepping into a gothic novel, but a really, really fun one. Stroll along the Blue Flag beach in the summer, dip into independent shops in town, and sink your teeth into a healthy portion of fish and chips. And if you’ve got the kids in tow, even better – the exhibitions and activities here are endless. Here are the best things to do in Whitby right now. 

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Best things to do in Whitby

1.  Whitby Abbey

What is it? A gorgeously spectral 13th-century ruin that looms over Whitby from its spot high above the town on the East Cliff.

Why go? Bram Stoker was so taken by the Gothic pile it inspired him to write ‘Dracula’ and, more recently, it’s previously been named Britain’s Most Romantic Ruin. Visitors can walk among the crumbled church and even touch the old stones. Admire the stunning panoramas across the harbour (most beautiful at sunset) and don’t miss the visitors’ centre housed in a nearby 17th-century mansion to explore the Abbey’s full history.

2.  Whitby Sands

What is it? A picturesque stretch of caramel sand unfolding from the West Pier for two miles along the coast to the sweet little fishing village of Sandsend.

Why go? Lined by grass-tufted cliffs and multi-coloured beach huts, it’s the perfect spot for a windswept walk or an ice-cream lunch. There’s plenty of sandcastle potential. Arrive shore-side in style with a trip down the cliff lift.

3.  Whitby Heritage Jet Centre

What is it? Jet is a gemstone made from fossilised wood, and Whitby Jet is unique due to the intensity of its blackness. Through a crooked doorway off cobbled Church Street you’ll find this little shop specialising in the stuff.

Why go? There’s a handful of lovely jet shops scattered around the town, but here you’ll find the last remaining example of a Victorian Jet Workshop. Ask one of the friendly jewellers to show you around.

4.  The 199 Steps

What is it? Make like Dracula, who ran up this iconic set of stone steps disguised as a black hound in Stoker’s novel, and try to climb the formidable flight yourself. This is one of Whitby’s most picturesque spots and it is tradition to count each step as you climb up from Church Street to the top of East Cliff.

Why go? It’s worth breaking a sweat for the stunning views over the town and harbour. You’ll also find the fabulously unique St Mary’s Church at the top with its maze of box pews and splendid pulpit. See if you can spot ‘Humpty Dumpty’s tomb’ in the grave yard.  

5.  The Captain Cook Experience

What is it?  A boat trip on an authentic replica of HMS Endeavour. This ship was sailed by Captain James Cook during his scientific expedition of 1768. 

Why Go?  A fun activity for all the family – dogs welcome on board too – and a different way to see and explore Whitby.

6.  The Magpie Café

What is it? Whitby has a stellar reputation when it comes to fish and chips. (It’s a town filled with dripping that’s as thick as the air!) Ask any local where you’ll find the best and they’re sure to say Magpie.

Why go? The battered cod served here is so good that long queues snake down the pavement for a piece. (There are contenders to its crown, so if you’re after some scraps without a hefty wait head to Quayside or Trenchers.)

7.  The North York Moors Railway

What is it? If you fancy venturing further into God’s Own Country book a seat on this heritage steam train. It trundles past the North York Moors National Park from Whitby to the ancient market town of Pickering.

Why go? You’ll pass stunning views of the Yorkshire landscape, which are filled with eye-popping patches of purple heather in the summer. For a special treat, book into their dining carriage to enjoy a slap-up meal while you travel.

8.  Whitby Harbour West Lighthouse

What is it? Just when you thought Whitby couldn’t offer any more stairs, there’s another 81 to climb up: the tiny, spiral staircase in this gorgeous lighthouse. It’s one of two at the harbour entrance, but the tower on the West Pier is the taller of the duo.

Why go? In the lamp room you can get another great aerial perspective of the town and watch the boats coming in and out of the harbour. Visit when it’s stormy to really see the difference between the churning sea waves and placid harbour waters.  

9.  Whitby Whalebone Arch

What is it? Two hundred years ago Whitby was best known as a thriving hub of the UK whaling industry. This arc, made from two huge whale jaw bones, was first erected 1853. It’s been replaced twice over the years, most recently in 2003 by bones from a Bowhead whale killed legally by Alaskan Inuits.

Why go? Nowadays the arch makes for a nice Insta op, with the two huge bones framing a pretty view of the town’s red-roofed cottages and the Abbey ruins. If you fancy trying to spot some real Whales, take a voyage on a Whitby Whale Watching boat tour.

10.  Whitby Brewery

What is it? Keep your eyes peeled for this little microbrewery and tap room. It sits right beneath the towering arches of Whitby Abbey. Set in a converted barn, there’s a small bar serving five cask beers and a selection of bottles all produced onsite, with knowledgeable and friendly staff pulling the pints.

Why go? It’s the perfect spot to refuel after trekking up the 199 steps. Sit on one of the beer barrel stools and sink a pint of Whitby Whaler right next to one of the tanks it was made in.

11.  The Whitby Goth Weekend

What is it?  An alternative music festival founded in 1994 that has grown to become one of the world’s premier goth events.

Why go?  As an opportunity to unleash your inner dark side, dress up to the nines and join in a celebration of goth culture in the home of Dracula. Or, simply, be a bystander and enjoy the music and the fashion efforts of others.

12.  Nearby coastal towns

What is it?  A series of nearby towns to visit when you’re in Whitby to make your trip to the coast that extra bit special. If you drop down the coast you can take in the beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay, Filey and Scarborough. Or, a little further up the coast, there are the picturesque small seaside towns of Staithes and Runswick Bay. 

Why go?  To witness some of the most beautiful coastline the UK has to offer. Plus, experience some of the cosiest and cutest seaside towns you’ll ever walk around. 

13.  Museum of Victorian Science

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What is it? A journey of real science through 19th century physics.

Why go? To get an insight into the evolution of science through some fun hands-on activities. Featuring strange glowing bulbs, the Jacob's Ladder, crackling sparks, electric flames, the telegraph system, early x-ray tubes and literally hundreds of early electrical instruments.

14.  Fortune’s Kippers

What is it? If you don’t think you’re a fan of kippers, you will be by the time you’ve left Fortune’s. This tiny, ramshackle shop is largely unchanged since it was established in 1872 and you’ll see old photos on the wall of the six generations of family that have worked here.

Why go? You’ll smell its smokehouse long-before you reach it and its charred black walls filled with lines of hanging fish are a sight to behold. They also smoke bacon, if you really can’t be swayed to kippers.  

15.  Captain Cook Memorial Museum

What is it? A handsome harbourside house where the young James Cook lodged as a humble apprentice before becoming the world-famous explorer.

Why go? It’s packed with all the information you could ever want on the Yorkshire seafarer, as well as original paintings, maps, letters and ship models. Those not of a nautical persuasion will appreciate the beautifully restored rooms, especially the recreation of a tiny 17th-century kitchen.   

16.  Whitby Museum & Pannett Art Gallery

What is it? If you want to know what Whitby looked like back in the day (which isn’t too far off what you’ll see now), head to Pannett Gallery . Watercolours of the town in all its Victorian splendour hang on the walls, alongside two small permanent collections of work by The Staithes group and the Weatherill Family. Whitby Museum shares the same building and is packed with collections ranging from jet and fossils to whaling paraphernalia and bird specimens.

Why go? The museum’s fossil collection really is something to see, especially its giant ichthyosaur skeleton. There’s also some delectable cakes to be scoffed in its kitsch little tea room.

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THE 10 BEST Whitby Accommodation

Whitby Accommodation

Property types, distance from, traveller rating, hotel class, popular hotels in whitby right now.

• Best Value Properties ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data, including traveller ratings, confirmed availability from our partners, prices, booking popularity and location, as well as personal user preferences and recently viewed hotels.
• Traveller Ranked Highest rated hotels on Tripadvisor, based on traveller reviews.
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1. Hillcrest Whitby, Whitby (GB)

2. Sneaton Castle

3. The Belfry Whitby

4. The Penny Hedge Lodge

5. The Stables

6. The Wheeldale

7. Bagdale Hall Hotel

8. Riviera Guest House

9. Royal Hotel Whitby

10. Resolution Hotel

11. The Angel Hotel

12. Saxonville Hotel

13. Ruswarp Hall

14. The Pier Inn Whitby

15. Smugglers Rest B&B

16. Dunsley Hall

17. The Dolphin

18. Highgate House

19. YHA Whitby

20. White Horse and Griffin

21. Jet Black Jewel

22. Haven Crest Guest House

23. Sanders Yard

24. The White House Inn

25. Esklet Guest House

26. Duke of York

27. Abbey Holiday Accommodation

28. The Wilson Arms

29. Discovery Accomodation

30. Ugthorpe Lodge Hotel

Whitby Accommodations Information

Whitby is a little sleepy this time of year, with most of the major attractions opening up just on weekends. Don’t expect the same buzzing pub and restaurant scene, although a few spots do keep their normal hours to welcome you in from the cold.

Moody skies make Whitby Abbey even more eerily beautiful. This is the spot that inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula while he was a Whitby resident, and coastal mists certainly cast a spell.

Warm up by the fireplace at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. The famous British seaman got his start working on steamships in Whitby’s port before going on to navigate the world’s seas.

Take a quick road trip to nearby Scarborough, which is a bit more lively in the wintertime. That’s especially true around Christmas, when the town hosts holiday markets and quirky Boxing Day traditions.

After a long, dark, wet winter, Whitby is in full bloom by April. Crowds stay blissfully thin, so if you dream of a charming atmosphere but prefer a little less hustle, spring is the time to come.

With the rough seas of winter calming down a bit, spring is a great time to head to Whitby’s surf schools, especially if you’re a surfing newbie looking to level up your skills.

Flocks of returning shorebirds make spring the best time to visit North York Moors National Park, which surrounds Whitby almost entirely. Another highlight from this time of year? The wild daffodils that carpet the meadows throughout the park.

The North York Moors Steam Railway is a great way to time travel through Whitby’s history. This 24-mile route winds its way between the village and rolling hills of Yorkshire, and it’s a great way to tour the area when the weather is clear but still chilly.

Whitby shines brightest in the summertime, but you won’t be the only one drawn to its megawatt sunshine, charming streets, and beaches galore. Warmer temperatures bring out the crowds, even if there’s rain—as there often is—on the horizon.

Summer festival season is in full swing in Whitby, with new events getting added to the calendar almost every year. But one mainstay is the long-running Whitby Regatta, with boat races, carnival rides, and fireworks.

Donkey rides, bumper boats, and fish-and-chips vendors are summertime draws at Whitby Beach. And if you’re blessed with a clear-weather forecast, set an early alarm—this is an amazing spot to watch the sunrise.

Looking to shake off some of the summertime crowds? Get behind the wheel for a tour of the villages scattered around the Esk Valley—including Danby and Castleton—where you can pull over at pubs, bakeries, and tea rooms.

As the days shorten and the temperatures drop, the crowds start to depart Whitby—even though the town remains fully open until the end of November. Those that arrive during this shoulder season will find the woodlands that wrap around this area make for prime leaf-peeping.

Two biannual Whitby Goth Weekends take over the town every year. (One in this season over Halloween weekend, the other in April.) Throw on your best all-black attire and hop between performances from some of Europe’s best goth bands.

This is the perfect time of year to tour the ruins of Whitby Abbey and discover if there’s any truth to the local legend that a woman in white wanders the grounds.

One of Yorkshire’s greatest leaf-peeping trails is just a 15-minute drive away. The woodlands and waterfalls along the circular May Beck and Falling Foss Walk are at their best this time of year.

Hotels near the sights

Welcome to Whitby

The ‘jewel in the crown’ of the north yorkshire coast, whitby is consistently voted as one of the uk’s top seaside destinations..

“I love the drive from York to Whitby over the moors – one of the great journeys, in my book.” – Penelope Wilton

the whitby guide

Why visit whitby, whitby is one of the most popular seaside towns in the uk for holidaymakers..

This magical fishing port perched on the edge of the North York Moors attracts tourists from all over the World. Situated on the East coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk. This wonderful town has a unique atmosphere, a jam-packed events list, and rich cultural history .

So, whether you’re Whitby’s biggest fan and want some inspiration for your next visit or are desperate to visit this wonderful seaside town, sit back, relax, and let us help you plan your trip or inspire you to make Whitby your next adventure. We promise it will be unforgettable.

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Upcoming Events

Whitby hosts an array of events and festivals throughout the year. View our full event guide here.

Whitby Goth Weekend, Spring 2024

Whitby Goth Weekend is an alternative music event founded in 1994. Goths from around the world gather in Whitby to celebrate gothic culture, music and fashion.

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In a unique custom, the Penny Hedge or Horngarth at Whitby is planted in the estuary of the Upper Harbour.

Yorkshire Game and Country Fayre

A lovely way to celebrate Spring, this beloved local festival embraces countryside living with locally sourced food, farm animals, traditional games, and longstanding championships.

Explore the town

With plenty to see and do along its stunning coastlines and cobbled streets, this gorgeous seaside town has something to offer everyone. From visiting historic sites like the striking Whitby Abbey or taking a boat ride out of the harbour to sampling some of the best fish and chips in England or simply strolling through the quaint town centre soaking up the local food and culture, Whitby offers a unique and exciting experience for anybody who wishes to visit.

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The perfect guide for anybody who plans to visit Whitby for a short break or longer holiday. Packed with useful tips on how to make the most of your stay.

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Visiting Whitby: 15 of the best things to do in Whitby

Lovely Whitby is a seaside town in North Yorkshire, England with just about everything you can ask for from a coastal break; gorgeous sandy beaches, a picturesque harbour, loads of history and lots of things to do. Read on for the best things to do in Whitby.

Is it worth visiting Whitby?

I’ve been visiting Whitby since I was little and it’s probably my favourite seaside town in the UK. I visited again recently and found Whitby just as great as ever.

Whitby is absolutely worth visiting as it has much more than your average seaside town – there’s an amazing abbey that features in Dracula, a wonderfully scenic steam railway and an increasingly exciting food and drink scene. There are so many things to do in Whitby that it’s well worth making a weekend of it.

This post contains affiliate links – all that means is that if you buy something as a result of clicking on a link in the post, I’ll receive a small commission that helps me with the costs of running this site. Thanks!

What is Whitby known for?

Whitby is most famous for its connection to Dracula, the classic vampire novel by Bram Stoker. In the novel, Dracula arrives in England on board a ship which runs aground on the Yorkshire coast. A large dog-like creature jumps from the wreck and bounds the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey, beginning Dracula’s reign of terror in England.

Bram Stoker visited Whitby in the summer of 1890 and was very taken with Whitby Abbey, which looms over the town, and also the weathered gravestones in the churchyard of St Mary’s parish church. Stoker also went to the public library and there read a history of Romania which mentioned the bloodthirsty 15th century prince Vlad Tepes also known as Dracula.

While visiting Whitby, it seems likely that Stoker would have heard about a ship that had run aground on the beach below the abbey just five years earlier. Visiting Whitby was clearly very inspiring for Bram Stoker – who knows whether it would have been written at all if he had gone somewhere else on holiday!

Things to do in Whitby

Climb the 199 steps.

The two top things to do in Whitby go together; climb the 199 steps from Church Lane up to St Mary’s church and Whitby Abbey. Nobody really knows how old the 199 steps are, but they date back to at least 1340.

If you’re able to, climbing the 199 steps is a must-do when you’re visiting Whitby. The views over the town, the harbour and the sea are absolutely stunning, and the climb does sound worse than it is. The steps are pretty wide and there are a number of places to stop and either admire the view or catch your breath on the way up. If you’re not able to climb the steps, don’t worry; the Whitby hop-on hop-off bus will take you to the abbey. The top of the 199 steps is by St Mary’s church, just a short, gently sloping walk down from the Abbey car park.

It’s free to climb the 199 steps; no wonder then that it’s one of the most popular things to do in Whitby.

Visit Whitby Abbey

After you’ve climbed the 199 steps, you should visit the abbey. Visiting Whitby Abbey is absolutely one of the best things to do in Whitby, and this site is one of the most historic in the north of England. The ruins you see today are around 700 years old, but there has been a settlement here on Whitby’s headland for around 3000 years.

Excavations have found evidence of a Bronze Age roundhouse, and it’s likely that the Romans had a signal station here. After the Romans left, Britain was ruled by multiple small kingdoms; one of the most powerful, Northumbria, covered most of the north east corner of England. The king of Northumbria converted to Christianity in the 7th century, and shortly afterwards a monastery was founded on the headland.

The site was abandoned sometime in the 9th century, probably because of Danish raids, but a Benedictine monastery was re-founded here in 1078, and the buildings that stand today were built around 200 years later, in 1225-50.

The Abbey was dissolved, along with almost all other monasteries in England, by King Henry VIII in the 1500s. The buildings gradually decayed over the centuries, and a German bombardment in 1914 severely damaged one of the remaining walls. In 1920, the owners of the land handed the Abbey ruins over to the nation.

Today, Whitby Abbey is owned and run by English Heritage, the same organisation that looks after Stonehenge and over 400 other historic sites. Before you buy your tickets for Whitby Abbey, it’s well worth taking a look at the list of sites to see if there are others that you might want to visit. If there are, you should consider an English Heritage pass (if you’re visiting Whitby from overseas) or English Heritage membership , (if you live in the UK). Either of these will give you free admission to any English Heritage site for as long as your pass or membership lasts.

Until 31 July 2023 you can save 15% on a new annual direct debit or gift English Heritage annual membership with the code EHAFF2023 .

There are quite a few English Heritage sites near Whitby; Scarborough Castle , Pickering Castle and Helmsley Castle are all great places to visit and buying a pass means you can save a lot on entry fees.

When you visit Whitby Abbey you’ll enter at the gatehouse. You’ll be given an audio guide (included in the ticket price) and from there you’re free to explore the ruins, finding out about the history of the Abbey as you go. The best-preserved part of the Abbey is the Sanctuary and Presbytery, but it’s all very beautiful and there are gorgeous views over the town. It’s not difficult to imagine why visiting Whitby Abbey so inspired Bram Stoker.

After you’ve explored the ruins, you can visit the visitor centre, set in a grand country house which belonged to the family who bought the site after the monastery was dissolved. The exhibition in the visitor centre is very interesting and you also can see relics from the site’s history.

Eat fish and chips

By now you’ll have worked up an appetite, so it’s time to try another of the best things to do in Whitby; eat fish and chips. There are loads of fish and chip shops in Whitby but the most popular one by far is the Magpie Cafe on the harbour front – you’ll know it by the queue outside!

Lots of fish and chip shops have seating inside, but unless it’s raining, chips always taste better eaten outside – just make sure you watch out for the thieving seagulls.

Have a lemon top ice cream

After you’ve had your fish and chips, you might be in the mood for something sweet, so get yourself a lemon top ice cream. While you can get this delicious combination of vanilla ice cream and lemon sorbet elsewhere on the Yorkshire coast, you’ll see them everywhere in Whitby.

Go to the beach

No trip to Whitby is complete without setting foot on one of the lovely sandy beaches. There are four beaches in Whitby; three small beaches at the foot of the headland, where you’ll find the Abbey and the old part of town. On the other side of the river, Whitby’s main beach is at the foot of the West Cliff.

Visiting the West Cliff beach is one of the top things to do in Whitby, whatever time of year you visit. In the summer it’s perfect for building sandcastles, while in the colder months you can still enjoy a bracing walk to blow the cobwebs away, then warm up afterwards with a hot drink from the (very accidentally Wes Anderson ) Clara’s cafe.

Go hunting for Whitby jet

While you’re on the beach, keep your eyes peeled for Whitby jet, a black gemstone made of fossilised Araucaria tree wood that fell 180 million years ago. Queen Victoria was a big fan and often wore jet jewellery after the death of her husband Prince Albert.

However not every black stone on Whitby’s beaches is jet – there’s also a lot of coal! You can tell whether the rock you’ve found is jet or coal by rubbing a corner against a light-coloured rock. If the mark it leaves is black, you’ve found coal. If the mark is light brown, then congratulations, you’ve found jet!

If you’re not lucky enough to find your own piece of jet, there are lots of shops in the old part of town where you can buy jet jewellery. The Museum of Whitby Jet has exhibitions on the history and craftsmanship of Whitby jet, along with the town’s oldest jet jewellers and the world’s largest single piece, which is over 6 metres long.

See the Whale Bone Arch

With its ruined abbey and vampire connections, Whitby definitely plays up its macabre side. The best photo opportunity in Whitby is also pretty gruesome. Up on the West Cliff, overlooking the harbour, the 199 steps, St Mary’s Church and the Abbey, you’ll find the Whale Bone Arch.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, whaling was an important part of life in Whitby. Ships would set off from the harbour, bound for the Arctic, hoping to return home with a valuable cargo. It was a lucrative but highly dangerous trade which started a Whitby tradition; when ships returned, they tied the bones of the whale’s jaw to their masts to spread the word that they had come back safely and that they had been successful in their mission. The Whale Bone Arch was erected in 1853 to commemorate the tradition.

The whaling industry in Whitby is thankfully long gone, but the Whale Bone Arch remains, perfectly framing the lovely view. The bones you see today aren’t the originals, in fact they’re actually the third set to be placed on the site.

Explore the narrow streets

One of the most charming things to do in Whitby is just to explore the town’s narrow and characterful streets. On the eastern side of the river, visiting Whitby still feels like visiting a fishing village, albeit one with more than its fair share of cafes, galleries and jewellery shops. The red roofs of the fishermen’s cottages tumble down towards the harbour, while alleys with names like Arguments Yard. While you’re in the old town, don’t miss the Old Town Hall and its tiny market square.

Visiting Whitby’s West Cliff feels very different to the other side of the river. This part of town largely grew up when the railway arrived, bringing Victorian tourists to this picturesquely Gothic seaside town. These tourists needed places to stay, so streets like the Esplanade, North and East Terrace and the Royal Crescent sprang up to accommodate hotels and guesthouses (Bram Stoker stayed at Number 6 Royal Crescent). One of the great things about Whitby is that you can visit two types of seaside destination in a single trip.

Have a pint in a cosy pub

Whitby is full of cosy, historic pubs. Take a seat by the fire and take in an atmosphere that hasn’t changed for generations. The White Horse and Griffin (which dates back to 1681), the Granby and the Endeavour are all favourites with visitors to Whitby – all are dog-friendly and at the Endeavour you can even bring your own fish and chips. My favourite, the Duke of York, which is at the bottom of the 199 steps has just reopened after a refurbishment but it doesn’t look to have lost any of its character.

The Whitby Brewery ‘s taproom, right next to Whitby Abbey at the top of the 199 steps is a newer addition to the Whitby pub scene. You can get a pizza to go with your pint, and there’s often live music at weekends. There are occasional brewery tours between Easter and Halloween – check dates and book online in advance.

Take a ride on a steam train

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of Britain’s most scenic heritage railways . The railway runs for 18 miles through beautiful countryside and moorland using locomotives and carriages that hark back to the days when the line was part of the main railway network. While not all trains are hauled by steam locomotives, many are, and it makes for a really special experience.

The stops along the line are wonderful to visit in their own right. Pickering, at the end of the line from Whitby is a lovely Yorkshire market town with a 13th-century castle; if you’ve bought an English Heritage pass or membership, visiting Pickering Castle is free. Levisham station is great for walking, and there’s a camping coach where you can stay overnight.

Goathland is particularly lovely, and is popular with people visiting Whitby and the surrounding area as it featured in the first Harry Potter film and the British TV series Heartbeat. At Grosmont, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway connects with the main national railway network; some off-peak trains terminate here while most others continue into Whitby itself.

Explore Whitby’s association with Captain Cook

You’ll see references to Captain James Cook all over Whitby, and until Dracula crept onto Bram Stoker’s page, Captain Cook was Whitby’s greatest claim to fame. Cook was a British explorer and Navy captain, famous for his great voyages in the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1779 and for probably being the first European to visit Australia and New Zealand. Cook is a pretty controversial figure, not least for the killing of Māori when he reached New Zealand, but his voyages did result in a significant number of geographic and scientific discoveries.

If you’re visiting Whitby to understand more about Captain Cook, your first stop should be the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. The museum describes his connection with Whitby and is located in the house where he used to lodge when he was serving his seafaring apprenticeship on coal ships.

Up on the West Cliff, next to the Whale Bone Arch, there’s a huge bronze statue of Captain Cook looking across the harbour and out to sea. Four of Cook’s ships were built in Whitby, and the inscription on the statue’s base commemorates Cook’s voyages and the ships that took him so far from Whitby.

Take a boat trip

If the North Sea isn’t too rough when you visit, one of the most popular things to do in Whitby is to take a boat trip. There are quite a few options for boat trips, from quick 20-minute trips to see the town from the sea, to longer fishing and wildlife-watching trips.

If you’re lucky, you might also see whales, dolphins or porpoises on your boat trip. The best time of year to see whales and dolphins is June to October, when minke whales and white-beaked dolphins and minke whales follow shoals of fish swimming south from the Arctic.

One of the most popular boat trips in Whitby is the Captain Cook Experience, which uses a mini version of Captain Cook’s famous Endeavour sailing ship and sails between April and October. Trips on the Bark Endeavour take you out of Whitby harbour and along the coast towards Sandsend; along the way you’ll hear tales from the sea, sing sea shanties and meet a pirate. It’s great fun for everyone, including kids, if you’ve got the sea-legs for it (I haven’t!).

Go on a ghost tour

One of the best things to do in Whitby in the evening is to go on a ghost walk. When you visit Whitby, you won’t be surprised to learn that it’s home to a significantly higher than average number of ghosts, ghouls and apparitions.

Whitby Abbey has at least two resident ghosts, while next door in St Ann’s churchyard, a ghostly carriage pulled by headless horses and carrying skeletons comes to visit the graves of newly-deceased sailors. Even in the cosy streets of the old town, you’re not safe; watch out for the barghest, a huge, demonic black dog with glowing red eyes – if you hear it howl, your days are numbered.

The most popular Whitby ghost walks are run by ghosthunter Dr Crank . Dr Crank’s walks set off from the Whale Bone Arch and offer either a general introduction to Whitby’s ghosts or a special tour in search of Dracula.

Visit Whitby Museum & Pannett Art Gallery

By now you’ll have realised that Whitby is much more than your average English fishing village. With its seafaring, literary and natural history there’s lots to uncover in Whitby. If you’re interested in Whitby’s history (or if it’s raining – this is the Yorkshire coast after all) then one of the best things to do in Whitby is to visit Whitby Museum and Pannett Art Gallery.

The museum and art gallery are both in Pannett Park, on the west side of the river; the museum covers all things Whitby, from shipbuilding and jet to the history of the Whitby lifeboat and examples of some of the fine fossils that have been found in the area.

The museum’s star exhibit is the Hand of Glory, a severed, pickled human hand that was found in the roof of an old cottage in the 1930s. Hands of Glory were used as bad luck charms in the 16th and 17th centuries; thieves believed that putting a bad luck charm into a house would send the occupants into a coma, making it much easier to loot the contents. The Whitby Hand of God has never been put through DNA or forensic testing, but it’s believed to be that of a man, possibly one who was hanged for a crime. If you’re visiting Whitby, don’t miss seeing this ghoulish curio – it’s entirely on-brand for Whitby!

The Pannett Art Gallery is an altogether more chilled out experience. The gallery houses paintings by the Staithes group of artists around the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The Staithes group, named for a fishing village just up the coast from Whitby, painted impressionistic scenes from local life, documenting what it was like to live in the area.

Cycle along the coast

Whitby is a great base for visiting the lovely fishing villages of Staithes and Runswick Bay to the north and Robin Hood’s Bay to the south. They’re connected by the Cinder Track , a walking and cycle path which runs for 21 miles along the old Whitby to Scarborough railway line.

The villages are really popular places to visit and car parking is limited, so it can be nicer to cycle there, especially since, being an old railway line, it’s mostly flat and any slopes are fairly gentle. Bayhire cycle hire in Scarborough offer a range of delivery and collection services if you’re staying in Whitby; they also have e-bikes capable of cycling the full route.

More places to go when you’re visiting Whitby

One of the best things about visiting Whitby is how close you are to some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful destinations. Once you’ve done all the best things to do in Whitby and visited Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay, the town makes a brilliant base for exploring the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire coast and some gorgeous Yorkshire market towns, such as Pickering, Malton and my favourite, Helmsley.

If you can, I really recommend visiting Ravenscar , just south of picturesque Robin Hood’s Bay on the way to Scarborough. Victorian developers had planned for the cliffs at Ravenscar to become a fashionable seaside resort but apart from a hotel and a few other buildings, nothing else was ever built. If you go to Ravenscar today you can see where the streets were supposed to be and see the seals at the bottom of the cliffs who now pretty much outnumber the people.

The Yorkshire coast is particularly fantastic if you’re interested in wildlife. There’s a seal colony at Ravenscar, where you’ll have a good chance of seeing common seal pups in June and July, and grey seal pups in November. I also really recommend visiting RSPB Bempton Cliffs between Filey and Bridlington, where you can watch sea birds, including puffins, nesting on the magnificent chalk cliffs.

Where to stay in Whitby

If you’re driving to Whitby, I recommend staying on the West Cliff side of the river as you’ve got a better chance of getting parked near your accommodation. We stayed at The Horngarth , which has six rooms on Skinner Street. Our room had an amazing view of Whitby Abbey and we could park the car at the St Hilda’s Terrace car park just a minute away.

Search for hotels and apartments near Whitby on this map.

How to get to Whitby

Unless you’re coming from Middlesbrough and the north east, in which case you can get the normal train, the easiest way to get to Whitby is by road. This doesn’t necessarily mean by car though!

The Coastliner bus route from Leeds and York to Whitby and Scarborough via Malton and Pickering has been named the most scenic bus route in the UK . You could even take the bus from York to Pickering and then transfer to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the final leg to Whitby.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best things to do in Whitby. If you’re visiting Whitby soon, please come back and let me know what you enjoyed most!

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10 thoughts on “Visiting Whitby: 15 of the best things to do in Whitby”

Amazing guide to Whitby, have picked up so many things to do that you wouldn’t ordinarily find, thank you!

Thanks Tracey, so glad you found it useful!

Really interesting and useful article thank you Helen. I used the code you gave and have just joined English Heritage for 25% off!! We are going to Whitby for the week and really looking forward to it.

Thank you Lynn, hope you have a great time in Whitby!

Thank you for these great offerings! My best friend and I are traveling to York in February and will definitely be taking a jaunt over to Whitby.

Thank you Jana, hope you and your friend have a great trip 🙂

Really enjoyed your article – we’re visiting Whitby today so was looking for some inspiration!

Thanks Hanneke, I hope you have a brilliant time in Whitby!

So interesting, planning trip in July. Will print out your many features and visit the lot. Sandra from Australia

Thank you Sandra, I hope you have a wonderful trip to Whitby!

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Dracula's birthplace: how Whitby is celebrating the count's anniversary

Turfed out by his landlady, an Irish hack went roaming around Whitby – and turned what he saw into a horror classic. On the 125th anniversary of Dracula’s birth in the Yorkshire town, our writer retraces Bram Stoker’s trail of gore

If you stand on the pavement outside the Royal Hotel on Whitby’s West Cliff and look out across the harbour town as the sun goes down, you can pretty much see, in their entirety, the early chapters of Bram Stoker’s Dracula . Across the bay, in the shadow of the half-ruined abbey, sits St Mary’s Churchyard, where Lucy Westenra was attacked by the vampiric count. Below is Tate Hill Sands, where the ship carrying Dracula ran aground, its crew missing, its dead skipper lashed to the wheel. The 199 steps, known locally as the Church Stairs, rise to the East Cliff, up which Dracula, in the guise of a black hound, ran after arriving in Whitby.

It is the same view that Stoker himself would have seen, aside from one or two modern flourishes, exactly 125 years ago – a view that would become synonymous with his novel Dracula. It was at the end of July 1890 that the flame of Stoker’s classic was kindled. Stoker, then the business manager of the actor Sir Henry Irving, had just endured, with his theatrical company, a somewhat disastrous tour of Scotland. Irving decided they should all take a month’s holiday and then regroup; he suggested Stoker try Whitby on the north Yorkshire coast, where Irving had once run a circus.

Stoker took rooms at 6 Royal Crescent; his wife Florence and son Noel would join him in August, but it was in that week and a half alone, roaming the fishing port and talking to the locals, that the ideas that would become Dracula took hold. Little has changed in the streets around Royal Crescent since; a whalebone arch still stands, framing the cold grey North Sea (though the current one is the third to have been erected since the original in 1853). You could almost believe, on nights when sea frets dog the craggy coast, that a black-clad figure haunts the narrow alleys. In fact, here’s one now ...

It’s Harry Collett , who dons Victorian dress and top hat to conduct Dracula-themed night-time walks around Whitby. He is a natural storyteller, fond of melodrama. “I’ve been doing the walks since about 92,” he announces. “... 1892!” He goes on: “Whitby was undoubtedly instrumental to Stoker when he wrote Dracula. When he took up residency in Royal Crescent, his landlady would turf him out in the morning so she could clean the room. Stoker would go to the reading room of the Royal Hotel and look out at the scene you can see now. That first week when he was alone in Whitby, he would go around, soaking up the ambience.”

Talking to the old salts on the harbour and mooching around the churchyard up on the East Cliff, Stoker assembled a catalogue of local myths and stories that are recognisable to anyone familiar with the Dracula story. In the novel, the count comes ashore when a Russian schooner, the Demeter, runs aground, all hands lost. This was based on a real event in 1885: a ship – the Dmitry – was beached on Tate Hill Sands.

“In the book,” says Collett, “Dracula runs ashore as a black dog. This is based on another legend Stoker would have heard about a dark hound – a story brought over by the vikings. And the black coach that later takes Jonathan Harker to Castle Dracula was taken from a local story about the lord of Mulgrave Castle, who used to take to a black coach that rattled down the road when he was on his way to court Elizabeth Cholmeley.”

It was 1897 when history was made with the publication of Dracula as a novel, though the story hatched in Whitby first came to life as a play, entitled The Undead. After the first test performance, his friend Irving reportedly told Stoker that he never wanted to see the play again, prompting its re-imagining as the epistolary novel. While working on the manuscript, Stoker researched the folklore of the Carpathian mountains and added to the experiences of Whitby by visiting St Michan’s Church and its eerie crypts in his native Dublin, which hold a number of mummified corpses dating back centuries.

Even as undeath preoccupied Stoker, life continued, and he began to work on a freelance basis for the Daily Telegraph in London, which would lead to a permanent position from 1905. He had cut his journalistic teeth on his hometown paper, the Dublin Evening Mail, which was co-owned by the writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, a gothic writer whose novel Carmilla was one of the earliest vampire novels and almost certainly provided some inspiration for Dracula.

Stoker entered the literary and arty hub of fin de siècle London, counting as his friends not only a host of theatrical names, thanks to moving in Irving’s circles, but also the artist Whistler, fellow novelist Arthur Conan Doyle, and even Oscar Wilde, who was something of a love rival to the Dracula writer. Stoker’s wife Florence was not only a society beauty, but she had apparently thrown over Wilde to accept a proposal from Stoker. The two men had known each other at Dublin’s Trinity College and the love spat prompted a celebrated fallout between Wilde and Stoker, though they resumed their friendship after Wilde’s trials and exile to Paris.

Stoker died in April 1912, possibly from syphilis. Before his death, the writer suffered a series of strokes and, according to his nephew Daniel Farson, the death certificate gave as one cause “Locomotor Ataxy 6 Months” – apparently a euphemism for the sexually transmitted disease. But the mark Stoker left on the town is as indelible as a pair of pinprick bites on a snow-white neck. In the fudge shop on the front, you can buy chocolate coffins, and there is of course the Dracula Experience , where for a few pounds you can creep through labyrinthine pitch-black passages and be scared out of your skin by students earning holiday cash dressed up as ghouls and revenants.

Meanwhile, there’s the Bram Stoker international film festival , and the Whitby Goth weekend , a twice-yearly fixture in spring and around Halloween. And, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of Stoker’s creation, family-friendly promenade stagings of Dracula are being held throughout August in the environs of Whitby Abbey .

Of course, some who visit Whitby on the Dracula trail have trouble accepting that Stoker’s novel is actually a work of fiction. A former rector of St Mary’s Church used to mischievously direct tourists asking for the location of Count Dracula’s grave to a cracked tomb in the churchyard, its inscription long-since weathered away by the unforgiving salt-laden winds. Harry Collett got so tired of being asked the same question that he had a stonemason make up a false headstone – and had it placed at a suitable location on his walk.

• Bram Stoker
• Yorkshire holidays
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A new ranking of the cheapest holiday destinations is surprising – and a win for tourists

N ew research by Which? on the cost of summer holidays has thrown up a few surprises. In its search for the best-value packages this summer, it found that the Greek island of Kalymnos was the cheapest place to book, with an average price of £847 per person for a week’s stay, including flights and transfers, in early August. Two more Greek destinations – the island of Thassos at £862 and Lefkada at £935 – filled the next two spots, followed by the Costa Brava in Spain (£952).

Even more surprisingly, not a single resort in either Turkey or Portugal made the top 10. This is despite the fact that both countries have been flagged in other surveys recently as having the lowest local prices in holiday resorts.

So what do these results really tell us about finding the best-value holiday this summer? I have to say that they are genuinely surprising. It is not only counter-intuitive that “low-cost” countries like Turkey and Portugal don’t feature highly in the league table. I would also have expected, for example, some of the major destinations on Mallorca or the Costa del Sol to do well. After all, there is a massive range of accommodation and a huge number of flights available and you would expect that competition to pay dividends for the consumer.

But they have been outflanked by much smaller, quieter and much more attractive destinations. Kalymnos is a tiny island of quiet beaches and small resorts that you can only get to by ferry from its much busier, more developed neighbour, Kos. Thassos and Lefkada fall into a similar category of Greek islands (I know Lefkada isn’t quite an island, but it effectively counts as one).

Meanwhile, the string of resorts on Costa Brava is, in my book, comfortably the most attractive of all the Spanish mainstream destinations. What is more, Which? points out that even some of the best of these are cheaper than the more developed examples. Holidays in Malgrat de Mar, for example, is a cut above its more popular neighbour Lloret de Mar, yet Which? found it was Malgrat that offered the lower prices.

What the survey seems to reflect overall is the power that tour operators have when it comes to negotiating hotel rates and scheduling flights to other lesser-known destinations. For those who prefer to avoid the big popular names that attract high volumes of British tourists every year, that’s an attractive discovery. It is also a useful tip for bargain hunters.

But, as ever, we need to strike a cautionary note. It is not as simple as saying that smaller, lesser-known destinations always offer the best deals. The Venetian Riviera and the Amalfi Coast also did well on the Which? list. Perhaps the explanation for this is that the former, a British favourite in the 1970s, has perhaps fallen out of fashion, while the steep hills and small beaches of Amalfi are not great for families and less popular with British travellers in high summer.

We also have to be wary about the limitations of the research. Which? approached the subject with a very broad brush, analysing lots of data (some 4,500 holidays in 15 countries), but selecting those from only the two biggest tour operators – Jet2holidays and Tui. It was also a snapshot – only the prices in March for booking departures on or around August 3 2024 were considered. Price comparisons outside high season might well be different.

And, most importantly, it didn’t necessarily compare like with like. It included accommodation of all standards and didn’t distinguish between whether the price included room only, breakfast or half-board. So the results might be swayed by the fact that somewhere like Kalymnos might have much more basic accommodation than somewhere else or a tendency to offer room-only or B&B prices.

Finally, the old cheap and cheerful cliché does seem to have been borne out in one respect. A separate league table compiled by Which? that looks at the cost of all-inclusive holidays (which include all food and drink in the price) found much less variation between destinations. It was dominated by traditional budget destinations like Tenerife, the Costa Blanca and Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast. For that type of classic sun-and-sand package it seems, high volumes and big hotels do seem to keep costs down.

Which? gathered the prices of 4,558 package holidays from the UK’s biggest tour operators – Jet2holidays and Tui – in March 2024. Analysis included Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands), Turkey and the Channel Islands. 

The average price is based on a seven-night holiday including flights and transfers, departing on or around August 3, based on two people sharing a standard double or twin room. Which? only included destinations with a minimum availability of holidays, and those in resort areas (rather than cities). Not all destinations were on sale with both Jet2 and Tui.

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