On the east coast of North Yorkshire, at the mouth of the River Esk, lies the much-loved traditional seaside town of Whitby. Dominated by its striking cliff top Abbey, which towers above its ancient cobbled streets, picturesque harbour, golden stretches of sandy beaches and impressive jagged cliff edges, Whitby is complimented with the traditional friendliness and spirit of the local people. It is no surprise that Whitby is the worthy winner for The Best Day Out, Enjoy England award.

This popular seaside resort is divided by the harbour and the River Esk Estuary, the ancient maritime part of the town is located on the East bank, while the new town can be found on the west bank. There are 199 steps descending down the side of the cliff from the Abbey ruins down to the historic town below. Here you will find a shopper’s paradise, with an array of unique boutique style shops, craft galleries and cafes amongst charming narrow cobbled streets leading to a character harbour with wobbly old pubs tucked alongside vibrant bars and cultural cafes with brightly coloured fishing boats passing by. Whitby is undoubtedly a town of raw charm and unexpected diversity.

What to do in Whitby

Whitby is a lively seaside town filled with activities and events for all the family to enjoy. Whether you are looking for traditional seaside entertainment, fish and chips, ice cream, donkey rides, fun on the beach, or fancy going along to one of the many music festivals, theatre productions or historical events there is always lots to keep the whole family happy. The annual summer festivals of Whitby Regatta, Whitby Folk Week and the biannual Goth Weekends and Alternative Festivals in spring and autumn draw enthusiastic crowds from all over the country.

Enjoy the many delights of Yorkshire’s spectacular coastline. Take a boat trip to wrecks or reefs and have a go at sea fishing. Or why not explore Whitby’s beautiful marina by sailing boat, protected from the stormy seas by the extensive piers, this is a popular activity for visitors to Whitby. Follow this with a little surfing, kite surfing, kite boarding, land boarding, kiting or have a gentle stroll and have a go at fossil hunting along the Jurassic coastline.

Discover Whitby’s fascinating secrets of the past at Whitby Museum and join a scary guided ghost walk or Dracula Experience. If you are not feeling quite brave enough and nature is more your cup of tea, visit the superb Sea Life Centre then wade in the rock pools on the beach in search of your own sea life. Follow your adventures whilst sitting on Whitby’s award winning beach with a portion of Whitby’s famous fish and chips or sample one of Whitby finest Trillo’s ice cream made with locally sourced natural ingredients. They are renowned for their delightful flavours, such as raspberries and cream, cinders toffee and the Whitby Gothic!

Whitby is situated close to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, the vale of York, Yorkshire Dales and is surrounded by some of the most strikingly beautiful countryside in the world, making it the idyllic spot to explore on foot, bike or horse back. Whether you fancy a gentle stroll along the spectacular cliff tops or ancient woodlands, or a hike across the dramatic moorland, the area provides a range of trails to suit everyone. Bike hire is available from Trailways in Hawsker, where you can cycle almost hill free all the way to Scarborough and back along the original railway line. Routes and guides can be purchased from the Visitors Centre or the North Yorkshire Moors National Park website.

The traditional maritime town of Whitby itself makes a great day out. Visit the ancient Abbey ruins and then walk the 199 steps down to the town. Stop for a well-earned rest at one of the many tearooms or cultural cafes. Take a stroll along the picturesque cobbled streets to find an eclectic array of unique boutique style shops and craft galleries where you can discover Whitby Jet jewellery made from the locally sourced gemstone. Finish the day with mouth-watering, freshly prepared food in one of the many harbour side pubs, restaurants or bistros, where you can enjoy live music with your meal. Multi award winning restaurants offer dishes to suit all palates, and with a choice of Italian, Indian, Chinese or English to name a few, you will never go hungry in Whitby!

History of Whitby

The earliest settlement in Whitby on record is in 656, the Christian king of Northumbria founded the first abbey, under the abbess of Hilda. The Synod of Whitby was held there in 664. Then in 867, the monastery was destroyed by Viking thieves and was later re-founded in 1078, when the town gained the name Whitby, taken from “white settlement” in Old Norse. From there, Whitby functioned as a fishing settlement until the 18th century when it was established as a fishing port, where it developed as a hub for shipbuilding and whaling, and where Captain Cook learnt how to sail the seas. Tourism began to prosper during the Georgian era and then further on the arrival of the railway in 1839.

Minerals, Jet and Alum were once mined locally by the Romans and Victorians, which is where Whitby Jet can from and became fashionable in the 19th century. It is still a popular stone used in locally made Jewellery today and makes for a perfect gift or souvenir.

The oldest and most prominent landmark is the abbey ruins; others include the swing bridge which crosses the River Esk and the harbour sheltered by the grade II listed piers. The town’s maritime heritage includes statues of Captain James Cook and William Scoresby as well as the whalebone arch perched at the top of the west cliff.

There are a number of impressive listed buildings waiting to be discovered around the city. There is walking tours around the city and guide books available describing the city’s history in most of the local shops.