Visit Whitby, North Yorkshire

Whitby tourist information

Whitby is a long established town and fishing harbour (fishing is still an important industry for Whitby) on the coast of North Yorkshire, north of Scarborough and to the east of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, on the mouth of the River Esk.

The town is a long-standing resort for the region, with a historical old town of cobbled streets to explore, a popular beach, and the chance to explore along the coastline near the town, which is also very picturesque.

The old town of Whitby has a great deal to discover among its narrow streets which run down the hill to to the quay, including a wide selection of shops and cafes, while the region on the west cliff around 19th century Crescent Gardens provides a grander, more formal, part of the town. Among the numerous restaurants and fish and chip shops there are ample opportunities to enjoy the fresh local catch - including the highly regarded Magpie Cafe.

The best known attraction in the town is Whitby Abbey (more correctly Saint Hilda's Abbey), with important ruins remaining from the 13th century abbey. The abbey fell into disuse after its dissolution under Henry VIII (along with the other English abbeys), and now stands majestically on the cliffs above Whitby itself. Whitby abbey is reached from the town by a rather long flight of steps.

The nearby Church of Saint Mary in Whitby is a substantial construction dateing originally from the 12th century, although later modified. It has a rather foreboding external appearance, sturdy and with battlements around the roof level, while the interior, refurbished in the 18th century, is much less imposing with an eclectic selection of features and furnishings. It is claimed that the churchyard was the one that inspired Bram Stoker to write his famous novel 'Dracula'.

Another popular attraction in Whitby are the cruise trips along the coast, taken on a 'scale model' of the original ship (the Endeavour') used by Captain James Cook, the 18th century explorer who set sail from the harbour here. There is also a museum in Whitby dedicated to Captain Cook and his adventures.