🇬🇧United Kingdom · Places to discover
What to see in Whitby?
18 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
St Mary's Church, Whitby
A 12th-century parish church perched on the clifftop, featuring virtually intact Georgian box pews and stacked wooden galleries. Bram Stoker drew inspiration from it for Dracula – the atmosphere is haunting, particularly outside the season.
2Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
Sneaton Castle Centre
Neo-Gothic castle from the 19th century perched on the heights above Whitby, now a retreat centre for the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete. The gardens are open to the public and command panoramic views across the sea to the abbey.
3Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
Larpool Viaduct
A Victorian railway viaduct of 13 red-brick arches spanning the Esk valley at Whitby's edge. Easily reached on foot from the Cinder Track (the old railway line), it commands dramatic views over the river below.
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Landmark
Landmark
The 199 Steps (Church Stairs)
Sandstone staircase cut in the 17th century linking the old town to the abbey. Each step is unique and the view over the harbour as you ascend is among the finest on the Yorkshire coast.
- 5
Landmark
Landmark
Whitby Abbey
The ruins of this 7th-century Benedictine abbey command the clifftop with spectacular presence. Direct inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, it's particularly striking at dusk.
Museums
1 place
6Wikipedia · CC BY-SAMuseum
Whitby Museum
Authentic Victorian museum housed in Pannett Park since 1931, containing fossils from the Jurassic coastline, whaling artefacts and the original Hand of Glory. Unrestored, unmodernised—that's precisely its charm.
Nature
5 places
7Wikipedia · CC BY-SANature
Saltwick Bay
Wild cove 2km east of Whitby, reached on foot via the coastal path. Black rocks studded with fossil ammonites, rarely crowded even in summer.
8Wikipedia · CC BY-SANature
Ruswarp Village & River Esk
A small village 2 km upriver from Whitby along the Esk, where boats can be hired on the water. One of locals' best-kept secrets for a peaceful afternoon.
9Wikipedia · CC BY-SANature
Cleveland Way (northern coastal section from Whitby)
The first 5 kilometres of the Cleveland Way northbound from Whitby hug alum cliffs with vertiginous North Sea views. The stretch to Sandsend Ness sees little traffic outside local ramblers.
10Wikipedia · CC BY-SANature
Cinder Track (Whitby to Scarborough)
A disused railway converted into a 21-mile cycle and walking path between Whitby and Scarborough, skirting cliffs and moorland. The first few kilometres from Whitby deliver uncluttered North Sea vistas.
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Nature
Nature
North Yorkshire Moors from Whitby
The moor begins quite literally at the town's edge. The footpath towards Goathland (Heartbeat village) crosses a violet heather in August that takes your breath away.
Viewpoints
3 places
12Wikipedia · CC BY-SAViewpoint
East Pier & Lighthouse
The east pier and its red lighthouse provide the best vantage point over the harbour entrance and old town. In rough seas, waves crash spectacularly against the breakwater.
13Wikipedia · CC BY-SAViewpoint
Whitby Harbour & West Pier
The west pier offers the classic view of the abbey from the sea, but the atmosphere is most authentic in early morning when fishing boats return to port.
14Wikipedia · CC BY-SAViewpoint
Whitby Bandstand (West Cliff)
An Edwardian bandstand from 1879 on the west seafront, featuring free concerts at weekends during summer. Unobstructed views across the bay and the Abbey – the perfect picnic spot.
Activities
3 places
- 15
Activity
Activity
Whitby Rowing Club (Dock End)
Historic rowing club at the head of the inner harbour, where traditional cobles (fishing boats) are still built and repaired. Sunday morning training sessions on the Esk are an authentically local spectacle.
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Activity
Activity
Whitby Fossil Hunting on Jurassic Coast
The alum cliff between Whitby and Sandsend naturally erodes and regularly releases ammonites and ichthyosaurs. Visit after a storm – finds are spectacular.
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Activity
Activity
North Yorkshire Moors Railway – Whitby Station
A heritage steam railway connecting Whitby to Pickering since 1836, one of the oldest railway lines still in service worldwide. Travelling through the moor in vintage carriages is an unforgettable experience.
Beaches
1 place
- 18
Beach
Beach
Whitby Beach (West Cliff Beach)
A fine sandy beach sheltered beneath the West Cliff cliffs, complete with colourful bathing huts quintessentially English. Less well-known than Scarborough Beach, though considerably more peaceful.
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