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About the local area

Situated along one of Britain’s finest stretches of coastline, with cliffs, lovely bays, safe sandy beaches and attractive villages, Whitby has been a port for more than 1,000 years and is still a seafarers' town today.

The narrow streets and alleys climbing down to the quayside still bustle as they have done for centuries and as folklore and tradition are very much part of the Whitby scene, visitors soon find themselves involved. From these centuries-old streets, 199 steps lead up to the parish church of St Mary, whose churchyard inspired Bram Stoker to write his world-famous novel, Dracula.

As well as attracting many famous visitors, Whitby has produced its own famous sons, not least Captain James Cook, and also the outstanding father and son whaling masters of the Scoresby family.

Performing arts, dance, music and carnivals are just a sample of what’s in store at the Whitby Folk Festival and Regatta, while the Captain Cook Festival celebrates the town’s proud seafaring tradition.

Whilst Whitby has a huge draw, one mustn’t forget the other attractive villages within a stones throw of Whitby. Staithes is a beautiful old fishing village tucked away between two headlands. Runswick Bay is another pretty village which clings to the cliffs at the end of a long sandy beach, and, just 6 miles south of Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay sweeps round in a huge crescent and the village itself is one of the most picturesque fishing villages in England.

There is much to see and do in Whitby and its immediate surrounds. Just a few options are, Whitby Abbey, Whitby Museum, Captain Cook, Memorial Museum, Museum of Victorian Whitby, St Marys Church, Bram Stoker Dracula Experience and  Whitby Lifeboat Museum

Things to do nearby