Whitby and the North Yorkshire Coast
Historic sea port & vibrant holiday centre
A place of natural beauty and outstanding history, Whitby provides a perfect holiday destination for those wishing to take a break for relaxation and enjoyment.
A natural sheltered harbour provides the stunningly picturesque setting for the town. For centuries, seamen have sheltered and settled here and the feeling of that maritime history is easy to imagine. Cobbled streets give way to hidden yards of old fishermen's cottages, old piers reach out in to the harbour and sea, whilst 199 stone steps lead you up to the ancient Abbey and St. Mary's Parish Church.
Take a brief look at the history of Whitby
This is the very place...
Where Vikings raiders landed to cause havoc and some to stay and settle, as reflected in many of our place names with their Scandinavian origins (i.e Whitby, Sleights, and Danby)...
In 664 church leaders travelled from across Europe to the St. Hilda's Abbey, to decide the date of Easter (the strange formula still used today)...
Where shipyards built strong oak ships which circumnavigated the globe and explored the Arctic...
Where Captain Cook served his apprenticeship prior to his adventures discovering and mapping the world...
Where fishing fleets set out each year on whaling expeditions...
Where many authors and artists have visited to write and paint - Bram Stoker was inspired to write his famous account of Dracula here, and Lewis Carroll was a regular visitor...
You'll sense some of this history in the streets of Whitby, but you can also explore more at Whitby Museum, the Captain Cook Museum, the Lifeboat Museum and at Whitby Abbey.
A Place of natural beauty - the sea shore...
It's impossible to avoid the beauty of the sea and its shoreline in all its many moods and colours. Visit some of the small fishing villages nestling against high cliffs in bays along the coast - Runswick Bay, Staithes and Robin Hood's Bay all reward a visit with their closely built streets of tiny cottages.
...and the moors
Surrounding Whitby are the moorlands of the North York Moors National Park. Cutting through the moors, the River Esk has created a green and sheltered valley of outstanding beauty. Visit Egton, Lealholm, Castleton and Grosmont as you explore this valley. At the centre of the moors lies Goathland - home of popular TV series 'Heartbeat' - with its closely nibbled grass strays (by sheep!) and a place you can travel to using the North Yorkshire Moors Railway which runs a service of steam trains from Whitby Station.
Beside the seaside, beside the sea!
Whitby offers so much for the holiday visitor. Three miles of sandy beaches attract the traditionalist (with donkey rides and deck chairs), or the walker, or the surfer. Boat rides, fair ground rides, steam bus rides keep you on the move whilst museums and visitor centres are there to inform.
Food glorious food!
Relaxation and delicious food are perhaps the most important ingredients of a successful holiday and today, Whitby proudly boasts a superb selection of restaurants and old characterful pubs serving beautifully prepared food to suit all tastes.
Fresh seafood is the speciality of Whitby and should not be missed. Fresh Cod and Chips, Whitby Kippers, Oysters and a dazzling array of other fish dishes are just waiting for your visit to Whitby!