Whitby

Below, you will find a list of vendors processing your data and the purposes or features of processing they declare. You may exercise your rights for each vendor based on the legal basis they assert. In luxury travel, bespoke is always best. Condé Nast Traveller uses technology to tailor our stories to your interests, keeping you up to speed on everything from the must-visit global destinations to the most exciting new hotel properties to book. This tech also ensures you will be served third-party ads and content on the site that more closely align with your tastes, not to mention giving editors a chance to present you with stories you love most – and write more of them. Consider it your chance to have the first look at – and the last word on – all of Condé Nast Traveller’s content. We, and our Our editors work with affiliates when we select some or all of the products featured. We will receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases through these links. Whitby, one of the UK’s greatest coastal towns , should be on every traveller’s radar. It’s Yorkshire ’s Gothic seaside spot featuring lofty Whitby Abbey, fodder for Bram Stoker’s Dracula . There’s Captain Cook’s heritage, wild, beautiful beaches connected to gorgeous coastal trails and tiny villages, Whitby Goth Weekend, the best fish and chips, quirky independent shops, and a repertoire of events and festivals , including a pop-up sauna . The extra gift is that the Yorkshire coast is seamlessly linked with the epic Cleveland Way, which is 109 miles of moorland and sea, from Helmsley to Filey Brigg – but the shorter coastal sections are breathtaking. The trail covers the region's coastal best: Staithes, Runswick Bay, Sandsend, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Ravenscar, Scarborough, Cayton Bay and finally, Filey. It’s what seems like an endless oceanside route, with captivating views of the big blue. Read on for the best things to do in Whitby in 2025. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) runs a scenic steam train route through the North York Moors National Park (24 miles) from Pickering through to Whitby, with the option of getting off in Goathland or Grosmont – Goathland or Hogsmeade, in the Harry Potter films and Heartbeat TV series location. It’s a wonderful way to travel, and there is a range of events and dining experiences onboard. Book ahead; it’s popular in summer. Children and their grandparents will love it, and it’s a good refresher on the benefits of going slow. Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula , Whitby Abbey, is much-loved. The magnificent 13th-century Gothic abbey ruins are set in an enviable location perched on a clifftop with all-encompassing views of tiny terracotta-roofed cottages and the shimmering blue coastline. Go for Illuminated Whitby Abbey (24 October - 1 November 2025). Annually, English Heritage hosts a dramatic light display where the abbey is literally beaming with light. To reach it, take Whitby’s famed 199 steps, or Jacob's Ladder, said to have been designed to test the faith (or, patience) of those visiting St Mary’s Church – get your gang to count them. The British explorer Captain James Cook, a resident of Whitby and the commander of HMS Endeavour, has left his legacy in these parts. A trip to Whitby has to include the Captain Cook Museum, uncovering his story charting the unknown South Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. To further explore North Yorkshire’s Jurassic coastline, book a trip on the tall ship Bark Endeavour Whitby, a replica of HMS Endeavour, which sails from Whitby to Sandsend and covers Cook's expeditions in finer detail. Look out for seals and, if you’re lucky, dolphins. Address: Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BA; Pier Road, Whitby YO21 3PU Website: cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk ; endeavourwhitby.com Yorkshire’s coastline was made for walking , but it is especially enticing in Whitby. Blow out the cobwebs along the breezy beach from Whitby to sleepy local favourite Sandsend. From there, a dreamy route leads to belov