Julie
27 August 2026
It’s official! According to both our recent Yorkshire Uncovered survey and a separate happiest places survey conducted by our sister brand holidaycottages.co.uk, Whitby is your favourite place in Yorkshire.
It was also named the most nostalgic place to visit in Yorkshire thanks to its characterful old town, beautiful beaches and a colourful harbour. Many of you have been coming to Whitby since childhood and now bring your own families to the seaside town.
I have many happy childhood memories of Whitby and still love to climb the 199 steps to the abbey before tucking into fresh fish and chips. If it’s on your list of places to visit but you haven’t made the trip yet, here’s my guide to what makes Whitby so special, along with some favourite things to do in this beloved seaside town. It’s well worth staying a while, so browse our range of cottages too and find your perfect base for a holiday to remember.
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Getting to Whitby
First things first. Before I dive into my favourite things to do in Whitby, you need to know how to get there and, more importantly, where to park if you are travelling by car.
I typically use the park and ride, which has 450 spaces and buses running every 15 minutes between 29 March and 1 November. You have a choice of drop-off spots: West Cliff, where you’ll find Whitby’s main beach or the station, which is the best option for the harbour and old town.
If you prefer to park in Whitby, there is some free disc parking in various streets around West Cliff but the spaces will fill up quickly. You’ll be allowed to park for between one and three hours depending on the space but you must display a disc on your dashboard showing the time you arrived. These are free to pick up at various shops around Whitby.
There are also two large pay-and-display car parks, one at Whitby Abbey and one on West Cliff, but be prepared to pay upwards of £10 if you’re planning to stay any longer than a couple of hours.
Whitby is also well served by public transport, with a train station and regular buses from Middlesbrough, Leeds, York, Scarborough, Pickering, and nearby villages such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Sleights and Egton Bridge.
Whitby West Cliff
I always think there are three main sections to Whitby: the characterful old town with 199 steps that lead to Whitby Abbey, the harbour where you’ll find boat trips, fish and chip shops and traditional seaside amusement arcades, and West Cliff with Whitby’s main beach.
As the name might suggest, West Cliff is high on the cliffs; if you’re walking to it from the harbour, there are some steep steps to navigate. The first things you’ll see are the Whitby Whale Bones, a huge arch that frames the view across town to Whitby Abbey, and a statue of famous explorer Captain Cook who set sail on a Whitby-built ship, the HMS Endeavour.
There are plenty of things for families here with an outdoor pool, skate park and rides such as go-karts. West Cliff is also where you’ll find Whitby Pavilion. Alongside screening films and having regular live music, Whitby Pavilion is also home to events like Whitby Goth and Steampunk weekends.
My favourite things to do
- Head down to the sandy beach which stretches for 2 miles with plenty of space for everyone. The walk is quite steep and windy but there’s a regular minibus if you want to save your legs.
- Take a walk to the end of West Pier and the lovely lighthouse there, where I love the uninterrupted views out to sea.
- Challenge my family to a game at either the 18-hole pitch n putt golf course or the smaller Arnold Palmer 9-hole miniature golf course, depending on how much time I have.
Whitby Harbour
My favourite area of Whitby is the bustling harbour, and if you’re arriving by train, it’s the closest area to the station. Take a walk along the pier, and you’ll often find stalls selling a range of local crafts and produce as well as a huge variety of colourful boats whisking tourists and fishermen out to the North Sea.
Here you’ll find many of Whitby’s fish and chip shops and a variety of pubs and bistros. You’ll get the freshest seafood at stalls such as the Whitby Catch and The Seafood Shack, selling fresh oysters to eat there along with dressed crabs and lobsters to take home. There is no shortage of sticks of rocks and buckets and spades in the various shops and older kids will love The Dracula Experience, which may be short but has a terrifying surprise at the end.
My favourite things to do
- Hop aboard one of ‘The Yellow Boats’ that Whitby Coastal Cruises run regularly out of the harbour. There’s no need to book for a quick 20-minute trip along the coast towards Sandsend.
- Get takeaway fish and chips at The Magpie Café and find somewhere to sit looking out over the estuary. Beware though of the swooping seagulls!
- Looking around the RNLI Lifeboat Museum and shop, which is housed in a Victorian double boathouse and includes medals and photographic displays from famous sea rescues.
Whitby Abbey and Old Town
From Whitby Harbour, cross the swing bridge over the River Esk to reach the cobbled streets of Whitby Old Town. At quieter times you’ll need to share the bridge with cars, but during high season it’s for pedestrians only. It lifts to let boats pass through, so you might have to wait to get across, but I think this just adds to Whitby’s charm.
Once you’re in the old town section, wander around the narrow, cobbled streets to find jewellers selling Whitby Jet, tea rooms and quirky independent shops. Foodie options in this historic part of Whitby include Humble Pie and Mash and the famous Fortune’s Kippers, a traditional smokehouse founded in 1872. This cobbled part of Whitby is also the start of the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, which featured in Dracula. Be warned they are fairly steep and uneven in places, but there’s a handrail on one side if you’re feeling a bit unsteady.
My favourite things to do
- Although you can drive to Whitby Abbey, taking the 199 steps is much more satisfying and makes the view across the harbour from the top even more satisfying. You’ll need to pay to access the abbey ruins, but exploring the churchyard, enjoying the view and browsing the shop are all free.
- Abbey Wharfe is extremely dog-friendly with special dinners for pups and a balcony which looks across to the harbour. It’s also right next to the small Tate Hill beach which is dog-friendly all-year-long.
- A lemon-top ice cream (whippy ice cream with lemon sorbet on top) is a local speciality and available in a variety of places throughout Whitby. I like to get one at The Beach Hut at the foot of the 199 steps for some extra energy before tackling the climb.
More things to do in Whitby
Just behind the harbour, you’ll find a maze of streets with more shops and eateries. One of my top picks (mainly as I can’t visit Whitby without taking my dog Delilah) is the Fuzzy Dog Bakery on Flower Street for freshly baked dog treats before heading to Botham’s of Whitby for scones and cake. I also love Botham’s, which has been in Whitby for 150 years, and you can either dine in the traditional tearoom or take some goodies home (I highly recommend their tea biscuits).
This part of Whitby is also home to Pannett Park, a public green space with various floral displays, a play park and the Commemorative Garden, a peaceful place with oak arches framing views of Whitby Abbey where you can sit and reflect.
My favourite things to do
- Follow the footpath from the Jurassic Garden to Whitby Museum. There are various fossils to spot along the way, including a replica of a Gharial crocodile that was found in nearby Saltwick in 1824.
- Call in shops such as The Whitby Witch where you can find all manner of weird and wonderful things for Goth Weekend and The Pot and Pineapple, which sells a hand-picked selection of gifts and chocolate.
- Head to the start of The Cinder Track on Stakesby Vale; it’s a disused railway track that connects Whitby to Scarborough and I recommend using it to walk across the almost 280-metre Larpool Viaduct, which crosses the River Esk for a panoramic view over Whitby.
Whitby Goth Weekend (and other events)
Whitby’s most iconic event is the Goth Weekend, which takes place twice a year in April and October (for me, the October event is more atmospheric as it coincides with Halloween). While the official part of Whitby Goth Weekend includes live music and the Bizarre Bazaar market at Whitby Pavilion, many people take the opportunity to either dress up or admire the dazzling array of outfits around the town. It is very popular, so if bustling streets and busy pubs aren’t your thing, it’s probably best to avoid it and visit Whitby at another time of year.
Other Whitby events include the Whitby Steampunk Weekend in February and July, Whitby Lit Fest in November, a Steam Engine Rally at the end of July and regular 1960s music weekends.
Don’t miss
- The Whitby Regatta in August is one of the UK’s oldest seaside events and is still going strong today with yacht races, parades, fairground attractions and a spectacular firework display.
- Whitby Fish & Ships Festival takes place each May and celebrates the maritime heritage of this seaside town with cooking demonstrations by top chefs, live music and a range of marquees from local businesses.
- Whitby Abbey Illuminated in October sees the famed abbey remains lit up in an array of colours with local street food vendors providing the refreshments and Gothic characters roaming the grounds telling stories of the past.
Take a walk from Whitby
The whole of the Yorkshire Coast is perfect for a bracing walk thanks to the clifftop path of the Cleveland Way from Saltburn to Filey with Whitby close to the midway point. Head to Whitby Abbey to find the Cleveland Way National Trail sign marking the path and take a scenic stroll along it. To the north is Sandsend and stunning views from Kettleness Point, to the south are the high cliffs of Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay.
Head south and you can combine a walk along the Cleveland Way and Cinder Track (a disused railway line connecting Whitby with Scarborough) for a circular route that starts and ends in Whitby. You can also follow part of the Esk Valley walk, which will take you into the North York Moors National Park and through villages like Ruswarp, Sleights and Grosmont.
My favourite Whitby walks
- Walking along the Cleveland Way to Sandsend, which is the next village to Whitby and around 3 miles away. I recommend getting something to eat at the Wits End Café and Walled Garden on the beach before strolling back along the sand to Whitby.
- Following the Cleveland Way south to Robin Hood’s Bay, a pretty fishing village that’s steeped in smuggling history. I typically would catch the X94 bus back to Whitby, but if you’re feeling energetic, head to Station Road and walk the Cinder Track there instead.
- The Ruswarp Round is a gentle 2-mile circular walk, which follows the path of the River Esk to Ruswarp, a pretty village where you can take pleasure boats out on the river or have a game of crazy golf before following the Cinder Track over Larpool Viaduct back to Whitby.
Ready to visit Whitby?
With so much to see and do, you'll need to stay in Whitby to fully appreciate everything this unique town has to offer. Fortunately, you will find a great choice of places to stay throughout Whitby and in the surrounding area.
Feeling inspired? Whether you want to visit as a couple, a family, or a large group, we have holiday cottages to suit everyone. Take a look at our dog-friendly holiday cottages in and around Whitby or browse the whole collection to find your perfect Yorkshire Coast accommodation.
Written by Julie Smith
Regional Marketing Manager
As a dog owner who has been exploring Yorkshire and the Lake District since childhood, I love to find and share hidden gems and the best dog-friendly spots to visit.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.