The Best and Most Exciting Things To Do In Whitby, UK

Whitby is a seaside town located in North Yorkshire and it’s perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. This charming seaside resort is steeped in history, with many of its landmarks dating back to the medieval period.

You can spend all day exploring the cobbled streets of the Whitby town centre shops, taking photos of its impressive abbey, or sampling local food and drink like the famous Whitby fish and chips.

In this blog post, we’ll be taking you through some of the best things to do in Whitby if you’re looking for an exciting day out. If you like all things gothic and spooky, you will love the gothic atmosphere of this town.

Thanks to it’s influence on the famous novel Dracula, there are many shops in town that celebrate counterculture and provide many different types of gothic and alternative products.

The Best Things To Do In Whitby, UK

Whitby Abbey

• The Whitby Abbey is one of the most famous Whitby landmarks and tourist attractions.
• It was originally a Benedictine abbey built in the 7th century, and is one of the best examples of Gothic Architecture in the world.
• It has been a site of pilgrimage for over 800 years, with people coming from all over the world to visit the church.
• You will also notice that many of the streets in Whitby are named after the Abbey’s visitors.
• This is most famous for being Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula’s castle in his novel.
• The Abbey is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, and is considered by many to be one of the most important monasteries in all of Northern England.
• The Abbey’s history is fascinating, and you will find many events and exhibitions taking place there throughout the year. Check the Whitby Abbey opening times to plan your visit.
• The Abbey also has a museum which gives you a great overview of the history of the site, as well as being a wonderful place to take photos of the scenic Whitby Abbey ruins.
• If you visit the Abbey at night, you can even enjoy a spooky Whitby ghost tour. Book your Whitby Abbey tickets in advance on Tripadvisor Whitby.

Go Cliff Jumping

• Cliff jumping is one of the most popular things to do in Whitby. The best place to do it is at Cayton Bay, which is a small picturesque town located about 20 minutes from Whitby.
• There are many different levels, so it is possible to jump at any skill level.
• If you are looking for other attractions in Cayton Bay, you can visit the local pub, or walk along the Whitby beach.
• Cliff jumping is open all year round, weather permitting, and is free to do.
• It is best to book in with local experts to help you with your cliff jump to provide and safe and fun way of taking part in this extreme sport.
• Check out https://scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk/coasteering/ to find out more.

Whitby Harbour

• Another great day out in Whitby is a trip around the harbour.
• The harbour has been in use since the 10th century, and is the only port in the world where fishing has been done continuously since the 14th century, showcasing Whitby’s rich maritime history.
• You can take a harbour cruise or one of the popular Whitby boat trips, which will take you all along the coast and include a stop at Sandsend where you can see the ruins of the Sandsend Battery.
• You can also go around the harbour in a traditional fishing vessel, which will take you much closer to the fish processing factories that line the harbour.
• If you want to learn more about the history of the harbour, you can visit the Whitby Museum and Harbour Exhibition, which is located right next to it.

St. Mary’s Church & Cemetery

• The next thing to do in Whitby is visit St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery, one of the most iconic places to visit in Whitby.
• St Mary’s Church Whitby was built in the 11th century, and it is one of the oldest churches in the country.
• The cemetery was also an inspiration to Bram Stoker and featured in scenes of his novel Dracula.
• The church is a Grade 1 listed building, and is open to the public.
• If you are interested in learning more about the history of St Mary’s Church, you can visit the nearby Whitby Museum, which is also open to the public.
• St. Mary’s is open every day, and you can visit the church and the cemetery all year round. Be sure to climb the famous 199 steps up to the church for stunning views over Whitby.

Whitby Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour

• If you are interested in seeing some marine wildlife while in Whitby, then you can go on a whale watching tour or dolphin-watching tour.
• Whitby Whale Watching Tours are one of the most popular ways to see dolphins, porpoises, and whales in the UK.
• The tour leaves from the Harbour, and lasts around 30-45 minutes.
• The boats are small enough to be able to get close to the wildlife, which makes for a very exciting experience.
• Whale watching season runs from June to September, so you have plenty of time to visit Whitby.
• The tours leave a couple of times a day, so you can choose the time that fits best with your schedule.
• If you are lucky, you will see a whale, but even if you don’t, it is still an exciting trip.

Visit the Whitby Museum and Harbour Exhibition

• As I have mentioned, the Whitby Museum is located next to St. Mary’s Church.
• The museum is open every day, and is a great place to learn more about the history of the town.
• You can find out more about the Abbey, and learn about the fishing industry that thrived in the harbour since the 14th century.
• There is also an exhibition called ‘Whitby on the Seas’ that is dedicated to the town’s maritime past.
• You can also see a large selection of local fossils which are millions of years old, making it a great spot for fossil hunting.
• The museum is a great place to visit if you want to find out more about the history of Whitby and is one of the top indoor activities Whitby has to offer.

Hiking And Hillwalking Around Whitby

• If you like getting out into the great outdoors, then you can go hiking or hillwalking in the area around Whitby.
• There are lots of trails that are easily accessible from Whitby, and you can hire a guide from the Whitby tourist board office if you are a beginner or don’t know the area very well.
• There are many different routes, but you can also create your own so that you can explore areas that are more interesting to you.
• The best time to visit if you are interested in hiking or hillwalking is during the autumn.
• If you go in the spring or summer, you may find it gets very busy.
• If you don’t have a car, you can get a bus or taxi that will drop you off close to a trailhead, and pick you up again at the end.

If you particularly like hiking, go and check out my post on the nearby Peak District.

See The Darker Side Of Whitby

• Whitby has a dark history, partly due to the many shipwrecks that have happened off the coast in the past.
• There are a couple of museums in Whitby that tell the darker side of the town’s history.
• You are able to view a couple of the ship wrecks, such as the SS Rohilla and the MV Creteblock.
• There are rumours of these shipwrecks being haunted by the ghosts of their passengers.
• Whitby is also linked heavily to the gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.
• The town provided much of the inspiration for Stoker’s novel, including Whitby Castle.
• This, in turn, inspired a heavy gothic culture in the town with many alternative shops to explore.
• There is even a Goth Weekend held in Whitby every year. Check out the Dracula Experience for more spooky Whitby tourist attractions.

Try out a local seafood restaurant

• The final thing to do in Whitby is try out a local seafood restaurant.
• There are lots of great places in Whitby to try out seafood, but if you are not sure where to start, you can visit Trenchers or the famous Magpie Café.
• These are top restaurants, but they also offer a wide selection of seafood dishes that are sure to please even the fussiest of eaters.
• There are many more restaurants in Whitby that serve delicious seafood.

Places To Stay

Having a great place to go back to at the end of the day is one of the most important parts of any trip. Here are my top recommendations for places to stay in Whitby.

Top 15 Things To Do In Whitby

Check out the top 15 things to do in Whitby in this great video so you never run out of things to do when you visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

You can visit Whitby at any time of year, and there is something for everyone to do and see. This seaside town is a great place to visit, and it is also a great place to live. For those who like literature, history, and something a little bit quirky and different, Whitby is the perfect place to visit. This is the kind of place that people come back to year after year because they enjoy it so much. You never know – you might become one of those people.

If you enjoyed this post, go and check out my post on Dark Academia town around the UK for more historical and spooky sites.

Thank you so much for reading my post and I hope to see you back here again soon.

Ta-ta for now! x