Social walk from YHA Whitby
Saturday 4th October 2025 Distance: 7.7 miles (12.4 km) Duration: 4.5 - 5.5 hours Led by: Simon Ainley, YHA, with BMC volunteer guides Discovery and connection Starting at YHA Whitby and finishing at...
YHA Whitby
Overview
YHA Whitby is a magnificent Grade I listed mansion situated immediately beside the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey. Enjoy views over the harbour and the North York Moors, with the town just a short walk away via the famous 199 steps. The hostel provides the ideal accommodation for exploring Whitby and its year round attractions.
YHA Whitby offers an unforgettable experience with many original artefacts throughout the hostel. Look out for the interpretation boards with information about features including a 13th-century carved oak Viking beam and stunning Victorian stained glass.
With nearby attractions ranging from fossil-hunting on the Jurassic Coast, Dracula heritage and the traditional British seaside to Flamingo Land within driving distance, you won't run out of things to do!
Accommodation at this hostel
- Bed in a shared room is offered here
- Private room is offered here
- Camping & Cabins is offered here
- Entire place is not offered here
Why guests love this hostel
- Stay next to the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey
- Superb views over the seaside town
- Beautiful grounds and garden
Accommodation at YHA Whitby
Group booking
Serviced group stays for 16 to 134 people
Situated next to Whitby Abbey, this Grade I listed mansion offers character and activities for schools and groups, along with essential facilities. Positioned atop Whitby's famed 199 steps, it offers stunning views of the town, coast and moorland. Discovery packages and individual activities like town trails, jet polishing workshops and night hikes are available.
YHA Whitby is an ideal stop along the Cleveland Way or a base for exploring the town, moors and Abbey. Nearby attractions include fossil-hunting, Dracula heritage sites and traditional seaside fun. Plus, with Flamingo Land and Eden Camp nearby, there's no shortage of entertainment options for your group. Come and visit Whitby!
Group-friendly facilities
Sleeping arrangements
Most of our bedrooms are dormitory style rooms with bunk beds. We always try to allocate bedrooms close together and will never ask your group to share bedrooms with anyone not in your group.
Upgrades are available for sole use of an area, floor or the entire place.
Shared spaces
With a meeting room and social spaces plus free Wi-Fi, YHA Whitby can accommodate groups of all ages.
Group catering
With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA Whitby (see sample menu).
Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.
Parking
There is parking at this hostel. The car park is controlled by an ANPR parking system. Upon arrival, motorists are required to validate their presence by entering their car's registration number at reception. Parking is available for Blue Badge holders in designated bays, though other guest parking is limited. Alternative parking is available 0.4 miles away at Abbey Headland car park.
Packages and bolt-ons
Our packages include activities, accommodation and catering – everything you need for a real outdoor adventure.
Looking to fill some free time? Our bolt-on activities can easily be added to your stay.
Accredited site
YHA Whitby holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (103925).
This accreditation means that this hostel has externally audited risk assessments, verified insurance provision, quality checked safety logs and delivery observed by national reviewers.
Hostel facilities
- 24-hour access after check-in
- Ambulant accessible
- Baby changing
- Beach view
- Café
- Classroom(s)
- Coach parking nearby
- Contactless payments
- Cycle store
- Dining room
- Evening meals
- Free parking on premises
- Full mobile coverage
- Games
- Garden/grounds
- Group meals
- Highchair
- Licensed bar
- Lift
- Luggage store
- Medium garden/grounds
- Minibus parking nearby
- Near bus stop
- Near train station
- Outdoor games kit
- Outdoor seating
- Restaurant
- Sea view
- Self-catering kitchen
- Shared lounge
- Shared TV
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast
- Vending machines
- Water refill station
- Wheelchair accessible
- WiFi
Hostel need to know
Reception opening hours: From 07:30 - 22:00.
Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests from 07:30 – 09:00 on weekdays and 07:30 – 10:00 at weekends. Meals are also available from 10:00 – 20:30.
Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol.
Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.
Café and restaurant opening times: YHA Whitby's Abbey House Café & Bar is open to the public from 11:00 - 20:30, Monday to Sunday.
Parking: There is parking at this hostel. The car park is controlled by an ANPR parking system. Upon arrival, motorists are required to validate their presence by entering their car's registration number at reception. Parking is available for Blue Badge holders in designated bays, though other guest parking is limited. Alternative parking is available 0.4 miles away at Abbey Headland car park.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available in on the ground floor near reception and in the café bar.
Dogs: Pets are not permitted to stay at YHA Whitby, except in our Camping & Cabins accommodation. They are allowed in communal spaces and café areas. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.
Guest access: Our lift takes guests to most floors, except the mezzanine level. Some of our bedrooms are located on the mezzanine with access via stairs only.
YHA Whitby - Access Statement
(PDF download - 132.41 KB)
Food and drink at YHA Whitby
Things to do around YHA Whitby
Walking and rambling in Whitby
If you're planning on staying at YHA Whitby, why not download a free map and get out exploring? All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel and are graded so that you can explore the area...
Moorsbus (around Helmsley & other hostels)
A fantastic community run bus service connecting surrounding towns within the North York Moors allowing you to leave your car at home. The services run on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays...
Dracula Experience
A unique tour through the Dracula story and the connection to Whitby. Using animation, special effects and live actors. Visit the website
Whitby Abbey
See the splendour of our next door attraction! Discover its history, hear voices from the past on the audio guide and catch unique events Visit the website
Stargazing in Yorkshire
Stargazing – a simple yet intriguing and inspiring evening activity. The hope that a shooting star might pass, or that there will be a full moon, or seeing who can spot the biggest star – there’s so...
Scarborough Sealife & Marine Sanctuary
Discover our underwater world and meet the land creatures including Otters, Seals and Humboldt Penguins. Visit the website
Captain Cook Memorial Museum
The museum is in a 17th century house on Whitby's harbour where Captain Cook trained as a seaman, leading to his epic voyages of discovery. Visit the Museum website
Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood's Bay is a picturesque old fishing village with delightful streets and old fisher-folk running cafés. The village is rife with tall tales of old smugglers. It is a fantastic place for the...
Whitby
Whitby is a lovely, seaside town dominated by the abbey ruins high on the hill. 199 steps lead to the churchyard that inspired Bram Stoker to write 'Dracula'.
Walks with a story in Yorkshire
Explore more of the area with Discovering Britain’s walks, trails and views. From stunning viewpoints to family-friendly strolls, from day long hikes in the countryside to urban trails - there's...
Mountain biking in Whitby
Get out and about on your bike and enjoy the landscape. Try Dalby Forest, 20 miles from Whitby, where you can explore an exhilarating 40 miles of mountain bike trails. Whether you’re after hard core...
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
0.5 miles Step back in time with magnificent steam engines and beautiful rural stations. The railway is lovingly preserved and charmingly authentic. Visit the website
Watersports in Whitby
Whitby Surf School located on West Cliff Beach is an ideal place to surf and SUP as the shallow gradient sandy beach offers plenty of space and waves. Lessons designed to build confidence, technique...
Cycling in Whitby
The Cinder Track between Whitby and Scarborough is part of Route 1 of the National Cycle network, offering 21 miles of off-road cycling with the opportunity to take slight detours and visit the quiet...
More about this hostel
Volunteering
We are very grateful for all of the help and support that our generous volunteers give to YHA. We are proud of our “Investors in Volunteering” accreditation and have a wide range of opportunities available across the country, all of which will provide great learning or social experiences and help us to create even more opportunities for young people.
Volunteering is a great way to meet people, visit new places, gain experiences and have fun. Full details of all of our various volunteering programmes can be found through YHA volunteering.
History
Our hostel is housed in a magnificent Grade I listed mansion situated immediately beside the iconic ruins of Whitby Abbey.
The Whitby headland had seen Bronze Age and Roman settlements, before an Anglian monastery was founded there by Hild, the daughter of an Anglian nobleman, in about 627. Then things get a bit mysterious; no one is sure why, but the Anglian settlement and monastery were abandoned a few centuries later.
By the end of the 12th century a new monastery had been founded and built in stone. This building underwent various projects of rebuilding and expansion, during which the Abbey House was built. We aren’t sure what the Abbey House was used for, but it is likely that it was the abbot’s lodging.
In the 16th century the Monastery was suppressed and the abbey site was bought by the Chomley family. The Chomleys, and later the Strickland family, used the abbot’s lodgings as a house and over the next two centuries several extensions and a courtyard were added to the building.
In 1920 the Strickland family gave the abbey to the Ministry of Works. Then for around 80 years archaeological excavations were carried out on the site. By the early 2000s the Abbey House had fallen into a dilapidated state, but when its lease came up for tender in 2006 YHA jumped at the opportunity! A £3.5m renovation was carried out making the building into the fantastic hostel enjoyed by many today.
Meet the team
We pride ourselves of friendly service and do our best to accommodate any of our guests’ requirements. You’ll see everyone doing their part working across all areas of the hostel, either serving and making drinks in our busy tearooms, welcoming you on reception, cleaning your room or delivering activities to school groups. Everyone has a good knowledge of the local area and we’re happy to recommend some things to do during your visit
Manager recommends: Walking the Cleveland Way to Robin Hood’s Bay. It’s a great way to see the coastline and look out for seals, whales and dolphins. You can catch a bus back, come back the way you came or hop on to the Cinder Track which is a more gentle route back to Whitby.
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